Jimmy O’Meara (C’23) Interns with Public Citizen Through Georgetown CALL Program to Make a Difference

Jimmy O’Meara (C’23) started his internship with Public Citizen with the Democracy is for People campaign through the Georgetown Capitol Applied Learning Labs (CALL). The English major says that he has always been passionate about using his skill set to make a difference and is excited that his work with Public Citizen will contribute to the betterment of society.

Answering the CALL

O’Meara joined the CALL program this past summer. Started in 2019, CALL pairs students with unique mentoring and networking opportunities and credit-bearing internships. As one of 12 students in the program, O’Meara meets with the other students weekly to learn about their internship experiences and participated in a leadership seminar with Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

After discovering the internship with Public Citizen, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization, through Handshake, O’Meara used his connections with CALL to apply and was accepted to work for their Democracy is for People campaign. While there, he drafted and published content for the organization’s Twitter and Instagram platforms in addition to compiling news clips.

He also called elected officials in target states like Wisconsin as part of Public Citizen’s push to pass another stimulus package to offset the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the wake of the upcoming 2020 presidential election, O’Meara has also been tasked with community outreach to ensure that individuals are registered to vote and that poll workers have been assigned to voting stations.

O’Meara says that this experience has not only helped him feel more informed about the issues but has also reemphasized for him the importance of voting.

“It is absolutely crucial for all citizens of the United States to vote in this upcoming election,” he says. “Voting is the foundation of our democracy – when you don’t vote, your voice isn’t being heard. In an election when things like climate change and a Supreme Court nomination are on the line, now is the time to voice your beliefs.”

Writing for Others

An English major, O’Meara says that though this internship does not directly apply to his area of study, it does fulfill his desire to make a difference.

“I have always wanted to become involved with helping people in some way,” he says. “I am intrigued by lobbying, and this organization takes the bad parts out of lobbying by fighting against corporations. This internship has been a great way to combine my skill sets of writing, community organization and caring for others.”

After graduation, O’Meara hopes to continue to inform the public through writing. A current staff writer for the Hoya, he says that journalism is one career path he would like to pursue.

-by Shelby Roller (G’19)