Media contact
Athena Hernandez
Director, Marketing and Communications 
202-263-2832
ahernandez@cbcfinc.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is excited to announce the Spring 2024 cohort of Congressional interns, set to begin a transformative public policy and professional development journey starting January 16, 2024. Beyond intern placements with Congressional Black Caucus members, this comprehensive program offers a unique blend of experiences to foster holistic professional development.

Selected interns will benefit from an array of opportunities, ensuring a well-rounded experience including accommodations in the heart of Washington, D.C., a stipend, professional development training, and exclusive networking events to expand their professional networks.

“This internship program reflects our commitment to nurturing leaders who will shape the future,” said Ryan Tucker, Sr. Director of the CBCF Leadership Institute. “We are dedicated to providing an immersive and empowering experience that extends beyond traditional roles, preparing our interns for impactful contributions to society in policy, corporate and government sectors, nonprofits, and any other field where diverse leadership is key.”

The Congressional Internship program is one of a full range of experiential opportunities offered by the CBCF Leadership Institute, whose goal is to increase the pool of Black leaders in public service careers and public policy positions through providing fellowships, internships, and scholarships. In 2023, CBCF hosted 110 interns across the Spring, Summer, and Fall from 24 states and representing 80 schools. The program also awarded more than $3 million in scholarships to 380 students.

The CBCF Spring 2024 Intern Cohort is as follows:

Applications for the CBCF Summer 2024 Intern Cohort and scholarships are currently open. For media inquiries/interview opportunities, please contact Athena Hernandez at ahernandez@cbcfinc.org.

About the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research, and educational institute committed to advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org.

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CONTACT
Dr. Erica Southerland
202.263.2812
media@cbcfinc.org

WASHINGTON — The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) today welcomed 25 undergraduate students and recent graduates into its Congressional and C-Suite Internship programs. The cohort members began their assignments today and will spend the next three months working in congressional offices where they will observe first-hand the inner workings of Capitol Hill and learn how federal legislation is developed.

During the congressional internship experience, these interns will conduct research, write floor speeches, and prepare bills and resolutions for introduction in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, among many other duties. CBCF’s Congressional Communications Internship program is sponsored by CBCF’s long-standing partner, State Farm. The Emerging Leaders Internship program is sponsored by Walmart, a loyal partner of CBCF.

C-Suite interns gain exposure and mastery in core business functions including policy development, sales, marketing, operations and finance. Interns interact with senior-level business leaders, explore multifaceted business challenges, and build skills to prepare them for careers in corporate America. The C-Suite intern is sponsored by Home Depot.

“For decades, CBCF has led the most elite internship program on Capitol Hill,” said David A. Hinson, CBCF president and CEO. “We are known internationally for our competitive program that provides hands-on experience with the democratic process. Throughout the program, CBCF provides interns with professional development, mentorship, free housing and a stipend. We are excited to welcome the new cohort to Washington and look forward to their contributions and success.”

CBCF created the internship program in 1984 to address the underrepresentation of black professional staff on Capitol Hill. Each semester, interns are selected from a highly competitive application process. CBCF Leadership Institute internship programs are open to full-time undergraduate students and recent college graduates. Both the Congressional Internship and the Congressional Fellowship programs are lauded as top public policy training experiences in Washington, DC. Since its inception, more than 3,000 students have participated in the CBCF Congressional Internship program. Upon completing the program, many participants receive full-time employment offers.

“We are seeing a generation that’s increasingly committed to the political process and their professional development,” said Anne-Marie Burton, vice president, CBCF’s Leadership Institute. “Each cohort participates in community service activities and understands the importance of giving back to their communities. Leadership Institute alumni extend this mindset in their impactful work in public policy, business and beyond, helping to advance black communities internationally.”

CBCF’s spring 2020 interns are:

Communications Interns – Sponsored by State Farm

Emerging Leaders Interns – Sponsored by Walmart

C-Suite Intern – Sponsored by Home Depot

ABOUT CBCF
Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and educational institute committed to advancing the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org.

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Firm donates $60,000 to “Pathways to the C-Suite” to engage African American students in private sector career opportunities

WASHINGTON— The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) today announced that former Nevada Congressman Steven Horsford’s Washington, D.C.-based firm, R&R Resources+, will donate $60,000 to support the launch of the CBCF’s Pathways To The C-Suite, a new internship program that engages African-American college students in private sector career and leadership opportunities in Washington, D.C.

