2010 Archive

WASHINGTON, DC (June 1, 2010) - The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., (CBCF) welcomed 42 undergraduate students and recent graduates from across the country to its Summer Congressional Internship Program. The students will spend the next two months working in a congressional office where they will have the opportunity to offer policy development and analysis on a number of issues, create a community action plan and develop a professional portfolio.

CBCF created the Legislative Internship Program in 1976 to address the underrepresentation of black professional staff on Capitol Hill. In 1983, the CBCF restructured the Legislative Internship Program into the Congressional Internship Program – a summer internship program for undergraduate students--and the Congressional Fellows Program for graduate level students. Through expansive outreach by the Foundation’s Leadership Institute for Public Service, interns now participate in the fall and spring semesters along with the summer. All students receive a stipend and housing. Since its inception, more than 1,200 students have participated in the program. The program is described as one of the top preparatory experiences in Washington, D.C.

“CBCF’s mission and much of our reputation for success are built on our strong internship program,” said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer for CBCF. “We are known throughout the nation for our intensive nine-week program that provides college undergraduates with a behind-the-scenes look into the democratic process. Through experiential learning in a congressional office, the program prepares the next generation to be decision makers in the policy making process.”

This year 176 students applied for the highly competitive internship. “Our application process is more rigorous than most internship programs and required more thought and research on student’s behalf,” said Lynn Jennings, Ph.D., manager of CBCF’s Leadership Institute. “We yielded a very qualified and focused group of students from the pool. In short, we have a very bright group of talented young people this summer.”

CBCF Congressional Internships are open to full-time undergraduates and graduating seniors in college. For more information on criteria and deadlines on this and other CBCF internships, fellowships and scholarships visit www.cbcfinc.org.