Internships & Opportunities

  • Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Congressional Internship

    The Congressional Internship is designed for AANHPI undergraduate-aged students looking to increase their experience in public policy and service. The paid internship program places interns in congressional offices and provides them with the opportunity to develop their leadership and professional skills, encourages political engagement, and fosters interests in public service careers.

    PERIOD: May 31, 2022 – July 22, 2022
    LOCATION: Washington, DC

    Applications are due: January 28, 2022 @ 11:59PM EST

    Application process is located here.

    For more information, please contact [email protected].

  • APAICS Congressional Fellowship

    The APAICS Congressional Fellowship is designed for young AAPI professionals looking to increase their experience in public policy and service. The full-time paid, 9-month program places fellows in congressional offices to gain policy experience as part of the legislative team. The program provides fellows with opportunities to build their leadership skills, encourages political engagement, and fosters interest in a public service career.

    PERIOD:    Nine months
    2022 Program Dates: September 6, 2022 – June 2, 2023

    LOCATION: Washington, DC

    Applications are due: February 5, 2022

    Application process is located here.

    For additional information, please contact [email protected]

  • Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) Summer Internship Program

    Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. APIAVote envisions a society in which all AAPIs fully participate in and have access to the democratic process.

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

    For the summer of 2018, we are offering both paid and unpaid internships based in Washington, D.C. If you are interested in remote, unpaid internships throughout the year, please apply as well. Our spring, fall, and winter internships are unpaid.  Applications are taken on a rolling basis.

    Summer Internship DeadlineMarch 1, 2018
    Rolling Deadline for spring and fall unpaid internships.

    INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE
    The internship program is tailored per organizational needs and intern skills. Interns may work on any of the following areas:

    • Communications/Technology (new media and traditional),
    • Graphic Design,
    • Field (working with APIAVote partners to mobilize for elections),
    • Research and Policy (research and advocate for policy recommendations),
    • Training (Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Training Institute), or
    • Youth (engaging and organizing our youth coalitions)

    In addition, applicants selected for these internships will collectively work on the implementation of APIAVote’s YouthVote campaign. This will include identifying, recruiting, and training student organizers to implement voter engagement activities and developing campaign materials for 2017 – 2018.
    Paid summer internships receive a stipend of $2,500.

    REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL INTERNSHIP APPLICANTS:

    • College or graduate student
    • Leadership abilities
    • Oral and written communication skills
    • Dedicated to promoting civic participation of AAPIs in the electoral and public policy processes

    APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE:

    • Submission of online application form
      • In the online form, submit a 500 word essay on the question: “Why are you interested in the APIAVote internship program and what are tangible steps or ideas you can do to increase AAPI youth civic engagement?”
    • Resume including Education, Work Experience, Political Experience, Extracurricular Activities, Awards/Honors
    • Two letters of references
    Summer Internship DeadlineMarch 1, 2018
    Rolling Deadline for spring and fall unpaid internships.
    Send your resume and references to [email protected]. Submit the rest of the application through the link above.

    https://www.apiavote.org/internships

  • The Greenling Institute Summer Associates and Fellowships

    THE SUMMER ASSOCIATES PROGRAM (JUNE 2018-AUGUST 2018) 

    The Summer Associate program is an intensive development program and learning community for young leaders. Associates are assigned to a Greenlining policy team and complete a research and capstone project with the direction of a Greenlining staff member. Associates participate in leadership discussions and skills building workshops, and conduct site visits to community, government and corporate entities. Associates receive mentorship and coaching, and are given opportunities to interact with the media, write reports/press releases, testify at key policy hearings, and participate in meetings with top government officials, corporate CEOs, and community leaders.

    Application Open November 21, 2017 
    Compensation: $5,500 total stipend for 10 weeks

    THE POLICY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (AUGUST 2018-AUGUST 2019) 

    The Policy Fellowship program is a year-long development and experiential learning program for young leaders seeking hands-on public policy experience. Fellows will be assigned to Greenlining’s Bridges to Health, Economic Equity, or Environmental Equity team to develop expertise under the direction of the program director. Fellows participate in leadership and skills building workshops, attend power lunch series with key stakeholders, and conduct site visits to community, government, and corporate entities. Fellows receive regular professional and personal skill development and are given opportunities to interact with the media, write reports/press releases, blog, fundraise, testify at policy meetings, and participate in key meetings with top government officials, corporate leaders, and community leaders.

    Application Open November 21, 2017
    Compensation: $47,500 per year/Health Benefits Included

    https://greenlining.org/leadership-academy/ 

  • Leadership in Action

    Leadership in Action (LIA) is an eight-week paid summer internship program designed to develop emerging young leaders by providing college students with practical leadership skills and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community in Southern California.

    Leadership in Action interns are placed in selected community-based organizations in Southern California, where they are expected to work 4 full days per week under an assigned staff supervisor.  Work assignments differ according to each organization’s programs and needs.

    Each week, one day will be devoted to leadership development training or issue discussions and group project work.  Nationally recognized trainers will deliver workshops in critical skill areas.  Issue discussions are on local or timely topics of interest and are facilitated by local community leaders/activists and LEAP trainers.

    PROGRAM LENGTH AND STIPEND

    The eight-week program runs from mid-June to early August.  Interns will receive compensation in the amount of $3,360 for successful completion of the program and are responsible for their own housing, transportation, and insurance.

