Travel notes from Jullia  April 27, DC

The USC Washington Center is in a beautiful building on Pennsylvania Ave. The security was tight...after passing a check point, we were sent in our elevator directly to the correct floor ONLY...no getting off on another level! The large conference room was lovely and offered a simple breakfast. David Brown is an executive with the Office of Federal Relations who said that USC efforts were for Democracy: conversation and advocacy. Government relations, research and development, and grant production all require interaction with Federal agencies. USC receives $880 million from the government for education, research, health (most funds are from the National Institute of Health for studies such as brain mapping and Alzheimer’s), Defense involvement includes active duty situations, the VA, therapy and training (including virtual reality films) for the military. These multi-faceted concerns require frequent interaction with “the Hill” where discussions are held with Senators and Representatives who can assist in the execution and support of the proposals. Concerns from USC go straight to the leaders in Washington, DC. USC gives $300 million for student financial aid and for including diversity and accountability on campus. We hear that the default on loans rate is only 1.3% which is far lower than the national average of about 13%. An issue that continues is the Institute for Creative Technology which is working for both defense and non-defense development. Funding continues to be complex, especially when mandated support is needed for such as Medicare and Social Security. Our next speaker was Joe Wagner of Fenton Communications which works for social change. The areas of concern include human rights, and the environment. Theyproduce videos, provide training, and develop web sites, and communication strategies. Clients are selected within the firm’s ideology and they work to initiate 1)behavior change...awareness to change culture 2) Organizational building, branding, partnership, fundraising and messaging 3)advocacy which seeks to inspire and change public policy and 4) storytelling in which heart or emotion can lead to active ideas. Examples of campaigns made by the company include the ideas of no nukes, Amber Alerts, labor rights, health issues, sweatshop concerns, anti-Iraq war movement community colleges and gun control (including awareness of the Sandy Hook tragedy). To meet the needs of the clients, the company uses several avenues, first of which is research and analysis. Advertising by digital social media or through traditional channels is supported by fund-raising and partnership development. Challenges should be met by exploration and research which should deliver ideas and action. Sounds like a good approach to life!!

The National Archives Building is a beautiful building with a 70 foot high rotunda. A darkened, somewhat crowded room housed original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights among thousands of other documents. Huge murals adorned the upper walls which portrayed serious life-sized historical figures...don’t know whom but they were impressive. Other displays included genealogy, and letters of all sorts from historical periods. The growth of constitutional rights started with the Magna Carta and there it was!! I was particularly impressed. An interactive panel showed the “tree” of it and what inspired our Founding Fathers. Documents of the Civil Rights Movements and others were housed in countless shelves of gray archival boxes. I can’t imagine cataloging those thousands of papers. A special exhibit showed documents and artifacts that led to policies about alcohol and spirits. There was even a copper “kettle” for making moonshine which brought to mind the song that I’ve sung for decades...”never more you’ll toil...you just lay there by the juniper, while the moon is bright...” The Newseum is a spectacular six story building which greets you with displays (in front), hundreds of front page newspapers from all over the world. Fascinating! Today, the headlines were about the terrible earthquake in Nepal. (I am SO sorry, I probably have photos of some of the buildings that collapsed.) There were exhibits about 9/11 which included a radio tower, crushed and twisted that had stood on top of one of the buildings. A section of a lunch counter from the Civil Rights Movement sit-ins is there. Many huge pieces of the Berlin Wall loomed with the bright colors belying the grim purpose. The exhibit that intrigued me the most was the Pulitzer Prize gallery. The iconic photos are moments in time, many of which I remember. They are heartbreaking: Vietnam, Kent State, famine in Africa, Boston Massacre and, of course, 9/11. In the Newseum, journalists are honored, as they should be. Etched panels greet the light outside. The exhibit on the FBI was fascinating...remember Waco? I missed the presentation of the Boomers and Presidents and their dogs...DARN!! I’ll have to g back and spend a day there!! ) A highlight, pun intended, was stepping onto the roof which overlooks Pennsylvania Ave. with the Capital (regrettably swathed in scaffolding in the near distance. One can imagine the Inaugural Presidential parade passing below. What a view!! We have lucked out with no rain during our outing today. A glorious, cloud adorned sunset beckoned from the distance as we left dinner. Soft pale orange and pinkish hues blended and reflected on the shapely clouds. As we arrived at our hotel, a light sprinkle was descending with a cold, invigorating breeze accompanying it. We stepped by the waving tulips at our feet and entered our hotel with satisfied weariness. April 27, 2015 JAC Writer’s note...my computer will not let me organize my third paragraph correctly. Sigh