Since 1981, over 400 students have participated in the ADC intern program.  Students from all over the country gather at the national office in Washington, DC, each year to gain first-hand experience and knowledge about ADC issues and campaigns.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is an Arab-American civil rights organization.  It was founded in 1980 to defend the rights of Americans of Arab descent from discrimination, stereotyping, and hate crimes; to promote the Arab cultural heritage; and to represent the Arab-American community on issues of foreign and domestic policy.  The program is administered through the ADC Research Institute (ADCRI), ADC’s non-profit affiliate

The intern program offers a variety of positions for leadership development.  It educates students on issues of civil rights, the Arab heritage, and current events in the Middle East.  It empowers them to educate others.  Students gain practical training in community organizing, media relations, research and writing, legal issues, political action, educational outreach, grantsmanship, website maintenance, and routine office work alongside our regular professional staff.  The first few weeks of the summer program are centered on the annual ADC Convention.  http://www.adc.org/internprogram/new/


Qualifications

Candidates must have completed at least one year of college.  They can be undergraduates, recent graduates, or graduate and law students.  Individual departments have their own requirements.

Interns must be or become regular ADC members.  Student memberships are available at discounted rates.

While the program is primarily oriented to Arab-American students, we encourage applicants of all ethnic backgrounds.  Occasionally, international students are part of the intern program.  Such students must arrange on their own to acquire U.S. visas that authorize employment in the U.S.  ADC cannot make these arrangements.  They may be available through university programs or organizations such as the Council on International Educational Exchange (www.ciee.org).  Students may be able to arrange authorization for "Curricular Practical Training" through their universities.  Unpaid volunteer interns need no authorization.

Summer Program

During the summer, full-time internships are available at the ADC national office.  The internships are full-time positions.  We ask students to begin the 11-week program as soon as possible in May after the semester ends.  There is a $1500 summer stipend for undergraduates and $2000 for graduate students.  Those who receive course credit do not receive a stipend.

Positions are available with the legal, organizing, media and publications, information systems, and government relations departments, as well as with the office of the ADC President.

Housing: We can advise interns about where to search for housing and assist them in locating other interns who are seeking roommates.

Educational Program: One day a week, interns visit government and congressional offices, embassies, and other organizations.  This introduces student to some of the policy making institutions in the Washington area, which shape issues and events of concern to Arab Americans.  There will be opportunities to take advantage of some of the speakers, films, conferences, and cultural programs in Washington which address Arab world issues.  Each year interns write and publish Intern Perspectives, in which they reflect on their experiences at ADC and on the issues they have dealt with.

Deadlines

Applications for summer internships with the Legal Department are due by January 15 which already has passed.  Applications for other departments are due March 15.  Later applications will be considered, but early applicants are given priority.

What You Need to Apply

$                   Completed application form. 
$                   Resume
$                   Academic transcript
$                   Two letters of recommendation
$                   Two-page personal statement about your goals as an ADC intern and how your academic, professional, or campus and community activities or career goals are related to the position you requested.

Mail competed applications to: 
    
Intern Coordinator
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
1732 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007