MPAC · Future American Muslim Leaders

Leadership Development

Get 10 Weeks of Hands-On Experience Working on Capitol Hill

CLDP opens doors to big opportunities — free to apply, with housing and stipend for selected fellows, ongoing mentorship, and pathways into public service.

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CLDP Opens Doors to Big Opportunities

Get 10 Weeks of Hands-On Experience Working on Capitol Hill

The most valuable takeaways from our past fellows are learning what goes on behind closed doors, experiencing the inner workings of a congressional office, developing relationships that continue to help you grow, and accessing opportunities to network with some of the best in D.C. In addition to your in-office experience, CLDP offers programs during your 10-week journey that fill your evenings with opportunities to learn and network outside of the workday.

CLDP is Free to Apply

For chosen fellows, we provide both housing and a generous stipend for cost of living expenses during the 10-week program. Fellows can expect to live in a metro accessible area of Washington D.C. Housing will be dorm-style with roommate pairings.

Meet and Learn from Washington Insiders

No other Congressional program provides the level of leadership development opportunities for American Muslims. Decades of experience cultivating relationships in D.C. enables us to host events with experts in different fields of policy making throughout the 10-week program.

Discover Dozens of Career Paths

CLDP provides experiences that allow you to introduce yourself to professionals from high impact career paths.

Ongoing Mentorship

Our Summer Program isn't a one and done experience. From start to finish, you'll have access to our coaching staff to guide you as you learn more about yourself and the opportunities available to advance your career. CLDP offers two types of advisors, Hill advisors and Alumni advisors. Alumni advisors have also gone through CLDP and can connect with and advise current fellows on how to succeed as an intern/fellow and how to take advantage of opportunities throughout the program. Hill advisors serve as mentors that advise on issues that develop throughout your internship.

Your Passions & Interests are Needed on Capitol Hill

You don't have to be a political science major to have an impact on legislation and policy decisions. We work with our fellows to find career paths that match your interests to the needs in our government.

The process

From Application to Alumni Network

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. 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 with MPAC staff 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.

10-Week Internship Begins

After orientation, all CLDP fellows participate in a 10-week internship/fellowship program with a Congressional office that can include Members of Congress in the House or Senate, Committees, and Caucuses. Throughout these 10 weeks, CLDP fellows will participate in a substantive curriculum advancing their knowledge of various policy issues.

Ongoing Mentoring

After completing the program, all CLDP fellows are integrated into the MPAC alumni network which provides networking and mentorship opportunities amongst all MPAC alumni.

Contact MPAC about CLDP

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