CHCI Congressional Internship
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Congressional Internship Program Mission
The purpose of the Congressional Internship Program (CIP) is to expose young Latinos to the legislative process and to strengthen their professional and leadership skills, ultimately promoting the presence of Latinos on Capitol Hill.
Congressional Internship Program Description
The Congressional Internship Program provides college students with a paid Congressional work placement on Capitol Hill for a period of twelve weeks (Spring/Fall) or eight weeks (Summer). This unmatched experience allows students to learn first hand about our nation's legislative process.
Promising Latino undergraduates from across the country are selected for this leadership training program. Students gain work experience, participate in a community service project, and receive educational and professional programming provided by CHCI. This comprehensive three-prong approach provides extraordinary learning and networking opportunities for students.
Selected participants will receive
- Congressional Office Internship Placement
- Great Pay
- $3,750 stipend - Spring and Fall (Twelve Weeks)
- $2,500 stipend - Summer (Eight Weeks - Benefits
- Domestic round-trip transportation to Washington, DC
- Housing (All Expenses Covered) - Academic Credit
- Interns may be eligible to receive academic credit at their college or
university for participating in the program. It is not mandatory to
obtain academic credit to participate, however, CHCI encourages
participants to research this possibility. To find out more, click here:
Academic Credit - Leadership Training, Networking and More
Work Experience
After a week-long orientation, interns are assigned to congressional offices where they gain first-hand knowledge of how the U.S. legislative process works. Intern duties may include responding to constituent inquiries, drafting correspondence, monitoring hearings, conducting research, and assisting with general office operations.
Leadership Development
Interns attend weekly sessions and meet with distinguished leaders from a range of professional backgrounds, engage in substantive policy discussions, and participate in professional development training. The sessions create an ideal forum for interns to share and exchange ideas with national leaders. Activities with other intern groups provide opportunities to learn coalition-building and an open dialogue on issues of mutual interest.
Community Service
Interns will also be required to engage in a CHCI community service project. This component of the curriculum broadens students' personal experience with civic engagement and allows interns to give back to the community.
Program Requirements - Interns must
- Work a minimum of 32 hours a week in congressional office assignment
- Participate in all CHCI-sponsored activities
- Attend one-week orientation and weekly leadership development sessions
- Participate in the community service project
- Comply with CHCI policies regarding work performance and personal conduct
Eligibility Criteria
- Students currently enrolled full time working towards their undergraduate degree
Note: Individuals that will graduate in May/June 2010 are NOT eligible for the Summer session. However, these individuals are eligible to participate in the Spring 2010 session. - High academic achievement (preference of 3.0 GPA or above)
- Strong analytical and writing skills
- Active participation in public and/or community service activities
- U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency
Selection Process
The selection process is competitive. CHCI receives five applications for every one available internship opportunity. CHCI processes applications to identify the most qualified candidates. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee composed by Alumni, Board of Directors and CHCI staff. A selected number of applicants are chosen based on the quality of their application.
2010 Internship Program Dates
- Spring: January 30 - April 24
- Summer: June 5 - July 31
- Fall: August 28 - November 20
2010 Internship Application Deadlines
- Spring: November 13, 2009
- Summer: February 5, 2010
- Fall: April 30, 2010
