Richard Coffin, who is studying government at Harvard University, landed an opportunity of a lifetime: an internship with the Democratic National Convention Committee.
It was a chance to serve his hometown, he said.
“I just think the mere fact that it’s here helps the community,” Coffin said. “It gives you some hometown pride.”
Coffin is one of many college students from Denver who are spending the summer back home, working days, nights and weekends to make Denver shine for the 50,000-plus people — the journalists and the politicians, the lobbyists and the celebrities — who will be in town for the week.
The Democratic National Convention Committee received hundreds of applications for its intern positions, but only 90 were hired, said Natalie Wyeth, spokeswoman for the committee. Eight were from Denver.
“I think it’s a special thing to have them involved in this special event that will put Denver in the spotlight,” Wyeth said.
These aren’t the kind of interns who scurry around the office, hair amuck, serving up coffee, setting up lunch appointments, shining their boss’s shoes. They’re the real deal, front and center.
They work with the media or transform the Pepsi Center from a sporting arena into a makeshift Washington, D.C.
Coffin has spent much of his internship setting up the Pepsi Center. But, he said, his duties change, making each day something to look forward to. It helps that the convention will go down in history.
“I’m just really excited to see how the convention works from the inside,” he said. “It’s such a historic election, and I think it’s exciting to be part of it.”
Trini Dominguez, spokeswoman for the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, said 29 interns are working for that organization, many of them from Denver. At times, she said, it seems like the interns are running the show.
“They have a lot of experience for as young as they are,” Domin guez said. “I’m just blown away with some of the experience they have at their age.”
Chris Loney, an intern for the host committee, has helped set up a dispatch center for the convention. Loney said he’s worried about getting another internship after working for the convention — only because it won’t compare.
“It’s unpaid, but it really doesn’t seem like it’s that big of a burden — it’s not a burden at all,” the Harvard student said. “You come to work, and you work with all these other amazing interns and staff, and it’s just really an amazing environment to work in.”
Anne Canter, who is studying journalism at Northwestern University, is working in the public relations department for the Democratic National Convention Committee. Canter said this summer has helped her decide what she wants to do after graduation.
“This internship has really cemented in my mind that I really like community organizing,” she said.
Christopher Sanchez: 303-954-1698 or csanchez@denverpost.com
