Martha Sullivan isn?t your typical Annapolis intern.
The 56-year-old Columbia resident brings a career as a lawyer with the federal government and decades of life experience to her job in the office of Del. Elizabeth Bobo, D-District 12B.
“I think it?s true that we all still feel very young and have a lot to give,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan is one of about 20 interns over 50 years old participating in the Legacy Leadership program, run by the University of Maryland?s Center on Aging.
The interns are matched with state delegates and senators based on their home county and interests. Five Howard residents are participating this session.
The program begins in the fall with two months of classes in College Park, teaching the nuts and bolts of politics.
Once in Annapolis, interns often do some clerical work, “but many of us are also doing research into bills and following bills into committee,” Sullivan said.
West Friendship resident Ken Nibali retired from the Social Security Administration several years ago and wanted a service-oriented volunteer job, he said.
He now spends two days a week working with Del. Gail Bates, R-District 9A, whom he knew through previous community work.
“I have been able to step up fairly quickly and help research things with her,” said Nibali, who also answers phones and stuffs envelopes.
The program wasn?t an easy sell when it launched in 2001.
“People were skeptical about senior citizens working in their offices,” said Howard delegation staff person Carole Graves, a 2003 program graduate.
Many legislators initially had stereotypes of the interns as being “fogies” or “slow,” Graves said, particularly next to the college interns populating the State House.
Over the years the program has gained credibility, and now legislators request interns, especially this year with the newly elected leadership, Graves said.
Bobo admits she didn?t know enough about the program to really appreciate it before she signed up two years ago.
“I have immense respect for the program now,” Bobo said. “I don?t think it?s as well-known an asset as it could be.”
