Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellowship
The Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship Fund was established in 1988 to honor Mike M. Masaoka (1915-1991) for a lifetime of outstanding public service in promoting justice, civil rights and human dignity. The Masaoka Fellowship is designed to develop leaders for public service, particularly at the national level, and provides fellows the unique opportunity to be placed in a Congressional office where they gain firsthand knowledge of policy creation.
The fellowship is housed in the D.C. office of a member of the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives. The length of the fellowship is decided upon by the selected fellow and by the Congressional office and can last from 6 months to over a year. Specific duties in the office vary depending on the Congressional office and on the Fellow’s experience and knowledge of Congressional functions.
Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellows Receive:
A stipend of $3,750 monthly for the duration of the fellowship.
Health insurance reimbursement of up to $500 per month
Domestic round-trip transportation to Washington, D.C.
Program Requirements
Work the agreed upon hours at the placement site
Attend orientation
Attend the JACL programs such as: JACS Advocacy Day, JACL/OCA Leadership Summit, and National Convention
Submit a mid-program and end of program evaluation
Comply with JACL policies regarding work performance and personal conduct
Eligibility
Must have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree. Preference will be given to those who have a higher degree and demonstrate a commitment to Asian American issues, particularly those affecting the Japanese American community.
Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or individual who is legally authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer and who possesses lawful evidence of employment authorization
Application Guidelines
Required documents: the following items are required as part of the application. No exceptions will be made for incomplete applications after the deadline:
Resume
Personal Statement
Letter of Recommendation
Writing Assignment
Please draft a memo to your congressional member (e.g. your senator/representative of choice) discussing a policy issue that is in line with the advocacy work of JACL or is a personal passion that is relevant to the AA & NHPI communities.
Academic Transcript(s) (official or unofficial)
Deadline to Apply: November 27, 2023
For more information on JACL Fellowship and Internship programs, please email ccheng@jacl.org.