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The U.S. Cannabis Council and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation launched the Pathways to the C-Suite Internship program; the program places college seniors and recent college graduates with cannabis executives for mentorship.
The U.S. Cannabis Council and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation this week launched the Pathways to the C-Suite Internship program, which partners Black college seniors and one-year post-bachelor degree graduates with some of the nation’s top executives in the private sector to experience how public policy is influenced and developed at every level of the process.
Tahir Johnson, director of Social Equity and Inclusion at the Cannabis Council, said on LinkedIn that students who sign up with the program will be placed “at some of the most prominent cannabis companies in the country to gain valuable career experience and building a diverse talent pipeline for the industry.”
“Through the Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program, participants gain practical and meaningful work experience in a corporate setting and obtain first-hand experience working with organizations whose top priorities include diversity employment retention and internship-to-employment opportunities,” the description for the program says.
The program requires students to be U.S. citizens or a have permit to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program, which runs from January 10, 2022, to April 29, 2022. Applicants must be available to participate full-time upon acceptance, cannot be enrolled in classes, and must have not graduated more than a year from the internship program start date. Interns also cannot be enrolled in graduate studies. All interns must also receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
There will be two informational sessions held later this month for potential applicants — on November 23 and 29.
ALSO SEE ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Pathways to the C-Suite Internship
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program partners college seniors (including rising seniors) and recently graduated Black students with some of the nation’s top executives in the private sector to experience how public policy is influenced and developed at every level. Through the Pathways to the C-Suite Internship Program, participants gain practical and meaningful work experience in a corporate setting and obtain first-hand experience working with organizations whose top priorities include diversity employment retention and internship-to-employment opportunities. Interns will receive housing, a stiped, and be placed in a corporate sponsor’s office. Interns interact with senior-level business leaders, explore multifaceted business challenges, and build skills to prepare them for careers in corporate America. Over the course of the internship, participants also take part in business networking, team building events, and leadership development sessions to enhance their professional and leadership skills.
Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, have a demonstrated interest in executive leadership, public service, public/media relations, and/or policy-making, and possess skills and experiences that align with the specific industry. Applicants must also demonstrate strong writing ability. Priority will be given to applicants with backgrounds in government relations, public policy, public health policy, and health equity.
CBCF will offer two information sessions to allow prospective applicants to learn more about our internship program. Should this be of interest, please register for the information session of your choice:
Tuesday, November 23 at 6 PM EST
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMldeyprTwiHtW8qUhae5BoUu7aBDxkEDyT
Monday, November 29 at 7:30 PM EST
https://cbcf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEudeurrjMoHNb7Q86GqdmWPFMlflkE4vz9
Spring Internship Program Candidate Requirements
You must use your full first and last name as your display name when creating your application account.
• U.S. citizenship or a permit to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program (January 10, 2022 – April 29, 2022)
• Must be available to participate full-time upon acceptance, and cannot be enrolled in classes (the program can be used for credit with university approval for applicants who are seniors)
• Must have not graduated more than a year from the internship program start date. Interns cannot be enrolled in graduate studies.
Application Materials
PLEASE NOTE: Our two-part online application will require you to submit the following (must complete General Application to gain access to Conditional Application):
• Submit completed application by 11:59 pm ET, December 03, 2021
• 2 Essay Question Responses (located within Conditional Application)
• 2 letters of recommendation, submitted electronically (hard copy letters will not be accepted)
• Resume listing extracurricular activities, honors, employment, community service, and special skills (2-page limit)
• Transcript (must be uploaded directly in application portal)
• A recent photograph suitable for publication (i.e., a graduation photo or other professional-quality photograph in which the subject is formally dressed)
COVID-19 Guidelines
The in-person nature of this program will require both vaccination and adherence to CDC guidelines, given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to applying to this internship program, please read the following expectations in their entirety:
The combination of getting vaccinated and following the CDC’s and other state/local public health recommendations to protect our community are the best protection from COVID-19 available to us, and will allow The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (“CBCF”) Congressional Interns to return, as much as possible, to the pre-pandemic, in-person activities that is one of the hallmark programs offered by the CBCF. Therefore, all Congressional Interns will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or to obtain an approved exemption as an accommodation (as described more fully below) in order to participate in the C-Suite Internship beginning in January 2022.
This policy is being announced well in advance of the January 2022 start date, so that Congressional Interns and their families have the opportunity to gather information, consult with their medical providers if they so choose, and make informed choices for themselves.
Vaccination Policy
This Policy requires that all Congressional Interns (i) provide proof that they are fully vaccinated by December 03, 2021, or (ii) obtain an approved exemption as an accommodation (the process for seeking an accommodation is explained below). Only vaccines authorized for emergency use and/or full use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are acceptable under this policy.
Until full vaccination is documented or an approved exemption as an accommodation is obtained, Congressional Interns may not be approved to participate in the Congressional Internship.
All Congressional Interns are expected to have completed a full vaccination regime, or have an approved exemption accommodation, prior to arriving to Congressional Intern housing. Interns who have neither been fully vaccinated nor received an exemption accommodation prior to arrival to housing are not permitted in Intern housing. Congressional Interns who fail to become fully vaccinated or obtain an approved exemption accommodation by December 03, 2021 will be subject to being rejected from the program.
Requests for Accommodations
Congressional Interns may request an approved exemption from the vaccination requirement as an accommodation for medical or sincerely held religious reasons:
Congressional Interns may request an accommodation for a medical reason such as a disability (as defined by applicable law), pregnancy (or childbirth or a related medical condition), being a nursing mother, having a documented medical condition that contraindicates the vaccination, or any other trait, characteristic, or class for which applicable law requires the CBCF to provide reasonable workplace accommodations.
Congressional Interns may request an accommodation for a non-medical reason, such as an objection to being vaccinated on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs and practices.
Accommodation requests for the Spring 2022 Congressional Internship should be submitted to Human Resources in writing no later than December 10, 2021.
IMPORTANT: Former interns, immediate relatives (defined as one’s parents, step-parents, siblings, spouse, children, step-children, foster children, in-laws, sibling in-laws, grandparents, great grandparents, step-great grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews) of a CBC Member, a CBC Spouse, a staff person of a CBC Member or Spouse, CBCF staff, a member of the CBCF Board of Directors, Member of CBCF, Corporate Advisory Council Member of CBCF, or any CBCF-sponsoring entity are not eligible for CBCF internship programs.
You can find more information on the following page:http://www.cbcfinc.org/programs/internships
- Award
- varies
- Scopes
- Internships
- Deadline
- 12/03/2021
- Supplemental Questions
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- Essay 1: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievements and career options? (1000 word maximum)
- Essay 2: Identify the most pressing public policy issue affecting your community. If you were a Member of Congress, what measures would you take to address this issue? (1000 word maximum)
