Internships
The Center for Public Justice is pleased to accept internship applications. Please send a resume and cover letter detailing your educational background and experience, as well as areas of personal interest relevant to the Center’s programs and projects. Indicate dates of availability (and whether full- or part-time). Our internships are unpaid but offer valuable experience. Send correspondence to:
Kendrick.Smith@cpjustice.org or
Kendrick Mernitz Smith
Center for Public Justice
P.O. Box 48368
Washington, DC 20002-0368
2012 Interns
Phanuelle Duchatelier
Education: interdisciplinary major focused on sociology and political science, Calvin College, class of 2012
What made you want to intern with the Center for Public Justice?
I believe in fighting for justice and educating people in taking decisions that can affect the greater environment. I fell in love with the purpose and mission statement of the Center for Public Justice, which believes in educating citizens in a faith-based environment and encouraging them to be agents of change in this country. The Center also prepares people to see the crucial role they can play in making a difference. This internship will give me the opportunity to use both of my passions – people and government.
What do you do in your free time?
I travel and read, and I love to cook. I love planning events and spending time with people. I also try to learn new languages; I hope to learn six languages before I’m 26. We will see if I meet this goal.
Jonathan Hughes
Education: B.A., M.A., Howard University, Washington, D.C.
What made you want to intern with the Center for Public Justice?
I am pursuing an M.S. in nonprofit management at Eastern University and was looking for a capstone project to fulfill my degree requirement. The Center for Public Justice offered a fundraising project that drew my attention because I did not have experience in fundraising and wanted a challenge. But what drew me most to the organization were its purpose and mission, and its nonpartisan, Christ-centered viewpoint that resonated with my beliefs. It seemed like a breath of fresh air, and unlike the agenda-driven chatter that is so prevalent today.
What have you enjoyed the most about your internship so far?
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff at the Center, and the project I am working on is challenging. I have the opportunity to be a part of something of value that, hopefully, will bring value to many for a long time to come.
What do you do in your free time?
This question seems funny to me, as I would pay dearly to get some free time! Seriously, I spend my free time with Maria, my wife of 29 years. This spring we planted an organic vegetable garden as part of a policy project I am working on.
Jack Newman
Education: pursuing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from Eastern University
What made you want to intern with the Center for Public Justice?
This spring, I have the privilege of studying public policy with the American Studies Program in Washington, D.C., and will consequently be spending the better part of my semester in a Washington-based internship. The Center for Public Justice is committed to rigorous political inquiry through a distinctly biblical lens, and seeks to educate and equip our public officials in the process. This particular cultural vision captured me, and I am so honored and excited to lend my efforts to the Center’s research endeavors in 2012.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy creative writing, college football, and quality time spent with my family and friends.
Melissa Steffan
Education: B.A. in progress, communications major (journalism, political science), Seattle Pacific University, class of 2012
What made you want to intern with the Center for Public Justice?
I became a political science major because I was intrigued by the relationships among Christianity, political theory, and American politics. At first, I was dismayed by the lack of compassionate Christian voices in the political arena; later, I became equally disheartened by the lack of educated political voices in Christian circles. I spent fall 2011 in Washington, D.C., participating in the Washington Journalism Center. While there, I interned at The Washington Post and realized that many intelligent voices go unrecognized and unheard by the mainstream press.
All of these things led me to the Center for Public Justice. I appreciate CPJ’s non-partisan approach to politics, because it attempts to reconcile many viewpoints while remaining Christ centered. The result is an informed dialogue involving many voices, ones that can influence and change the course of politics. I chose the Center because I want my voice to be a part of the conversation.
What do you do in your free time?
I spend most of my free time doing one of three things: running, reading, or writing. I love to run Capitol Hill, especially on the National Mall in the mornings before my day gets going. I love to read everything from newspapers to best-selling books, especially in coffee shops that I discover as I explore the city. Finally, I love to write, especially now that I’m in a place that encourages young reporters to pursue careers in journalism. I’m currently working on my undergraduate thesis, about the Pentagon Papers and WikiLeaks, but I also write a personal blog.
