From Advocacy to Action

This month, advocates from our Chapter will be participating in the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s (NBDF) Annual Washington Days. This event provides a platform for our community members to share their personal stories and educate elected officials about the challenges they face. Through these conversations, we advocate for policies that are crucial to our community.

Eli Schoenfeld has severe hemophilia B and is a senior at Dwight School. Eli, his brother, Max, and their entire family have been long-time members of our community. Last year, after participating in Washington Days, he was offered an internship with his congressman. In the interview below, Eli shares insights into his experience as an intern and reflects on the vital role the bleeding disorders community played in forging this meaningful opportunity.

How did you become a congressional intern?

Last March, I had the privilege of attending Washington Days where I met with the offices of my Senators and various members of the House of Representatives. After meeting with my representative’s office, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, I was informed that I would be a strong candidate for their internship program, which took me by surprise. Upon reflection, I realized that this opportunity could not only help shape my interests but also allow me to explore advocacy from the perspective of constituents with their own sets of needs.

What did you work on as an intern?

As an intern, most of my work had to do with helping and supporting those of New York’s 13th Congressional District, irrespective of political orientation. Most people who visited the office were seeking help in areas like housing, immigration, Medicaid, Medicare, and general public assistance. I spent time responding to various forms of constituent outreach and researching legal services that could help constituents in our district. During my short time as an intern, I had the privilege of managing and overseeing over 320 constituent cases!

Entering the internship, I never anticipated being entrusted with the responsibility of managing so many cases. This experience proved to be a pivotal moment, as it allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the needs of individuals in my district and my role in addressing them. Although I did not directly assist constituents with their cases, I am grateful for the opportunity to comprehend some of New York’s most pressing issues and to witness the significant impact that governmental intervention can have in resolving these critical challenges.

What were your takeaways from this experience?

Most of my personal advocacy experiences have had to do with asking lawmakers for changes that are primarily shaped by legislation (banning copay accumulator adjusters, funding research and other similar topics), as is typically the case when constituents visit their lawmakers’ DC offices. As an intern in my Congressman Espaillat’s office in New York, I regularly saw constituents visiting to seek assistance tailored to their very personal needs, like accessing programs like Medicaid or Medicare, or navigating the immigration system. This provided me with a broader perspective on how personal circumstances can uniquely affect people and underscored the essential role of advocacy in driving resolutions, whether through addressing individual issues or supporting legislative initiatives. This helped me see, firsthand, how individuals advocate for themselves.