Summer Capitol Hill Internship Program Deadline Approaching
February 4, 2013, Washington, D.C. – The application process for the summer Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP) is officially open, and applications will continue to be accepted until March 29, 2013. PAAIA’s Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP), which aims to promote increased civic participation by young Iranian Americans, has been a great success since its initial launch in 2012. We have, in the past year, had five exceptional Iranian Americans work in various Congressional offices in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
The CHIP program offers college students or recent graduates of Iranian descent the unique opportunity to get a firsthand look at our nation’s legislative and political process. In conjunction with congressional offices in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, applicants who are accepted will spend approximately 6-8 weeks during the summer living and working in the nation’s capital. The purpose of the program is to create a more civically engaged and politically aware community by teaching young Iranian Americans about the legislative process first-hand – thus increasing the influence and voice of Iranian Americans in decision-making processes.
The program is unparalleled by others of its kind, as applicants also have opportunities to attend PAAIA D.C. events and network with, and be mentored by, Iranian American staff on Capitol Hill and various non-governmental organizations throughout Washington, D.C. Thus, in addition to providing interns with a once in a lifetime experience of working on Capitol Hill, CHIP allows interns to network with other Iranian Americans living and working in our nation’s capitol.
Each recipient who is successfully placed on Capitol Hill will receive a stipend of $2,000 from PAAIA. The CHIP program is, in part, made possible by a generous contribution from Dr. Akbar Ghahary. Dr. Ghahary is a member of PAAIA and serves on the Board of Directors of IAPAC.
Individuals will be evaluated on the merits of both their educational and professional experiences. For those who are selected, PAAIA will make all attempts to place them in offices befitting their academic/career interests and located in their geographic region. The application process is highly selective, and only a few will be chosen for these internship opportunities.
The CHIP program is part of PAAIA’s ongoing efforts to expand opportunities for the active participation of Iranian Americans in the democratic process.
The deadline to apply for a summer 2013 CHIP internship is March 29, 2013. Click here to learn more and apply to PAAIA’s CHIP program.
