Didier Barjon: Advisory board member, Black Men on the Hill; Legislative assistant for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Didier Barjon serves as the tech and telecom legislative assistant for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — but he never expected to be working in politics.
“I was applying to law schools my senior year, but I didn't really want to go,” Barjon told The Hill. “Then I did a project for the head of government affairs at my university, and he was like, you should maybe intern on the Hill.”
Barjon decided to do just that, and in 2014 he started working in Rep. Kathy Castor's (D-Fla.) office. He loved it and has now been on Capitol Hill for 10 years.
During his time in Castor’s office, Barjon was introduced to the president of the Congressional Black Associates. He started going to meetings and found it provided a sense of community both on and off Capitol Hill.
Then, some of his friends wrote Barjon in for a board spot — and he soon began serving as vice president. In 2019, he was elevated to president. But Barjon noticed that while there was the Black Women's Congressional Alliance, the Black Men on the Hill network, which seeks to provide resources and connections, had fizzled out.
So he decided to revitalize the network.
“We've been trying to create that same kind of space, professionally, socially, for Black men,” Barjon said. “These jobs are great, but it can take up a lot of your energy. You're dealing with the global problems and problems of your community, problems of individuals that you know, you may even be seeing at home. So just having people to bounce thoughts off of, people to unwind with, people to just seek advice from, is important.”
One of his favorite parts of being with the network, Barjon said, is helping others get jobs. Serving in the leader’s office, Barjon said he also has the opportunity to flag a resume for someone who he knows in an office.
But Barjon also offered advice for those looking to make it as he did on Capitol Hill.
“Try everything. You don't know if you want to do the legislative route, the administrative route, the communications route. Once you figure out that path, then build the skill set necessary to get there,” Barjon said.