Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Inc.

CHCI’s Graduate Fellowship Program helps increase the number of Latino leaders in policy areas in which they are traditionally underrepresented. It provides exceptional Latino college graduates and young Latino professionals from across the country unparalleled opportunity for professional experience in public policy arenas such as education, health, housing, international affairs, law, and the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). It also offers a chance to participate in CHCI's nationally acclaimed leadership development training program, including research and publication of a public policy brief about a public policy issue in their chosen field. These policy briefs are presented an audience of key public- and private-sector leaders on Capitol Hill each spring.

CHCI also offers corporate sponsors the opportunity to offer company-based fellowships following students’ successful completion of CHCI’s Graduate Fellowship Program.

CHCI’s Public Policy Fellowships offer a paid, nine-month fellowship and professional leadership training program for young Latinos who have completed a bachelor’s degree. Fellows work in congressional offices on Capitol Hill, congressional committees and federal agencies, the White House, national nonprofit advocacy organizations, government-related institutes, and corporate federal affairs offices. This intensive work experience is enhanced by weekly leadership training sessions where they engage with national leaders around substantive public policy issues. Exposure to the wealth of information, contacts, and political activity in Washington D.C. gives fellows a unique opportunity to pursue their public policy career goals.

CHCI also offers corporate sponsors the opportunity to offer company-based internships or fellowships following students’ successful completion of CHCI’s Public Policy Fellowship Program.

The R2L NextGen program is a week-long Washington, D.C. experience. CHCI brings students finishing 10th and 11th grade to Washington, D.C. to spend five days learning about how the Federal Government works, meeting important leaders, visiting historic sites and developing a deeper understanding of how they can affect positive change in their communities and their nation.

In late 2013, CHCI transitioned its most popular resource, the sixth edition of the National directory of scholarships, internships, and fellowships for Latino students, to an online searchable database called NextOpp. This groundbreaking online resource provides a comprehensive listing of opportunities for Latino students across the nation to receive financial support for their education and obtain hands-on experience in the field of their choice.

The mission of the CHCI Alumni Association (CHCI-AA) is to support CHCI in developing the next generation of Latino leaders through lifelong alumni engagement and leadership advancement. CHCI envisions alumni actively engaged in developing Latino leaders, involved civically in their communities, supporting CHCI’s programs through volunteerism and philanthropy, and continually developing their own professional and leadership skills. The CHCI-AA is one of the fastest growing networks of Latino professionals in the country and highly accomplished alumni have successfully continued their journey beyond CHCI into the workforce as powerful leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. It promotes active visible leadership in the community, while providing members with professional development, networking and opportunities to mentor our Latino youth. By giving their time, talent and passion, CHCI alumni remain connected to each other and to CHCI well after their programs end.

The annual leadership conference facilitates discussion of the most significant issues affecting the Latino community and the nation. The conference takes an innovative approach that runs concurrent sessions and addresses relevant, hot button issues, identifying best practices. CHCI works with Members of Congress on its Board of Directors and Advisory Council to take part in the sessions, and national issue experts to achieve the highest level of participation. Session topics include education, environment, workforce diversity to immigration reform, economy, healthcare and civic engagement.

The Annual Awards Gala Program celebrates the accomplishments, contributions and the positive image of Latinos in America and gathers national leaders from all sectors during Hispanic Heritage Month each year.