Empowering future leaders: how CHLI’s scholarship and internship programs open opportunities for young Hispanic leaders
By Mary Ann Gómez Orta
SOURCE The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute
WASHINGTON, PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Access, opportunity, and empowerment are key ingredients for success. This is why CHLI’s scholarship and internship programs are proving to be powerful drivers of advancement for Hispanic students and young professionals. We have seen more than 300 alumni go through our scholarship and leadership programs, where they gained personal and professional development that propelled them to success in the marketplace. For the past 20 years, CHLI has focused its efforts on developing and strengthening future global leaders and has funded more than $10 million in educational programs.
Through initiatives such as CHLI’s Global Leaders Program, the Lincoln Díaz-Balart Public Service Fellowship, as well as the Communications and Law Fellowships, CHLI creates tangible pathways for ambitious young Latinos to enter public service, politics, business, and civic leadership.
Real-world experience, real impact
The Global Leaders Internship Program offers semester-long internships in Republican and Democratic congressional and corporate legislative affairs offices, giving students firsthand exposure to the mechanics of policymaking, advocacy, and public affairs.
Meanwhile, the Lincoln Diaz-Balart Public Service Fellowship, launched in 2024, provides recent graduates with full-time placements in bipartisan congressional offices in Washington, DC, with a stipend, housing and transportation support, mentorship from the Board of Trustees and the CHLI alumni network, and access to unique opportunities to develop a career in public service.
For participants, this is much more than a resume boost: it’s a career launchpad. Internships and fellowships like these are widely recognized as “high-impact placements” that enhance employability, provide professional networks, and help level the playing field for talented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Why this is important, especially for the Hispanic community
Latino students and young professionals often face historical barriers to access, mentorship, and professional networks. By creating paid, structured, and supportive pathways to Congress, corporate affairs, policy, law, and public service, CHLI is investing in the competitiveness and upward mobility of future leaders. The result: a growing pool of Hispanic talent ready to assume leadership roles, influence policy, and give back to their communities.
For CHLI partners, supporting these programs is a strategic investment in America’s future leadership. By partnering with CHLI’s scholarships and internships, stakeholders help unlock the potential of young leaders who might otherwise never have had the opportunity, while reinforcing CHLI’s mission to promote diversity of thought within the Hispanic community.
Looking ahead
As CHLI expands its scholarship and internship offerings, from law-focused programs to public service internships and corporate internships, student demand continues to grow. With each cohort, CHLI strengthens its alumni network, builds a pipeline of prepared Latino leaders, and solidifies its role as a premier incubator of Hispanic leadership in Washington and beyond.
For Latino youth, and for partners eager to support a lasting impact, CHLI’s programs offer opportunities, empowerment, and a shared path forward.
