On this day in history - June 9, 1963 - voting rights activist and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer was returning with other activists from a voter education workshop in Charleston, SC when she was falsely arrested and brutally beaten in a Mississippi jail.
To honor her tireless crusade for justice, CBCI is proud to host the Fannie Lou Hamer Government Relations Fellowship Program (June 6 – July 22, 2022). In the spirit of Hamer's legacy, the participants from Southern University Law School will be equipped with the tools and resources necessary to lead as future change agents.
Our Mission
The Congressional Black Caucus Institute (CBCI) Fannie Lou Hamer Government Relations Fellowship Program expands career path options for law students interested in public policy and government relations; thought to be beyond the traditional practice of law. The Fellowship also answers the call of diversifying corporate government relations departments and K- Street Lobbying firms. The CBCI Fannie Lou Hamer Government Relations Fellowship will bring together emerging change-makers and equip them with the necessary tools and resources to impact policy on all levels.
The 6-weeks program will provide an overview of the lobbying/government relations field through courses offered by the National Lobbying Institute for Ethics. Fellows will be placed in government relations offices through partnerships with the Washington Government Relations Group and The Washington Heads of Office, the two premier lobbying associations for African Americans in government relations. Additionally, we have partnered with Airbnb and Door Dash to provide housing and meals for the fellows while in the DMV Area.
Our Vision
Diverse, qualified law students with the proper foundation can influence public policy at all levels. Since government relations aims to persuade government officials to craft viable policy solutions to today’s issues. It is our goal for this to be an enriching experience unlike any of its kind addressing the lack of diversity among lobbyists and government relations professionals.
To create a pipeline for driven, highly-qualified law students interested in government relations or seeking alternate career paths to the traditional practice of law. The Fellowship alumni will be the catalyst to a diverse political sphere representative of the makeup of America.
