CLDP Opens Doors to Big Opportunities

Program Overview

What are the program dates?

Once accepted into the program, fellows will work with MPAC staff to apply for and secure internships/fellowships on Capitol Hill throughout February and March. The program itself lasts 10 weeks, beginning May 25 – July 30.

Fellows move in on May 25, and Orientation takes place from May 26 – May 29. From June 1 – July 30, fellows will work full-time in their Congressional internship/fellowship.

Do I need to find my own internship?

Yes, if you want to! All fellows work closely with MPAC staff to prepare application materials and facilitate application submissions.

Fellows at Ramadan Iftar hosted by Islamic Relief USA

What benefits does the program offer?

Stipend
Free housing
Placement in Congressional office
Application material consultations
Pre-program guides and preparation
Comprehensive orientation summit
Policy and professional development curriculum
Invitations to events around the city
Mentorship program with Hill staff and alumni
Access to our alumni networking platform
Post-program job/internship placement support

The Process

Map Out Your Strategy

Months before the program begins, fellows participate in a one-on-one consultation with the Program Manager. This meeting will enable MPAC to get a better understanding of fellows’ policy interests, the congressional offices they are particularly excited about, and what they hope to achieve from the program. Here, fellows will also map out a strategy for the offices they will be applying for and how to best prepare for their experience. MPAC provides templates for resumes, cover letters, writing samples, and references as a guide for preparing application materials.

Refine Your Applications

Over the course of two weeks, fellows will work back and forth with MPAC to revise and edit application materials to prepare for submission to internships and fellowships on Capitol Hill.

Application Submission & Placement

Once all application materials are prepared, CLDP fellows and MPAC will send out applications. MPAC will follow up with the offices applied for to ensure the placement of fellows in their desired offices.

Living in DC + introductions

Once your placement is complete, MPAC provides CLDP fellows with information on housing, living in DC, and guides on excelling in congressional internships. MPAC will also facilitate the logistics and introductions of fellow to one another.

Orientation

The day after move-in day, orientation officially begins. During orientation, fellows will speak with advisors and MPAC staff about strategies for networking and how to behave and succeed in internships. MPAC organizes team building activities and tours of Washington, DC as part of the orientation.

4-Day Orientation Summit

Fellows then participate in a four-day orientation summit by participating in meetings with policymaking experts in media, tech, think tanks, advocacy organizations, non-profits, government agencies, and Congress. Here they will learn about the various avenues of policymaking, sources of information for successful policymaking, introductions to different career paths, and networking opportunities.

9-Week Internship Begins

After the summit, all CLDP fellows participate in a 9-week internship/fellowship program with a Congressional office that can include Members of Congress in the House or Senate, Committees, and Caucuses. Throughout these 9 weeks, CLDP fellows will participate in a substantive curriculum advancing their knowledge of various policy issues.

Networking: MPAC shares various opportunities around the city for networking, social events, and policy briefings. We encourage fellows to network while they are in DC. We help facilitate introductions and provide business cards.
Guidance: MPAC maintains communication with each congressional office a fellow is placed in to receive feedback on the fellow’s performance and provide guidance on opportunities for improvement.
Communication: MPAC stays in contact with fellows through WhatsApp, email, phone, and in-person to guide fellows throughout their experience and answer any questions they have.
Career planning: MPAC helps fellows in considering future career plans after completing the program by providing support with post-program job and internship placements. We do this by reviewing applications, identifying opportunities, developing and mapping career plans, making connections, recommendations, and flagging applications.

Ongoing mentoring

After completing the program, all CLDP fellows are integrated into the MPAC alumni platform which provides networking and mentorship opportunities amongst all MPAC alumni. This platform was created for alumni to organize and communicate in issue specific groups, as well as to share information about events and job listings.

“…it is a different and unique place that forces you to learn things extremely quickly; a Hill internship describes what government really is – much better than AP Government class.”

Dhuha Baig
2019 Cohort

Requirements

Muslim or an active member of the Muslim community
Undergraduate student (incoming junior-senior), graduate student (including PhD, JD), or a recent graduate (within the last year) of an accredited university in the US
Maintaining a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average
A US Citizen, Permanent Resident, or DACA recipient

Application Information

What makes a competitive application?

At its heart, the CLDP program strives to both prepare and empower the next generation of Muslim leaders. With that in mind, it’s essential that the application committee understands what steps you have taken in the past and continue to take moving forward to becoming a proactive leader.

Successful applications showcase three things in particular:

The applicant’s experience in policy, government, and community
A clear goal of future public service ambitions
How the applicant’s Muslim identity is a catalyst in why they hope to serve in places like Washington D.C.

How many applicants are accepted?

We will accept 12 fellows this year.

What are the important deadlines and dates?

Applications are due December 1 at 11:59pm EST
Interview requests will be sent in late December – early January
Interviews will take place in January
Decisions are sent by the end of January and those offered a spot are given one week to accept

Housing and Financial

Does CLDP provide financial support?

Yes. CLDP provides every fellow with a $3,000 stipend and free housing for the duration of the program. The stipend allotment is dependent on successful participation in the program and meeting all program requirements.

Where will I be living?

Fellows can expect to live in Washington D.C. in a metro accessible location. Housing will be dorm style, and fellows should expect to have roommates.

I have no experience living in Washington D.C. Will we be given an orientation to the city?

Absolutely! We understand this may be the first time you have been to Washington, D.C., or the first time you’ve left your comfort zone. We will have a survivor’s guide to D.C. ready for you, and CLDP staff will be on hand to guide you, mentor you, and even have coffee with you. Beyond that, we will spend ample time during orientation to fully address all of you questions and concerns.

What kind of clothing should I bring?

Your internship will require you to wear business clothing on days Congress is in session and business casual clothing when Congress is in recess. For all CLDP events we ask that you come in either business professional or business casual clothing (we will specify for each event accordingly). For any further questions, reach out to your offices and they can best assist you with the atmosphere they foster. You may also be invited to internal and external special functions throughout the fellowship that may require formal wear so be prepared for such events.

Bunyad Bhatti, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

“CLDP is like an incubator for different policy-related careers, you don’t have to run for office to gain something valuable.”

Amira Daugherty
2019 Cohort