From D.C. Newbie to Native: How EESI’s Internship Jump-Started My Communications Career | Article

Young Carlos, wide-eyed and fresh off the plane in 2014 Washington D.C., had so many questions. Did the Craigslist room in Arlington he'd never visited prior to the move… exist? Did the tie-shirt combo purchase from Marshalls pass the D.C. dress code? Is eating Potbelly every single day a legitimate meal plan? Despite these questions, I was sure of one thing: I wanted to work in the clean energy field and combat climate change in any way I could.

Carlos Villacis

I became obsessed with energy-related solutions to climate change during my late undergraduate years, but was devastated when I realized I was too far along in my studies in switch majors. In my mind, becoming an engineer or scientist were the only ways I could contribute to this challenge, and I had missed my shot. However, I was blessed with a team of amazing mentors who proved me wrong and took me under their wings, guiding me towards a variety of opportunities, including in agricultural resource efficiency, solar panel installation, county-level electricity policy, and most importantly, communications.

I thrived in communications, loving the process of translating complex topics to more digestible language, using social media to have discussions with anybody with a similar interest, and crafting creative campaigns to get messages out to target audiences. But I also wanted to make sure I balanced my communications knowledge with a background in policy, understanding that this was the language spoken in this city, and I couldn’t let my focus on communications get in the way of developing this equally important skill set.

This is why I was so drawn to the Communications and Policy Intern position at EESI. Not only could I build on both my policy and communications skills, but I could do so with an audience that included members of Congress! I was able to hit the ground running, drafting social media posts with high levels of engagement, writing blogs on both hot and unexpected topics, and supporting briefings on the Hill featuring the nation’s biggest experts in the clean energy space!

Fast forward two years, and I found myself starting a role as a contractor for the Bioenergy Technologies Office at the Department of Energy (DOE). I was excited and eager, ready to get my post-school career started, but also nervous, hoping I was adequately prepared for these new challenges. Immediately, I was tasked with fact-sheet development, blog composition, and amplifying and hosting events. This was perfect, since I had done all of this before with EESI! I was familiar with the tasks expected of me, and this was being noticed by my colleagues at DOE, who were impressed by my confidence and familiarity with the science, policies, and communication tactics, all of which were honed during my time at EESI, back when I was still a D.C. newbie.

I’m currently still a contractor for DOE, but am now the Strategic Communications Lead for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Sustainable Transportation pillar. In this role, I help coordinate the amplification of DOE’s efforts concerning electric vehicles, biofuels, hydrogen and fuel cells, and a variety of other transportation-related projects. I find myself in meetings with impressive figures like the Secretary of Energy, executives from major auto and aviation companies, and scientists representing the cutting edge of their fields. The strategies we discuss are ambitious, as my office is at the forefront of the Administration’s bold efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector. My typical day can involve arranging responses to questions from major news outlets, preparing remarks that will be delivered to global audiences, and coordinating communication strategies with other federal agencies such as the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Despite how much has changed since 2014, I still find myself building on the same skills and tactics I first gained at EESI. As I continue to coordinate events, write blogs, and compose social media posts, the tips I got at EESI still come to mind, including Amaury’s suggestions for hashtags, graphic design tricks I first tested out on the EESI logo, and the actual science and policies I studied while writing newspaper blurbs in the old 16^th street office. And throughout my time at DOE, now under its third Administration since my arrival, I have kept close tabs on EESI’s efforts, and remain impressed by its perseverance through changes, determination to achieve results, and of course, the smiles on all of its employees as they tackle one of the world’s greatest challenges.

I want to thank EESI for introducing me to Washington D.C. EESI helped me navigate the intersection between policy and communications, and showed me the best ways to ensure that the latest news and developments concerning climate change were effectively delivered to difference-making stakeholders. I learned so much at EESI, and continue to learn more with every Climate Change Solutions newsletter I read. It brings me joy watching EESI’s internship program continue to grow and succeed, since each new intern is building the foundations of a career with endless possibilities, motivated by a shared goal of combating climate change.

Author: Carlos Villacis