View photoshoot from 7th Annual Avoice Heritage Celebration

For forty years, the CBCF has successfully identified, recruited and placed African-American undergraduate and post-graduate students in internship and fellowship programs on Capitol Hill. To ensure that future leaders have an opportunity to experience how public policy is influenced and developed at every level of the process, the CBCF is expanding its internship program to include placements in the private sector through the foundation’s newly launched Pathways to the C-Suite. Through the partnership with R&R Resources+, the CBCF and R&R Resources+ will develop a platform to engage African-American students in opportunities to experience public policy development beyond Capitol Hill; and build strategic partnerships and collaborative leadership development opportunities with C-Suite executives to diversify the corporate leadership ranks now and in the future.

“As we celebrate black history this month and reflect on the progress our nation has made with regard to African American progress, it is important that we redouble our efforts to ensure that progress continues,” said A. Shuanise Washington, the president and CEO of the CBCF. “We remain focused on creating a strong pipeline to careers in public policy and the private sector, and our newest initiative, the C-Suite internship program, is a logical next step in our efforts to provide access to all aspects of the policy making process.”

“Creating inclusive practices in the public and private sector requires action,” said Steven Horford, president of R&R Resources+, an independently-owned Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), “I started as an intern and I know how that one opportunity changed the trajectory of my life. I fundamentally believe that when young leaders are provided pathways to find their life’s purpose, they will succeed. It is gratifying to partner with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to help develop our future African American leaders and to provide them with experiences to pursue a career in an industry which they might not have previously considered.”

View photoshoot from R&R Resource+ interns

The $60,000 donation from R&R Resources, will fund housing and a stipend to host at least four interns in the CBCF C-Suite internship program throughout the 2016 calendar year. The interns will receive first-hand experience at the marketing and advertising firm, whose portfolio of clients include MGM National Harbor, MGM Resorts International, Allegiant Airlines, the Tunica Biloxi Tribal Council, PwC and the American Gaming Association.

Horsford’s team of professionals at R&R Resources+ specializes in strategic communications, brand management, public relations, social media, media planning and placement, as well as workforce strategy and corporate social responsibility. The firm maintains offices in Prince George’s County, Maryland; Washington, DC; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

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About CBCF:
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated, established in 1976, is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy, research and educational institute intended to broaden and elevate the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative and public policy arenas. For more information, visit https://www.cbcfinc.org.

About R&R Resources+:
R&R Resources+, a certified minority business enterprise, is a full service agency offering strategic communications and brand management; creative development and execution; traditional, digital and social media planning and placement; public relations and corporate social responsibility initiatives. R&R Resources+ delivers workforce development and training strategies to companies that seek to hire skilled personnel that reflect the demographics of the communities in which they do business. As a Minority Certified Business, the firm’s principals have decades of experience in fostering authentic, meaningful partnerships that result in successful workforce strategies and innovative approaches to communicate corporate social responsibility solutions. For more information, visit us at www.rr-resourcesplus.com.

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By: Clarissa Shah

As a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation alumna, I am proud to support CBCF’s #GiveUsA5 campaign. The $5 dollar fundraising initiative will support the CBCF’s efforts to one-day place an intern or fellow in all 535 congressional member offices.

When people learn that in 2007 I served as a CBCF congressional intern for a man who would ultimately become lauded as one of the most successful presidents of the United States, they often ask if being his intern ever made me nervous.   “Yes” is the answer, but not for the reasons most would assume.  Working in then-Senator Obama’s office evoked a sense of pride, not nerves; my senator embodied hope and the urgency of change.  The nerves came when I was forced outside of my comfort zone and asked to use my then-elementary-level Chinese practically—to converse with Mandarin speakers visiting and calling Senator Obama’s office. “Clarissa, we have a Chinese-speaking constituent on the phone.  Are you available to speak with them?  They are on hold for you.”

I remember walking to the desk and staring at the phone that held the Mandarin-speaking constituent.  I made myself recall the classroom dialogues that highlighted the appropriate Chinese words and phrases to use on the telephone. “Why in the world did my textbook not have a dialogue involving an internship on Capitol Hill?” I asked myself. “Wei”, or “hello”, I nervously answered. I listened to the constituent on the other end and, after a few moments, uttered a phrase embraced by Chinese language students everywhere: “Man dianr”, or, “A little slower, please.”  Although at the very beginning of my journey as a Chinese language student, the moment I answered this particular call during my CBCF internship was pivotal, shaping my approach to Chinese language studies and, ultimately, my career.  You see, although I did not know every single word spoken by the constituent, I became determined to engage with constituents and represent my senator in the most meaningful way.  Mandarin words that I did not know, I wrote down and looked up when I got home.  I learned to anticipate the questions I might receive and practice how I might answer them in Mandarin.  In essence, I learned during my summer as a 19-year-old CBCF intern the true importance of resolved professional commitment—even if that commitment requires the use of a newly learned foreign language.

