On the Job: Hailee Clack

Public service is nothing new to 2021 Powers Catholic High School graduate Hailee Clack. Members of Clack’s family have served in public offices through the years, and this inspired her to follow a similar path. “I want to eventually get into campaign work, and I plan to do that while I am in my master’s program,” Clacks says. “I will go to law school a little bit later and work as counsel for the Department of Education, and maybe one day run for office.”

Clack became involved in her community in high school, when she founded the Black Student Union to address social issues happening across the nation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In her time at Powers, she was also involved in TeenQuest and Summer Youth Initiative.

It was through TeenQuest that she learned how to interview and the importance of punctuality, as well as other lessons. “I remember Miss D,” says Clack. “She was really big on punctuality, as was my family, and that’s a lesson that I learned. She also taught us how to look our best and that you should always dress the part.”

In her time in the TeenQuest program she also worked a summer job with the Summer Youth Initiative and worked at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. The experience has stuck with her through the years and built a base for her professional career.

“Because of TeenQuest, I was able to interview a lot better,” Clack says. “The advisers we had were so straightforward and gave constructive criticism. I was able to receive it better, and I was able to come into college knowing how to interview better than some other students.”

After graduating from Powers, Clack moved on to Hampton University in Virginia, where she graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Pre-Law. She has interned with senators in Washington D.C. to learn more about that world. This summer she will take on another internship with the Cohen Group.

“My first internship I got my freshman year with Congressman Dan Kildee and then my sophomore year I worked for Congresswoman Rashida Talib,” Clack says. “My junior year I worked for the Committee on Education and Labor where Senator Bobby Scott was the ranking member. He was the Congressman for my university’s district so that’s how I got into Congressman Scott’s office.”

During her internships she answered phones, helped with casework, and because Hampton is a Naval district, worked with military and veteran affairs. She also helped with policy memos and co-sponsor recommendations. No day was ever the same in that fast-paced environment.

As for what the future holds for her, she has goals in mind and is letting her life play out and come to her. “I don’t have any definite plans but what I have done most is pray about it and keep God first and talk to my grandparents,” Clack says. “Any amount of wisdom can help in anyone’s plan. For myself, I choose to listen to people rather than converse. I find that by listening more you retain more information rather than speaking so much. Retaining information and applying it where I see fit is how I plan to get to where I want to go.” 

Do you have a memory or moment that stands out from TeenQuest?

I remember the community day when we cleaned up trash in the city and tended to a few overgrown yards. I made some friendships from then that I still have now.

What advice can you offer current and former students of TeenQuest/Summer Youth Initiative?

Use whatever you learn and apply it to wherever you are now or are trying to be, because it does help. Apply the information to your career and educate others on how it helped you.

What is your proudest moment since graduating TeenQuest?

 Some of the conversations I had with my peers on a one-on-one level.

When asked if she has advice for those that may be interested in pursuing a path in and around public service, she offers this: “Always keep in mind your humble beginnings and who you are doing it for and keep your heart in it.”