National Summer Learning Association's Summer Policy Internship
In 2022, the National Summer Learning Association(NSLA) recruited diverse college students for a paid public policy internship in Washington DC this summer. Students worked on Capitol Hill, public policy organizations, and community-based organizations. They were immersed in professional development throughout this internship experience, which can lead to full-time employment opportunities! Interns received a $4,000 stipend plus $1,000 for a professional wardrobe, in addition to having their housing and transportation costs covered.
You can preview the 2023 application here. Click here to apply. The deadline is January 20, 2023. For more information, please email Leslie Gabay-Swanston, Director of External Affairs, at leslie@summerlearning.org.
Meet our Class of 2022.
Anya Bibbs
In summer 2022, Anya Bibbs was an intern in the office of Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia. She is a rising sophomore at Yale University. Before her Capitol Hill internship, Anya has worked as her residential college’s affinity group leader, an ambassador for FGLI high school students with CollegePoint, and the occasional graphic designer. Anya is from Atlanta where she participated in the award-winning summer program, Reach for Excellence.
Reine Duevi
In summer 2022, Reine Duevi was an intern in the office of Congresswoman Mikie Sherill from New Jersey. She is a recent graduate from Rutgers University where she majored in Political Science. Reine has participated in gubernatorial and presidential campaigns and civic engagements in New Jersey regarding social-economic changes, equal pay, affordable housing, and education. She used her advocacy skills to bring awareness to the income gap between New Jersey's white and black families by working closely with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and her fellow Rutgers classmate. Reine is a native Togo in West Africa. She is fluent in English, French and Ewe (a native language in Togo). Reine is from New Jersey where she participated in the award-winning summer program, NJ LEEP.
Idiris Egal
In summer 2022, Idiris Egal was an intern in the office of Senator Edward J. Markey from Massachusetts. He is a rising sophomore at Duke University and intends to major in political science with a concentration in Security, Peace, and Conflict. He is part of the University Scholars Program at Duke, where the students all share an excitement for original research, collaborative thinking, and innovative scholarship. In his time at Duke, Idiris is building his linguistic repertoire, including Somali, Arabic, Greek, and Latin. Hee is considering law school after completing his undergraduate studies. Idiris is from Dorchester, Massachusetts, where he participated in the award-winning summer program, Steppingstone Foundation.
Jahari Fraser
In summer 2022, Jahari Fraser wasan intern in the office of Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. He is a rising senior and Posse Foundation Scholar at Bard College studying Global and International Studies with a concentration in Latin American and Iberian Studies. In 2019, he created All Pieces Fit, a civic engagement project that provides 1-on-1 support to students with Autism. He served as Bard’s Student Body President, a resident assistant, and as a senior interviewer and tour guide for the Office of Admissions. Last summer, he completed the Public Policy & International Affairs Fellowship Program at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, and plans a career in International Development Policy. Jahari is from Atlanta where he participated in the award-winning summer program, Reach for Excellence.
NurHasanah (Nur) Harun
In summer 2022, NurHasanah (Nur) Harun was an intern in the office of Senator Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin. She attends the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a focus in Criminal Justice. NurHasanah has previously received the Ignite Leadership Institute’s Student Excellence Award and was a state finalist for the Kohl Excellence Scholarship. Throughout high school and college Nurhasanah has volunteered as a tutor supporting refugees as they acclimate to school in the United State. In high school she represented Casimir Pulaski High school and the state of Wisconsin at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. Nur is from Wisconsin and participated in the summer program, College Possible.
Olivia James
In summer 2022, Olivia James was an intern with the National Summer Learning Association and will work at the U.S. Department of Education. She is a rising senior and Posse Foundation Scholar at the College of Wooster with a focus on Communication Studies. At Wooster, Olivia was a Quester mentee in the Worthy Questions cohort and is a member of the Black Women Organization and Women of Images. She was selected as a Gilman scholar and will spend a semester abroad in Argentina. Olivia is from Atlanta where she participated in the award-winning summer program, Crossroads Youth Empowerment Camp.
Emily Lai
In summer 2022, Emily Lai was an intern in the office of Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York. She is a rising senior at Fordham University majoring in Political Science and minoring in Mandarin Chinese. She has done advocacy work with organizations like the Chinese-American Planning Council in New York City to push for non-profit funding and bring attention to issues affecting the AAPI community. She is a licensed New York State realtor interested in affordable housing policies and real estate equity. Emily is from New York City and participated in the summer program, Earn and Learn.
Zion Slaughter
In summer 2022, Zion Slaughter was an intern in the office of Senator Gary C. Peters of Michigan. He is a rising senior at Dartmouth College where he studies Physics. At Dartmouth, Zion has done research on supermassive black holes, and is affiliated with the Math, Engineering, and Computer Science departments. Zion is from Michigan where he participated in the award-winning summer program, Math Corps.
Romelo Wilson
In summer 2022, Romelo Wilson was an intern in the office of Senator Michael F. Bennet. He attended the University of Tampa, where he majored in International Studies with minors in Journalism and Spanish. Currently Romelo is on the advisory board of Every Hour Counts - Powered by Youth Voice: Future Directions for Afterschool. Recently he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Horizons at Colorado Academy. During his undergraduate studies, Romelo was a Global Ambassador of International Programs and a Staff Writer & Photographer for The Minaret, one of the first five student newspapers in the country to be NewsGuard approved for credibility and transparency. Romelo is from New York City and was nominated by the award-winning summer program, Horizon Colorado.
Ronald Wingate
Ronald Wingate is currently interning with the National Consortium of School Networking. He is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, College Park where he is a computer science major. He is a member of the Maryland Promise Program, a prestigious scholarship program that recruits talented hardworking students from Maryland and D.C. to take part in professional development and leadership activities in the community and on campus. He is also a member of the i4c peer mentoring program in the Department of Computer Science at UMD as part of an initiative to support diversity and inclusion within the department and major. Ronald is from Baltimore where he participated in the award-winning summer program, MERIT Health Leadership Academy.