CBCF Walmart Emerging Leaders Internship Program

CBCF Walmart Emerging Leaders Internship Program
The semester-long Emerging Leaders Internship Program sponsored by Walmart creates a corps of trained, young leaders with the skills, outlook, and contacts necessary to generate and sustain positive change in Washington, D.C. and their local communities. This program will take place in person from August 22nd to December 13th, 2026. Interns will receive housing, 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, be a college graduate 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 three 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 Links:

CBCF Fall 2026 Internship | Virtual Information Session #1:
Date: Apr 14, 2026 06:30 PM
Registration Link: https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/pOl8HvTrS-et-tXAOq-GBg

CBCF Fall 2026 Internship | Virtual Information Session #2:
Date: May 20, 2026 06:30 PM
Registration Link: https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/ifDv9lN_RTu2M5SlMEBNOg

CBCF Fall 2026 Internship | Virtual Information Session #3:
Date: Jun 9, 2026 06:30 PM
Registration Date: https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/Eqv7QDETTtCfB42E5wq1DQ

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 be a college graduate by the start of the Fall program OR must have not graduated with a bachelor’s degree more than 2 years from the internship program start date

• Interns must have U.S. citizenship or a permit to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program (August 22nd to December 13th, 2026)

• Interns must have availability to participate full-time upon acceptance

• Interns cannot yet have obtained a graduate degree

• Interns cannot be actively enrolled in graduate studies

• 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 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

Application Materials:
The completed online application must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET, June 26, 2026. The following items will be requested through the online application:

• 1 Video Recording in response to a provided prompt (located within the opportunity)

• 1 Essay Question Response (located within the opportunity)
  - Choose a social justice policy issue (e.g., criminal justice reform, voting rights, the school-to-prison pipeline, public education, housing, racial discrimination in the workplace, etc.) that you believe is most relevant to the Black community and should be championed by members of the Congressional Black Caucus through legislation. Discuss the current effects of this issue on the Black community and identify specific aspects the legislation should address to create a positive impact. Be sure to cite your sources. (150 words maximum; not including citing; Arial font, size 12, single-spaced)

• 2 letters of recommendation; uploaded by applicant (must be uploaded directly to the application portal); letter must be on a formal, professional letterhead and include contact information; pdf format; include recommender’s signature; emailed copies of letters will not be accepted. ALL DOCUMENTATION MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 11:59 pm ET, June 26, 2026. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• Resume listing extracurricular activities, honors, employment, community service, and specific skills (1-page limit)

• Transcript; unofficial accepted (must be uploaded directly to the application portal)

PLEASE NOTE:
You must complete the General Application to gain access to the opportunities. If, for any reason, you are unable to access the opportunities, 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.

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, or any other trait, characteristic, or class for which applicable law requires the CBCF to provide reasonable workplace accommodations.

Accommodation requests for the Fall 2026 Internship should be submitted to Human Resources in writing no later than June 26th, 2026.

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 Internship is a highly competitive program. 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 regarding 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.

CBCF is a non-partisan 501©(3) equal opportunity organization that provides scholarships, internships, and fellowships to eligible applicants.