Civic Internship Opportunities
In partnership with The Soll Center for Student Opportunity, the Kravis Lab for Civic Leadership offers Claremont McKenna College (CMC) students the opportunity to secure funding for internships that increase their understanding of civic institutions and provide an opportunity to view and engage contemporary issues through the lens of civic leadership.
As a participant in this internship program, it is each student’s responsibility to actively seek out and secure an internship opportunity within the domain of civic leadership. It is important to note that internships of a non-partisan, political nature or centered on advocacy should be avoided.
When exploring potential civic leadership internships, students should consider areas closely related to the foundations of government, such as:
- Democracy
- Federal, State or Local Government
- Judicial Systems
- Organizations Promoting an Understanding and Appreciation of America’s Founding Principles
- Organizations Increasing Voter Knowledge and/or Participation
- Organizations Studying Federal, State of Local History Regarding Civic Issues
Past Civic Internships
My favorite part of my internship is being in DC, right in the heart of where policies are made and current events occur. Everyone in the city is energetic, excited, and engaged in their community, and each day brings new opportunities to witness history in the making. From the bustling streets to the iconic landmarks, being in DC provides a unique perspective on national and global affairs. It’s an inspiring environment that fuels my passion for learning and pursuing a more just society.
My favorite part of my internship was seeing famous politicians in the hallway and learning how congressional office operates.
My favorite part of my internship was being able to be in person and build relationships with my coworkers throughout my time in Sacramento. The other members of the development team were so helpful and taught me about developing and maintaining non profit journalism. I also loved being in the newsroom everyday, listening to the reporters discuss story ideas, current policies, and everything California politics.
One of my favorite things about my internship at Senator Hickenlooper’s office was the opportunity to research Health and Education policy, especially analyzing Colorado specific outcomes. I also enjoyed interacting with Colorado constituents and hearing their thoughts on bills as they were moving through congress.
My favorite part was the legal research I conducted. My work focused on calling attention to inconsistencies in sentencing and factually baseless pleas.
Coffee chats with staff, attending embassy events and congressional briefings, and learning about a range of issues from the management of wild horses on federal lands to national defense spending.
I have enjoyed working on the Education policy team, attending briefings on everything from federal student aid to early reading and doing research on college admissions practices!
