CBCF State Farm Communications Internship
Spring 2025 CBCF State Farm Communications Internship Program
The semester-long CBCF Communications Internship program, sponsored by State Farm, offers college seniors and recently graduated students the opportunity to learn about press and media relations on Capitol Hill. This program will take place in person from January 13, 2025 to May 2, 2025. Interns will receive housing, and a $4000 stipend (paid biweekly in increments of $500). Interns will be placed in various congressional offices, committees, subcommittees, or federal agencies. This program is offered during the fall and spring semesters. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, should be at least a college senior by the program start date, have a permit to work in the U.S. and have a demonstrated interest in public service, governance, and the policy-making process.
CBCF will offer four information sessions to allow prospective applicants to learn more about our internship program. Should this be of interest, please register for the information session of your choice:
Info Session Dates and Registration Link:
August 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udOCvrTgrH9Ozfc3px184qSAKDaIws3jm
September 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwof-uvqDsuGdKilthib477UdHo1FKLWO_H
September 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvceygrDsrEtGbspsFNl3ja5DyomJws-jB
October 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfumuqT4rHNOQjDRSkvPITDeX0S65bfO9
Candidate Requirements
Note: You must use your full first and last name as your display name when creating your application account.
- Interns must have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Interns must have full Covid vaccination, a COVID booster shot is encouraged
- Interns must have U.S. citizenship or a permit to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program (January 13 to May 2, 2025)
- Interns must have availability to participate full-time upon acceptance
- Interns cannot be enrolled in classes for the duration of the program (in some cases, the program can be used for credit with university approval)
- Interns must be current or rising college seniors by the start of the spring program OR must have not graduated with a bachelor’s degree more than 2 years from the internship program start date
- Interns cannot yet have obtained a graduate degree
- Interns cannot be actively enrolled in graduate studies
- Interns must have a general familiarity with the federal legislative process, the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus and its members, and related policy
- Interns must have superior analytical skills
- Interns must have outstanding oral and written communication skills
Note: Upon acceptance, interns must stay in provided CBCF housing, with a roommate, for the duration of the program.
Application Materials
The completed online application must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET, November 1, 2024. The following items will be requested through the online application:
- 1 Video Recording in response to a provided prompt (located within the Conditional Application)
- 1 Essay Question Response (located within the Conditional Application)
- 2 letters of recommendation, submitted electronically (hard copy letters will not be accepted)
- Resume listing extracurricular activities, honors, employment, community service, and specific skills (2-page limit)
- Transcript (must be uploaded directly to the application portal)
- A recent photograph suitable for publication (i.e., a graduation photo or other professional-quality photograph in which the subject is formally dressed)
PLEASE NOTE: You must complete the General Application to gain access to the Conditional Application. If for any reason you are unable to access the conditional application, it may be because you are unqualified for the opportunity. Please reach out to internships@cbcfinc.org for assistance, as necessary. Note that application materials are not accepted via email.
COVID-19 Guidelines
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has carefully been following specific government guidance on making our workplace, and our working arrangements, COVID free in order to offer protection to our interns. For this reason, we encourage all of our interns to be vaccinated (boosted) against the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 vaccines work well to prevent sever illness and hospitalization due to COVID. Vaccination also helps lower your chances of developing Long COVID. The CBCF will continue to monitor government guidelines as well as COVID-19 cases to determine if we need to make any updates to our COVID vaccination policy.
Requests for Accommodations
Interns may request an accommodation for a medical reason such as a disability (as defined by applicable law), pregnancy (or childbirth or a related medical condition), being a nursing mother, having a documented medical condition that contraindicates the vaccination, or any other trait, characteristic, or class for which applicable law requires the CBCF to provide reasonable workplace accommodations.
Congressional Interns may request an accommodation for a non-medical reason, such as an objection to being vaccinated on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs and practices.
Accommodation requests for the Spring 2025 Congressional Internship should be submitted to Human Resources in writing no later than October 20, 2024.
Additional Note: Former interns, immediate relatives of a CBCF employee, CBC Member, CBC Spouse, a staff person of a CBC Member or Spouse, a member of the CBCF Board of Directors, Corporate Advisory Council Member of CBCF, or any CBCF-sponsoring entity are not eligible for CBCF internship programs.
Selection Process
The CBCF’s Congressional and Pathways to C-Suite Internship Programs are highly competitive programs. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee made up of program alumni, staff, and board members. Top candidates receive an invitation to interview. Applications are scored based on evidence of leadership and leadership potential, including community involvement, commitment to public service, and ability to challenge self.
Questions?
Please contact: internships@cbcfinc.org
Please do not contact the office in regard to your application status. Only qualified candidates will be directly contacted by program supervisors. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to all applicants.
- Award
- $4,000
- Scopes
- Internships
- Deadline
- 11/01/2024
- Supplemental Questions
- Upload a recent professional headshot suitable for publication (does not have to be professionally taken). This photograph will be used in reports and biographies both internally and externally. Photographs should be high resolution.
- Video Response: Discuss two important reasons that inspired you to apply for this internship. (3min Max)
- Please choose only 1 from the following Essay Prompts: Essay 1: You are working in the office of a congressional member as a subject matter expert in your respective profession. Draft a memo to your congressional member discussing three policy areas that you deem most critical to the advancement of the black community, why your representative should prioritize these items on his/her agenda, and how s/he can create awareness on these issues. Be sure to cite your sources. [1,000 words maximum. Arial font with a font size of 12 and single spacing] Essay 2: Choose a bill that you find most relevant to the black community in the last three congressional sessions. Discuss the current status of the legislation, the key members involved with the issue, and the potential or current effects of the legislation on the black community. Be sure to cite your sources. [1,000 words maximum. Arial font with a font size of 12 and single spacing] Essay 3: Choose a social justice policy issue (i.e. criminal justice reform, Black Lives Matter, school-to-prison pipeline, public education, or racial discrimination in the workplace) you find most relevant to the black community in the last three congressional sessions. Discuss the current status of the legislation, the key members involved with the issue, and the potential or current effects of the legislation on the black community. Be sure to cite your sources. [1,000 words maximum. Arial font with a font size of 12 and single spacing]
- Please identify a policy area of interest
- Briefly explain your interest in the policy area you listed above and also any additional ones you also interested in.
- Upload a legible copy of your current transcript in a PDF file. We must be able to read clearly the name of academic institution, student name and information, courses, grades and other information detailed on the transcript (unofficial accepted).
- Upload resume in a PDF file listing your employment, community service, academic information, extracurricular activities, honors and special skills.
- Please upload a cover letter expressing your interest in the Congressional Internship with the CBCF. Ensure that your letter is 12 pt. font Times New Roman and uploaded as a pdf.
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