GVPT Undergraduate Newsletter

Once a year, college students are invited to participate in the U.S. Model Congress Program, held May 27-31 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Given the intricate nature and complex structure of Congress, one of the best ways to learn more about this legislative body is to participate in this first-hand learning experience.

In the U.S. Model Congress, held in congressional committee rooms, students serve as a member of a House Committee. They are led in committee proceedings, reviewing student-drafted legislation, by former members of Congress, American Political Science Association Congressional Fellows, and congressional staff, who provide a unique and valuable education and share stories of their time in Congress, building upon the student’s knowledge.

In addition to a unique and high-quality education on Congress, students are given the opportunity to interact with their like-minded peers from around the country. Through experiences like this, students are able to gain leadership skills that they can apply to numerous ventures in the future.

Applications, registration information, and a short informational video can be found online at www.modelcongress.org, and a news clip on the program can be found at http://youtube.com/watch?v=vqPQTD6M99A.

Connecticut Congressional Delegation Internship

Seeking outgoing and responsible legislative interns for the Summer semester! This unique experience affords students the opportunity to gain an understanding of the workings of the federal government, as well as the relationship between federal and state government. As a small yet active office, we offer interns the opportunity to actively participate in all aspects of the governor’s office operation, ranging from the tracking of legislative issues to the performance of routine administrative tasks.

Interns should expect to monitor issues for the duration of their internship and will attend House and Senate committee hearings; write summaries of committee hearings and briefings; conduct research on legislation; track bills; and deliver information to members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation. Interns will also be called on to assist with administrative procedures. Preference will be given to applicants from Connecticut.

This is an Equal Employment Opportunity

Contact:
Adam Kowalsky
Federal Affairs Assistant
akowalsky@sso.org
202-347-4535

APIAVote Internship Program

The APIAVote Internship Program strives to encourage and cultivate young Asian Pacific Islander student leaders to explore a career in the public sector or the political area. This summer internship program will also provide hands on experience and training on how to organize and implement voter activities to increase the participation of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the electoral process.

Stipend: $2000 or unpaid/for-credit internships also available.

Details & Application can be found at: http://www.apiavote.org/InternDescription.htm

Deadlines: Postmarked by April 18,2008 for the Summer Session. Spring, Fall and Winter internships accepted on a rolling basis.

Donna Edwards for Congress

About the Campaign

Donna Edwards is the Democratic Nominee for Congress for Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District. She is a community activist and non-profit executive from the Fort Washington area of Prince George’s County. Donna’s campaign is focused on ending the war in Iraq, protecting workers’ rights, focusing our national priorities on healthcare and education, reducing our dependence on oil, and addressing the current foreclosure crisis.

Internship Program

The Donna Edwards for Congress Campaign is currently seeking unpaid high school and college interns for the remainder of the spring semester and summer. This is an excellent opportunity for young people interested in politics, public policy or community organizing to gain valuable experience on a nationally recognized campaign. We are seek bright and hardworking individuals with a commitment to making our communities and nation better places for all.

A political campaign is a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. Interns should be highly flexible individuals with good communication skills and a strong sense of humor. In addition, applicants with strong writing and computer skills are highly preferred. Previous campaign or organizing experience is a plus but not required.

Interns must be able to commit to working at least 15 hours per week. They must also have reliable transportation to and from one of our campaign offices. There are four areas of work that interns can be assigned to:

Management – Interns will work directly with the campaign management staff (Campaign Manager, Deputy Campaign Manager, etc.). Potential tasks include internet research, document drafting, managing the candidate’s schedule, and planning campaign events.

Finance – Interns will work directly with the campaign finance director to assist in the campaign’s fundraising efforts. Potential tasks include assisting with the planning and organization of successful fundraising events, completing donor research and aiding in call targeting, staffing fundraising events, and aiding in the management of the candidates solicitation call time.

Communications – Interns will work directly with the campaign communications director to manage media coverage of the candidate. Potential tasks include scheduling interviews with the press, answering press questions, researching policy, drafting press releases and staffing the candidate for press events. Communications interns must have very strong written and verbal communication skills.

Field Operations – Interns will work directly with campaign field staff to reach out to voters across the congressional district. Potential tasks include organizing and attending voter outreach events, identifying and attending important community events, and volunteer recruitment and management.

To apply, high school students must complete the application form. College students must complete the application and submit a cover letter and resume. Qualified applicants will interview with campaign staff before being accepted into the program. There is no deadline for application but spaces are limited. Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. To request an application or more information, email interns@donnaedwardsforcongress.com or call the campaign office at (301)316-1880.