CHCI Graduate Law Fellowship
- Interact with national leaders in the legal profession
- Meet important people in the federal judiciary
- Talk to civil rights advocates and learn about non-profit organizations
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"CHCI afforded me the opportunity to clerk for Judge Vanessa Ruiz of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. My primary duties included drafting weekly bench memos in preparation for oral arguments, as well as authoring draft published and unpublished opinions. My tenure in Judge Ruiz's chambers has strengthened my legal research and writing skills, and has provided me with the opportunity to clerk in Washington D.C."
María G. Mendoza, Law Graduate Fellow
Hometown: Las Cruces, NM
School: University of Arizona
Major: Juris Doctor
Placement: Honorable Vanessa Ruiz, District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Mission
The CHCI Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program seeks to enhance participants' leadership abilities, strengthen professional skills and ultimately produce more competent and competitive Latino professionals in underserved public policy issue areas.
Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Description
The nine month Fellowship Program offers exceptional Latinos who have a master's degree or higher unparalleled exposure to hands-on experience in the public policy areas:
- Higher Education
- Secondary Education
- Health
- Housing
- International Affairs (includes last three months abroad in Mexico)
- Law
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
Selected participants will receive
- Work Experience in Washington, DC
- Great Pay
-$2,700 monthly stipend to help cover housing and local expenses - Benefits
-Domestic round-trip transportation to Washington, DC
-Health insurance
-Optional short-term housing. CHCI secures and individuals reimburse CHCI for this service - Leadership Training, Networking and More
Work Experience
After a week-long orientation, and with CHCI's guidance, Graduate fellows research and interview with possible job placements, and select the opportunity that best matches their policy interest area. The range of placements includes congressional offices and committees or federal agencies.
Leadership Development
The Graduate fellows' intensive work experience is enhanced by weekly leadership training sessions that allow them to meet with national leaders and engage in substantive policy discussions. In addition, Graduate fellows produce a public policy brief. Graduate fellows also must organize a policy roundtable. Because of the wealth of information, contacts, and political activity in Washington DC, the Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program offers an excellent opportunity for participants to affirm their career goals in chosen issue area. All participants also receive personal support and guidance from CHCI staff and Alumni Association.
To view photos from the 2009 Roundtables series, click here.
Community Service
Fellows are required to engage in a group community service project identified through the CHCI fellowship program. This component of the curriculum allows fellows to identify areas of civic engagement and give back to the community. Fellows are also required to complete 32 hours of individual community service along with the group community service project.
Program Requirements - Fellows must
- Work a minimum of 32 hours per week at a placement
- Attend a one-week orientation and weekly leadership development sessions and participate in a retreat
- Participate in all CHCI-sponsored activities
- Participate in a community service project
- Complete 32 hours of community service
- Develop and execute a Policy Roundtable to promote public policy issues of importance to Latinos
- Research and publication of a written work about a public policy issue in chosen area
- Contribute to the development of the CHCI Public Policy Conference Summits
- Comply with CHCI policies regarding work performance and personal conduct
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must poses a graduate degree or higher related to chosen policy issue area from an accredited educational institution and must be within three years of program start date
- High academic achievement
- Evidence of leadership skills and potential for leadership growth
- Demonstrates commitment to public service-oriented activities
- Superior analytical skills, outstanding oral and written communication skills
- U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency
Selection Process
The selection process is competitive; CHCI receives 5 applications for every one available fellowship. 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. Only top candidates receive an invitation for an interview. A selected number of fellows are selected annually, based on the quality of their application and their interview scores.
2010 Fellowship Application Deadline: February 19, 2010
Program Dates: August 2010 - May 2011
