WASHINGTON, DC - The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., (CBCF) welcomed a class of 13 interns in January; including nine from the Emerging Leaders Internship program sponsored by Walmart and four communications interns sponsored by State Farm.
 
 In addition to the hands-on Capitol Hill experience and networking opportunities, the interns are also earning nine credit hours from the George Washington University. CBCF interns working side by side with like-minded peers and professional politicos will leave the program with the knowledge and skills to become more involved in politics at the local, state and national levels.

"The Emerging Leaders internship creates a corps of trained, young leaders with the skills, outlook and contacts necessary to generate and sustain positive change in Washington and their local communities," said CBCF Chairman Donald M. Payne. "At the end of this semester, the interns will leave the program better informed about how politics work and how they can influence the public policy-making process."

 The communications interns are assigned to a member's office where they will work directly with the communications director and contribute substantially through researching legislation, preparing press releases, writing op-editorials, writing arguments for positioning, organizing and helping to prepare for briefings and forums. All interns will also complete a team community outreach service project. In addition, all interns receive housing and a stipends and will record their experiences on CBCF's blog, cbcfinc.org/blog.

CBCF created its internship program in 1976 to address the under representation of black professional staff on Capitol Hill. Today, in addition to the Walmart and Communications internships, the Foundation has its summer Congressional Internship Program for college students and recent college graduates who are interested in building a career in government and public service. CBCF internship programs and its nationally competitive Fellowship programs are described as one of the top public policy training experience in Washington, D.C.

"CBCF's mission and much of our reputation for success are built on our strong leadership education/development programs," said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer for CBCF. "We are known throughout the nation for our internship programs which provide college undergraduates with a behind-the-scenes look into the democratic process. Since its inception, more than 1,500 students have participated in Foundation internships."

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

 The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc. was established in 1976 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and education institute to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities.