OCA 2013 Summer Internship

Hey, college students! OCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the political, social, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans, has extended the application deadline for the 2013 Summer Internship Program in Washington DC. But the deadline is coming up fast, so get on this.

The summer internship program is one of OCA's signature programs and introduces interns to public policy in Washington, DC. In addition to connecting interns with the APA community and developing their leadership skills, OCA also brings summer interns to the OCA National Convention, the largest APA conference in the country.

Here are some more details about the internship:

Summer Internship Program

Application Opening: December 11, 2012
Application Deadline: March 5, 2013 11:00pm EST

Stipend:

The stipend amount will be based upon available funding, but usually ranges from $2,000-2,500 for 10 weeks of full-time work.

Housing:

Accepted interns are required to find their own housing in Washington, DC for the duration fo their internship. OCA encourages interns to find housing together to reduce costs. Also, many former interns say that living together was one of the best parts of their summer internship experience. There are many affordable summer sublets and apartments available in the DC Metro area. Please see the summer housing guide for more information.

Special Projects:

OCA National Convention - Interns help organize and plan our annual National Convention, the largest annual APA conference in the country.

Campus/Community Action Plan - Interns are required to research, create, and present a campus action plan before the conclusion of the internship. Interns are expected to identify an issue, challenge, or problem on their campus and to organize and develop solutions to address their issue.

Programs:

Weekly Internship Class - This mandatory weekly internship class is coordinated by OCA with the help of various national APA community partners. It will address various APA issues, include teambuilding activities, and leadership development. It will also provide a space for interns to facilitate discussion on issues impacting them and their community.

Legislative Visits - Interns will be given the opportunity to schedule meetings with their member of Congress or Senator for a lobbying visit. Visits will entail discussions concerning public policy and an inside look at the legislative work of Congress.

Over the years, I've met a lot great folks who have participated in this internship. It's sort of a crash course on how a national APA advocacy organization makes change for you and your community, and this is your chance to see and take part in how it all goes down from the ground up.

The deadline to submit your application is March 5 at 11:00pm ET. For further information on OCA and the Summer Internship, including how to apply, go to the OCA National website.