Eight Hispanic University Students Chosen for Selective Leadership Program in Washington, DC

Eights university students from across the country will arrive in Washington, D.C. on June 25th for a prestigious internship program, hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) and sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund.

This year, CHLI received more than 252 applications for its Ford Motor Company – CHLI Leadership Program, now in its 6th year. Each of the selected eight students will spend six weeks in Washington, D.C. interning in federal government, a corporate government relations office, a research institution or a multi-lateral international organization (i.e. the Inter-American Development Bank or the Organization of American States).

“CHLI is thrilled to have received more applications this year than we have any other year, which speaks highly of the program that we have coordinated with generous sponsorship and input from our long-time supporter, the Ford Motor Company Fund,” said Octavio A. Hinojosa Mier, CHLI Executive Director. “Our 2009 class of exceptional young Hispanic leaders is the most diverse in terms of interest…students are pursuing degrees in not only political science and international studies, but also marketing, economics, business and criminology. CHLI is proud to welcome these eight young leaders to Washington, D.C. and into the CHLI family.”

The Ford Motor Company – CHLI Leadership Program offers invaluable insight to students of Hispanic and Portuguese descent who want to gain first-hand experience on how the federal government works and public policy is shaped. The interns work with appointed and elected officials from the different branches of government, while also receiving leadership training and engaging in local community service.

“At Ford, empowering communities through innovative education is a top priority,” said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are proud of our role in the Ford Motor Company – CHLI Leadership Program, which gives young Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent the opportunity to participate in this unique leadership initiative.”

Students will also have the opportunity to meet other summer interns and network with local professionals during the CHLI Future Leaders Conference to be held Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at the Organization for American States. This day-long event will be free and open to all Washington, D.C. interns and young professionals. More information is available online at www.chli.org/events.

The 2009 Ford Motor Company-CHLI interns include:

Andrew Velo-Arias

Sophomore, Harvard College

Major: Economics

Hometown: Hialeah, FL

Interning with Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21)

Ivan Alvarez-Benitez

Sophmore, University of Puerto Rico

Major: Undeclared

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Interning with Congressman Luis Pierluisi (PR)

Allison Brito

Junior, Suffolk University

Major: Government: International Affairs

Hometown: Dartmouth, MA

Interning with Congressman Albio Sires (NJ-13)

Rocky Chavez

Senior, Oklahoma City University

Major: Marketing

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Interning with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

Romy L. Portuondo Remior

Sophmore, University of Miami

Major: Business Administration

Hometown: Miami, FL

Interning with Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Ezequiel J. Romero

Recent Graduate, Florida International University

Major: Political Science

Hometown: Miami Lakes, FL

Interning with the National Republican Congressional Committee

Enrique Ruacho

Recent Graduate, University of California, Irvine

Major: Criminology, Law and Society; Political Science

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Interning with Congressman Joe Baca (CA-43)

Jennifer Safstrom

Sophomore, University of Miami

Major: International Studies

Hometown: Miami, FL

Interning with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18)

CONTACT:
Vanessa Bilanceri
202-244-0121
vanessa@exitomarketing.com

About CHLI:
The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, based in Washington, D.C., that advances the diversity of thought in U.S. Hispanic community in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as in the international community. For more information, please visit www.chli.org.”

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