Meet Congressional Innovation Fellow Jhonatan Ewunetie. Jhonatan will be working with the House Committee on Appropriations and Sub-Commitee on Transportation, Housing & Urban Development. His work will focus on emerging issues in transportation and HUD, including transportation data and autonomous vehicle regulatory policy.
Learn more about Jhonatan’s transition from the Silicon Valley to Congress in his blog post here:
The Silicon Valley Bubble is a self-aware nod that Bay Area's tech circles use when describing the divide between the tech sphere and the everyday realities most Americans face. In the best-case scenario, those within the Bubble have a general apathy towards national and international news and events. In the worst case, there's a blindness to the tangible impacts of one's programming, as the success of unit tests is their only concern.
During the first two years of my college career, I was part of the Silicon Valley Bubble. I had interned at both major tech firms and startups. It was during my second summer in tech that I faced a revelation: I had interacted with numerous software engineers, designers, and product managers, but not once had I spoken to a user. The real-world influence of my code and the products I helped develop was unknown to me, despite holding a principle of maximizing the amount of positive impact through my work. Feeling confined by the Bubble, I knew it was time to break free.
In the years following, I ventured beyond Silicon Valley to work with think tanks and NGOs in D.C. and overseas. I delved into issues like the impact of AI in the workplace and public news bias. My most transformative experience was this past summer, working in the Senate Appropriations Committee where I helped develop technology to aid in crafting appropriation bills. My interactions with former TechCongress Fellows were also pivotal to my growth. Their dedication to public service was unparalleled, and it was through their influence that I decided to apply for the Congressional Innovation Fellowship. They exemplified what it meant to integrate technology and public service, a synthesis I'm eager to explore further. The Congressional Innovation Fellowship offers the ideal platform for me to expand upon the work that has captivated me.