Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Launches Its Global Leaders Internship & Fellowship Program

Program provides greater leadership opportunities for university students with strong interest in the U.S. Hispanic community

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) proudly announces the inaugural class of the CHLI Global Leaders Internship & Fellowship Program. This program provides an opportunity for exceptional university students from diverse backgrounds to live, work and study in our nation's capital.

Building on its successful summer Congressional internship program, the CHLI Global Leaders Internship and Fellowship Program offers a dual-faceted program for academic credit and Congressional work experience for the rising generation of young American leaders. In addition, CHLI Interns collaborate with public policy experts and corporations that play an important role in both the domestic and global economy.

"CHLI is honored to welcome such an exceptional group of students who are interested in learning about public policy and the private sector," said Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21). "The CHLI Global Leaders Internship & Fellowship Program provides opportunities to university students with a strong interest in the Hispanic community who seek to gain experience in the public policy arena."

The CHLI Global Leaders Internship and Fellowship Program enables outstanding young Americans with a strong interest in the U.S. Hispanic community to expand their professional horizons and enhance their understanding of government and business by conducting policy and business oriented research and related professional activities in Washington, D.C. for an academic semester. The three students selected for the spring 2010 program, will spend fifteen weeks working closely with Congress and corporations, and will take classes on applied politics and political management with the Semester in Washington Program at The George Washington University.

This semester's CHLI Global Leaders Program is supported by CHLI corporate partners, Altria, the Coca-Cola Company, Comcast Foundation, and MillerCoors, These corporate partners recognize the value of this important program as part of their respective commitment to help foster the growth of future Hispanic leaders in the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

"Altria Client Services, Inc. is proud to be a founding sponsor of CHLI's Global Leaders Internship and Fellows Program. Knowledge of the legislative process is an important component of a public policy educational experience. Altria is committed to investing in the next generation of leaders in the Hispanic community," said John Hoel Vice President, Federal Government Affairs Altria Client Services Inc., and CHLI Board Member.

The Spring 2010 CHLI Global Leaders Comcast Interns are:

    --  Maria Luque

Hometown: Weston, Florida

University: Florida International University

Internship: Office of Congressman Albio Sires (NJ-13)

    --  Janelle S. Perez

Hometown: Miami, Florida

University: Florida International University

Internship: Office of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

The Spring 2010 CHLI Global Leaders Altria Intern:

    --  Eduardo Arabu

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

University: Northeastern Illinois University

Internship: Office of Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21)

Through this new program, qualified undergraduate and graduate students will have the opportunity to spend 12-15 weeks in the fall and spring semesters working closely with Congress and corporations in Washington, D.C. Students will also take classes on applied politics at The George Washington University for which they can receive up to six academic credit hours. CHLI Interns will also perform project-focused assignments that provide hands-on experience and enhance their education and practical work experience.

The CHLI Global Leaders Internship and Fellowship Program is made possible with the generous financial support of Altria Client Services Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, MillerCoors, Pacific Gas &Electric Corporation, and Southwest Airlines.

About CHLI:

The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI, pronounced "chili") is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, based in Washington, D.C., that advances the diversity of thought in U.S. Hispanic community in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as in the international community. For more information, please visit www.chli.org. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute