Cross-Cultural Leadership Internship Program

The Cross-Cultural Leadership Intern Program (CCLIP) was developed in order to engage students in real world applications of their academic studies through exposure to the diverse needs of the Los Angeles Community. This program will offer three academic credits and $2,300 through a tuition scholarship for the eight-week internship experience. This program will provide Notre Dame students exposure and experience in the diverse Los Angeles community where they will serve as leaders and students of the community at one of three sites.

Download the 2009 CCLIP Application

Objectives:

1. To engage students in real world applications of their academic studies through exposure to the diverse needs of the Los Angeles Community.
2. To respond to specific areas of need in programs in a Hispanic area developed by supervisor/s at each siteemphasizing leadership opportunities.
3. To explore and develop partnerships both in Los Angeles cities and at Notre Dame that will enhance ongoing collaboration between the sites and alumni and other resource person in the area.
4. To reflect upon and analyze the social, political, economic, and cultural forces operative in the Latino Los Angeles community through leadership experiences and involvement with corporations, businesses and community organizations.
5. To study the various forces and values functioning through the past and present history of the lives of those in the Latino diverse community of Los Angeles community through direct involvement with local individuals during the summer.
6. To integrate insights gained during the service experience regarding the Latino multicultural community of Los Angeles and its culture with their own lives.

Academic Requirements:

• Attend all preparatory classes and orientation activities:
  • Three classes during Spring semester 2009, dates announced to accepted students
• Register for three-credit course in Latino Studies ILS 3580X, SOC 3393X, or AA 3393X (Credit is granted in Fall of 2009, after students successfully complete all requirements.)
• Read course books and course packet articles
• Complete an interview and journal entries during the summer and send to the program directors after 4 weeks at the internship
• Conduct three interviews with leaders in the community during the summer
• Write a weekly journal.
• Reflection with facilitator and other interns (approximately three times during summer)
• Present at retreat for interns and supervisors in Los Angeles, late July 2009
• Write synthesis paper at the end of the experience

Required follow-up activities:

• Dinner discussion with other interns
• Individual debriefing with program directors (exit interview)
• Synthesis Paper
• Share experiences with others in residence hall or in classes

1. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Founded in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is the leading nonprofit Latino litigation, advocacy, and educational outreach institution in the United States. Through the years, MALDEF has been at the forefront of civil rights litigation, setting precedent in voting rights, employment and education cases.

MALDEF also provides parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for a quality education for their children. Programs under MALDEF’s Community Education and Leadership Development include the Parent School Partnership, Youth Leadership, Domestic Violence Prevention, Alumni Affairs, and the Hometown Association Immigrant Leadership program.

The student intern will work closely with the national program director and Los Angeles education department staff to provide support to the entire office by performing research, drafting correspondence, and performing various programmatic and administrative duties. Interns may also attend coalition, policy, and community meetings and forums on a wide range of topics. Interns will provide program support by attending community classes (with the supervisor) that are offered through our department. Intern may also assist in the coordination of several small and one large community-wide event.

2. La Opinion
La Opinión is the leading and largest Spanish-language daily metropolitan newspaper in the United States. The newspaper has won many international and national awards for its journalism and service to the community. La Opinión is well known and respected for its Latino perspective and civic journalism on issues of importance to Latinos in Southern California.

The student intern will have the opportunity to learn about and participate in various aspects of newspaper publishing. The internship will be of special interest to the student who wants to develop an understanding of a newspaper’s relationship with its readers, as well as the community, civic, and business environment in which the newspaper operates.

The program will consist of a rotation of assignments through the editorial, marketing and advertising sales departments of La Opinión. The student will be assigned a coaching supervisor in each department. The coach will provide orientation and practical assignments to the student.

The student should be bilingual in order to receive the full benefit of the internship.

3. LA Urban League
Founded in 1921, the Los Angeles Urban League is Los Angeles’s premier community organization in advancing equal opportunities on behalf of African Americans and other minority youths and adults through innovative job training, job placement, youth achievement, and business development programs. Through its collective programs, services, and advocacy activities and seven offices located in the Crenshaw District, South Los Angeles, and Pomona, the Los Angeles Urban League serves over 100,000 constituents annually. Blair H. Taylor serves as the President & CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, one of the largest and most successful affiliates of the National Urban League, which has affiliates in 109 cities throughout the United States.

The student intern will assist the Marketing & Communications Department with administrative and event activities including preparations for the annual summer fundraising event in August. In addition, the student will work in the League Headquarters with the staffs of the President’s Office and the Operations, Finance, Human Resources, and Neighborhoods Initiatives Offices. The student will assist the Marketing & Communications Department Vice President and staff in all marketing endeavors, including membership and volunteer campaigns for the duration of the internship and shadow the Vice President during some Executive Team activities.

Timeline:
Deadline for applications: December 23, 2008
Interviews will take place the week of January 13–16, 2009
Students will be notified of acceptance by January 21, 2009
Three orientation sessions during the 2009 spring semester.
The eight-week internship takes place from early June through the end of July (exact dates to be determined).
Final conference at the end of the internship (late July/Early August)
Exit interviews and synthesis paper due (September, Fall 2009)

The internship will provide:
Living quarters and small stipend for food
$2,300 tuition scholarship
All materials for three-credit course (May be taken as ILS XXXXX, SOC XXXXX, AAXXXXX)

Fees:
A $50 participation fee will be charged to accepted students.

The Institute for Latino Studies and the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Los Angeles collaborate to offer this three credit course, which is also cross-listed in Sociology and African-Africana Studies The internship also may serve as the practicum requirement for the Latino Studies Minor.

Applications are also available online and in hard copy at the Institute for Latino Studies, 230 McKenna Hall.

Downloads:
2009 CCLIP Information Sheet
2009 CCLIP Application

For more information contact:

Courtney Craig, Project Coordinator, Institute for Latino Studies, at 631-3796 or latino@nd.edu.

Listen to what prior CCLIP interns have to say about the program
2008 Interns