WASHINGTON-- Anita Banerji joined the India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) on Monday, May 22, 2000 as a new associate. Banerji will focus on media and community outreach, as well as help run the Center's summer internship program.

Ralph Nurnberger, who assisted India Abroad Editor and Publisher Gopal Raju to develop the Center’s internship program, stated that “Banerji’s hiring is particularly significant because her experiences underscore the rationale behind the Center. The Center was created to enable the Indian American community to become more effectively involved in the American political process.”

He explained that Banerji is an alumna of the internship program and served as an intern in the Office of Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in 1996. “The main purpose of the internship program is to enable young Indian Americans to gain first hand experience in the political process. Anita’s career development is tangible proof that the program is a success,” Nurnberger said.

Banerji said her internship with Rep. Brown’s Office allowed her to learn intimately about the American political process. She also said the IACPA internship program inspired her to return to Washington, D.C.

“That summer (1996) was my introduction to politics. I realized then how important it is for the South Asian community, particularly the Indian American community, to become involved in the political process and have our voices heard,” she said. “We need to speak up for our rights, and if we do not do that for ourselves, then how can we expect Congress to represent us?”

After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism in May of 1998, she came back to Capitol Hill to join the staff of Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Banerji worked for a year on staff as a Legislative Correspondent for social policy issues, particularly health care and education.