My time as a CBCF intern was invaluable and an experience I have cherished and carried with me everywhere from my hometown, St. Louis, Missouri, to Shanghai.  By virtue of being on Capitol Hill, a CBCF intern interacts with people from all walks of life and with varying passions.  The program underscores the notion that having the ability to work and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds is a key to success.  For this reason, the CBCF Internship Program is of the utmost importance to not only the African-American community, but also to general society—interpersonal relationships are championed above all else.

Almost a decade later, I regularly use Mandarin in my job as a lawyer for a multinational corporation.  Each time I pick up the phone for a call in Mandarin, I cannot help but think of my summer as a CBCF intern.  Although the nerves were dismissed long ago, I remain thankful for the CBCF internship pushing me outside of my comfort zone.   Supporting CBCF through the #GiveUsA5 campaign is the very least I can do. I encourage you to do same.

https://www.cbcfinc.org/givingtuesday2015/

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The author of this post, Clarissa Shah, served as a congressional intern for then-Senator Barack Obama in 2007.  She graduated from Colgate University with a B.A. in Chinese Languages and Literature in 2010.  Three years later she earned a J.D. and M.A. East Asian Studies: Chinese Language and History from Washington University in St. Louis.  Clarissa now works as a lawyer for Emerson.

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Summer program prepares students for careers in public service

WASHINGTON — The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) today honors the 41 students who participated in the 2014 Summer Congressional Intern Program. The summer internship program concludes today, July 25. These college students set out on a quest to develop themselves as leaders and learn about careers in public service.

Selected students participated in a nine-week summer program that began in May to gain hands-on experience navigating the legislative process and working on public policy. The interns worked in Congressional Black Caucus member offices and participated in professional development events, including a mock congressional session, leadership forums and speed networking with corporate and business leaders.

“This was an invaluable opportunity for our summer interns,” said A. Shuanise Washington, president and chief executive officer, CBCF. “Through the Congressional Intern Program, interns gained the tools they need to become leaders and public servants, while getting an up close and personal perspective on how legislators lead, develop and implement policies that affect all of us.”

CBCF internship programs are described as one of the top public policy training experiences in Washington, D.C. They are part of the CBCF Leadership Institute for Public Service (LIPS), which offers fellowships, internships and scholarships to equip the next generation of leaders for careers in public service.

Since its inception, more than 1,300 students have participated in the foundation’s internships. “CBCF is committed to developing the next generation of leaders. The Congressional Intern Program gives our students the chance to create, plan and organize community service and leadership projects—skills that enable them to grow professionally and personally,” concluded A. Shuanise Washington.

The CBCF Congressional Intern Program is made possible through the support of sponsors, including: Altria, Anheuser-Busch Companies, CIT, Comcast NBC Universal, Delta Research and Educational Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Prudential Financial and UPS.

The CBCF internship programs are open to full-time and recent college graduates. For more information about criteria and deadlines, visit www.cbcfinc.org or subscribe to the CBCF newsletter to receive news and updates about the CBCF LIPS programs and other initiatives. Visit the CBCF photo gallery to view photos of the CBCF summer 2014 interns.

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“Much of CBCF’s reputation and certainly our mission are built on the success of our Congressional internship program,” said A. Shuanise Washington, president and chief executive officer for the Foundation. “We are known internationally for our competitive, intensive nine-week program that gives a behind-the-scenes look into the democratic process. This is such a rewarding experience because we bring the students in as individuals and they leave as a cohort with a strong sense of what it is like to be involved in public service. ”

CBCF created its internship program in 1976 to address the underrepresentation of black professional staff on Capitol Hill. Today, in addition to the Congressional Internship program, the Foundation has the Emerging Leaders and Communications internships, as well as several fellowships for post-graduate studies. Both the intern and fellows programs are described as one of the top public policy training experiences in Washington, D.C.

Since its inception, more than 1,300 students have participated in Foundation internships. More than 300 well-qualified students applied for the summer 2013 session, an 11 percent increase from last summer. “With recent election activities on a national and state level, we are seeing a generation that’s increasingly committed to being involved in the political process,” said Marjorie Innocent, Ph.D. vice president of Research & Programs at CBCF. “This is also a cohort that participates in community service activities and understands the importance of giving back to their communities. Creating and working in public policy is an extension of this mindset,” she said.

CBCF’s internships programs are open to full-time and recent college graduates. For more information on criteria and deadlines, visit www.cbcfinc.org.

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION CONGRESSIONAL INTERNS 2013

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