    HOW TO APPLY

    1. Complete the Leadership in Action application online.

    DEADLINE

    All application materials must be received by TBA.
    FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAM, VISIT www.leap.org/empower_lia

    A Pitzer alum (Chelsey Kitazawa) and a Pomona alum (Yuhe Faye Wang) have both been chosen for this internship before if you want to reach out to some past 5-C students and learn more about the program.

  • National Fellowship Program for Asian American Organizing and Civic Engagement

    The National Fellowship Program for Asian American Organizing and Civic Engagement develops the leadership of a new generation of activists and organizers who are deeply invested in building the power of and improving the lives of working-class Asian immigrant communities. Running from June to August, the fellowship program provides 10 weeks of intensive training, ground work, and reflection.

    Beginning with a week-long training and orientation, fellows come together to orient themselves to the theory behind the community work as well as build community with each other. The bulk of the fellowship is on the ground work with host organizations. Placed at grassroots organizations across the country, fellows will develop an understanding of organizing work in a local context, develop and strengthen their organizing skills, and connect theory with practice.

    At the same time, fellows have the opportunity to develop personally and politically. They will learn through political education presentations and cross-site sharing with weekly reflection webinars. In addition to the national reflection calls, fellows will have the opportunity to have weekly regional community political discussions with community organizers and activists. In the San Francisco Bay Area fellows participate in a weekly dinner speaker series. Lastly, they will also engage in grassroots fundraising, outreach, and participate in skill building trainings.

    https://www.seeding-change.org/programs/fellowship/apply/

  • Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA) Internship Opportunities

    The Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA) is seeking motivated individuals interested in public service and the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. OAPIA is an independent agency within the District government that acts as a liaison between the District government and the AAPI community. It organizes and facilitates public and private programs on public safety, human rights, economic development, housing, employment, social services, public health, transportation, education, and multicultural development to ensure accessibility for the District’s AAPI community. It often requires the services of interpreters to facilitate the translation of various documents and ensure that they are being utilized by the AAPI community.

    Graphic Design Intern

    The intern will work closely with the Communications Specialist at the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs to design strategic communication materials promoting Distric government programs, service, and events. Some of the duties of the intern will include developing internal and external relationships with government agencies and community-based organizations, creating flyers for MOAPIA’s programs and drafting newsletters and press releases.

    Experience in graphic design software such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Acrobat is preferred.

    Outreach Intern

    The intern will work closely with the Outreach Team in serving the AAPI population in the District. Duties include assisting outreach coordinators with different outreach projects and activities, visiting community based organizations, residents, and business owners, providing case assistance to District residents & merchants, occasional simple translations and handling administrative tasks.

    Being bilingual in English and either Korean, Vietnamese, Mandarin, or Cantonese is required.

    Qualifications

    Applicants should be undergraduate or graduate students who possess strong written and oral communication skills as well as organizational abilities. They must be flexible and willing to take initiative. Strong computer and research skills are also desired. The intern should be able to work a minimum of 10 weeks for at least 15 hours per week. Most importantly, applicants must be able to work with diverse populations.

    Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To apply, please email a resume, cover letter detailing your suitability for the position, and contact information to:

    Esther Kang, Internship Coordinator
    Email: [email protected]

  • OAPIA Volunteering Opportunities

    The Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA) needs volunteers, particularly bilingual or multi-lingual individuals. Throughout the year, it continuously organizes events focused on the District’s API community. Some of these events include the  AAPI May Heritage Month Celebration, Annual “Share a Smile, Give a Toy”, and AAPI Town Hall Meeting. Volunteers are crucial part to the success of these events.

    If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Volunteer Registration Form and send to:

    Ngoc Trinh, Director of Community Engagment
    Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
    441 4th Street, NW, 721 North
    Washington, DC 20001
    Tel: (202) 727-9883
    Fax: (202) 727-9655
    Email: [email protected]
    https://apia.dc.gov/page/oapia-internships-and-volunteering

  • White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Internship

    The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders offers full-time internships year round (spring, summer and fall). Part-time applicants who can commit to at least 20 hours a week will be considered, although the Initiative prioritizes full-time applicants (32-40 hours a week).  The following sites are available: Washington, DC at the Initiative headquarters, Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and Remote (for communications/multimedia intern).

    The Initiative is responsible for the implementation of the President’s Executive Order 13515 dated October 14, 2009.  Its purpose is to develop, monitor, and coordinate executive branch efforts to improve the quality of life of AAPIs through increased participation in federal programs.  The Initiative is housed at the Department of Education but its scope is government-wide.

    How to Apply:*
    If you are interested in applying, please send the following to [email protected]:

    • Dates that you are available for the internship
    • Location preference of your internship (Washington, D.C.; Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA; or remote – communications/multimedia intern)
    • Resume
    • A written statement that describes (1) an issue that affects the AAPI community on a national level, (2) a strategy that you would implement at the Initiative to address that issue, and (3) the organizations and/or federal agencies with whom you would collaborate and why. The statement should be no more than one page, single-spaced.

    (*If not accepted to this program, your application may be passed onto other federal agencies for consideration.)

    Deadlines:

    • November 30 for Spring session (Jan-May)*
    • March 8 for Summer session (May/June-Aug)
    • July 19 for Fall session (Aug-Dec)

    (*Spring session applications by students on a quarter system will be considered on a rolling basis.)

    All internship positions at the Initiative are unpaid.

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/aapi/internships