CHCI Congressional Internship Program Strengthens Diversity on Capitol Hill

Twenty Latino Students from Across the Nation to Work in Congress

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2014 — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Latino youth leadership development and educational services organization, welcomed the arrival of its 2014 Spring Congressional Internship class to Washington, D.C., on Monday, February 10, 2014.  Twenty undergraduates arrived from nine states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to take part in the nationally-recognized and award-winning CHCI Congressional Internship Program (CIP).

The CIP provides Latino college students unmatched job opportunities in congressional offices on Capitol Hill as well as an opportunity to participate in CHCI’s nationally renowned leadership and professional training program.  The goal of the program is to expose talented Latino college students to the inner-workings of the federal government while preparing them to become part of the workforce pipeline to fill leadership positions in all sectors – private, public, and non profit.

“CHCI is committed to creating opportunities for young Latinos to come to Washington, D.C., and learn not only how the federal government operates, but how they can work to impact public policy for the betterment of their communities,” said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President & CEO.  “For 37 years we have been educating, empowering and connecting the next generation of Latino leaders and ensuring that the current and future halls of Congress accurately represent the growing Hispanic population in America.”

The 2014 Spring Congressional Internship class reflects the national diversity of the Latino community, representing eight different ethnic backgrounds, 19 academic institutions, and 15 academic majors.  Fifty-five percent of the class is the first generation to attend college and 80 percent come from homes with a total income below $45,000.

The CIP provides Latino college students with work placement on Capitol Hill four days a week, where they gain substantive work and networking experience. Interns also participate in once-a-week educational programs and leadership training at CHCI headquarters, where they meet with national public- and private-sector leaders and engage in national policy discussions. Interns are required to complete a community service project and are provided with housing, roundtrip transportation to and from Washington, D.C., and a stipend.

All of this is possible through support from Walmart, the Ford Foundation and Southwest Airlines – official airline of CHCI’s Leadership Programs.  Applicants can apply for the CIP at www.chci.org.  The deadline for the 2014 fall session is April 25, 2014.

About CHCI
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c) (3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders.  The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic Members of Congress, nonprofit, union and corporate leaders.  For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771, visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter (chci) and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute