Internship
Congressional Internship Program
2023 Internships will be offered in Congresswoman Sewell’s Washington, D.C. office as well as her District Offices in Alabama located in Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Selma. A congressional internship gives deserving students the opportunity to experience first hand the inner workings of a Congressional office.
What happens during a Washington, D.C. Congressional Internship?
Each intern will spend four weeks working virtually with the Washington, D.C. office of Congresswoman Terri Sewell. Interns will participate fully in the duties of the office and assist with constituent correspondence, research, and other tasks as assigned.
What happens during a District Office Congressional Internship?
Each intern will spend six weeks working with one or more of Congresswoman Sewell’s offices in Alabama’s 7th District-- Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and/or Selma. Interns will participate fully in the duties of the office, assist with programming, and work directly with constituent service. District Office interns may be asked to come into the office for some meetings or special events.
Who is Eligible for a Congressional Internship?
Any undergraduate student currently enrolled in college with a 3.0 GPA or higher who is a resident of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District is eligible to apply for the Congressional Internship Program. Students may attend an accredited college or university located anywhere, but must have direct ties to Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.
How are Interns Selected?
Interns will be selected based on academic performance, leadership abilities and demonstrated financial need. Computer and office skills are also a requirement for selection. Candidates will be interviewed by the Board of Directors of The 7th Project. The selection of interns will be made on a non-partisan basis.
Are Internships Paid Positions?
The internship is an educational opportunity. Each Washington intern will receive a $1000 stipend. Since this year’s internship program will be held virtually, housing expenses will not be covered. District interns will receive a $1000 stipend as well.
When are the Internships?
Applications for Virtual District Office Internships are accepted year-round. Applicants should indicate their beginning and ending dates of availability to work, and positions will be filled on a rolling basis. Each district internship session is a minimum of six weeks long. For 2021, we are also seeking interns with the following specialties: photography and digital.
Each Virtual Washington Office Internship session is a minimum of four weeks long. The first session will be held in June 2021, and the second session will take place in July 2021.
Applications to be considered for summer internships are due by February 26, 2021. Successful applicants will be notified in late March. All selected applicants must attend a one-day virtual training seminar in May.
Congratulations to the 2023 Interns
Washington D.C. Office
Brandan Belser, Jr.
Brandan Belser, Jr. is a resident of Birmingham, AL. A senior majoring in Political Science at Auburn University he engages with many campus, local, and state political and service organizations. As a student government leader, Brandan authored legislation that promoted the recruitment and retention of diverse students, supported student veterans and their families, and codified non-voting liaison members and a special committee creation process within the Student Senate at Auburn. He has interests in Politics and Government, with a focus on Military and Veterans Affairs, Fine Art, and Intellectual Property/Copyright Law. He is an alumnus of the Alabama School of Fine Arts located in District 7. As a student of Alabama's only public school for the performing arts, Brandan had extensive classical training, studying trombone performance and music composition, and performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
Halli Reese
Halli Reese is a highly motivated Junior Marketing major at Howard University, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, with a diverse and versatile skill set. She consistently exhibits creativity in all of her endeavors and maintains a deep passion for marketing, global studies, travel, and social justice. At Howard, Halli is a Resident Assistant and an Entrepreneurship Co-Director for the School of Business Executive Council. She has dedicated her time to volunteering for various community service projects, including providing assistance at an assisted living facility and a women's and children's shelter. Apart from her academic and professional achievements, she enjoys various hobbies such as baking, reading, listening to music, and annotating lyrics, and have a passion for traveling to explore new cultures. Halli’s curiosity and enthusiasm has given her opportunities to study abroad in London, Paris, Milan, and Florence. She is incredibly thrilled to have the opportunity to intern and serve the residents in the 7th congressional district of Alabama.
Calvin Cullen
Calvin Cullen is a Birmingham native passionate about public policy research in the service of working-class households and families. Calvin is a VISTA member with the Birmingham Mayor's Initiative AmeriCorps Service Program, where he is tasked with researching and providing policy information to City Council support staff. He has assisted Council staff with background on food insecurity and stormwater management along with state budget analysis and city budget request analysis. Calvin is a graduate of Clay-Chalkville High School and expects to graduate with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in the Spring of 2024. In his free time, Calvin enjoys visiting art and history museums, visiting historical sites, reading books related to politics and history, and exploring new food and music. In addition, Calvin is a big fan of pro sports, with his favorite teams being the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bulls, and New York Yankees.
Stevon McCullough
Stevon McCullough is a senior currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice from the Illustrious Stillman College. Stevon has served as Student Government Chief of Staff, Black Male Initiative Chief of Staff and Vice President of Student Ambassadors. Mr. McCullough is currently a White House HBCU Scholar and former Michael Best Strategies (DC) Public Policy Intern. Mr. McCullough enjoys empowering underprivileged communities through community service. In his off time Mr. Mccullough loves to play basketball, play chess and travel with loved ones.
Faiza Mawani
Faiza Mawani is a rising senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she is majoring in Political Science and History, while also pursuing a Master of Public Administration. While at UAB, Faiza has conducted research on various policies affecting the people of the 7th Congressional District, including Medicaid expansion and public school funding. She has lived in Birmingham for the last nine years and is a very active member of the community at large, including volunteering with the Ismaili Community of Birmingham, participating in her county's Teen Court, and working with Project ED Birmingham to analyze Birmingham City Schools survey data.
She hopes to leverage her experience to help champion policies that she is passionate about to improve the community's quality of life, achieve equitable healthcare access, and give everyone a fair shot at achieving the American dream. Faiza credits her family and their journey in the States as the reason behind her success, and she hopes she can make them and her Ismaili Muslim community proud as she represents them this summer as an intern with Congresswoman Terri Sewell. She is excited to learn about the public policymaking process in the nation's capitol and looks forward to learning from Representative Sewell.
Jordan Watkins
Jordan Watkins is a Doctoral Student at The University of Alabama in the Education Leadership Program. Jordan also received a Masters in Higher Education Administration and decided to continue her education to bridge the inequitable gaps of academic injustice for marginalized student populations. By immersing herself in rooms that didn't have ample seats at the table she learned qualities that an academic leader should possess. To continue her pursuit to present opportunities of growth within academia, she began working in the office of the Vice President for Student Life at UA. Additionally, she worked in the role of a Scholar Relations Lead in Washington D.C for the National Youth Leadership Forum in Law and CSI. During this time, one of her responsibilities included governing, overseeing, and monitoring the behaviors of students and thus determining disciplinary actions that required appropriate student cooperation in alliance with the program's code of conduct. Currently, Jordan works in the Dean's Office at The University of Alabama as an Administrative Assistant and in this role she plays a hand in coordinating programs that will support graduate students' transition and academic affiliations. Jordan lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and hopes to incorporate public policy in her daily pursuit towards academic inclusivity.
Birmingham Office
Kylan Powell-Coleman
Kylan Powell-Coleman is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. She is a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School. Currently, she is a senior at The University of Alabama. On campus, Kylan is involved in several honor societies and organizations, such as The Carl A. Elliott Society, Alpha Psi Omega, and is a Black Faculty and Staff Association Scholar. In addition to her involvement with on-campus organizations, she is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In her sorority, she is a 2023 AKA Leadership Fellow, the undergraduate Cluster Coordinator for the South Eastern Region, and the Parliamentarian for her chapter. After graduation, Kylan plans to attend Law School to achieve her goal of being an attorney.
India Savoie
India Savoie is the daughter of Aquieta Hebert and Derrick Savoie. She was born in the Bayou State, Opelousas, Louisiana. She spent her developmental years at Port Barre Elementary and Port Barre High School. She had an early desire to be a valuable contributor to her community and to others in need of her assistance. She is a member of the senior class at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama where she commits time and effort to fields related to public service and civic responsibility. Her time at college has allowed her the opportunity to observe and work with students ranging from preschool to upper elementary grades as an Early Childhood Education Major. India enjoys running track, basketball, modeling, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. As she pursues her goal of graduating, she plans to continue her education and one day own her own childcare facility. She has alternate goals of becoming a coach, principal, and even a school district superintendent. India hopes to pave the way for future first-generation students like herself, showing them that they can accomplish anything that they set their minds to achieving.
Genevieve Wilson
Genevieve Wilson is a lifelong resident of Birmingham, Alabama. Genevieve is a rising senior at the University of Mississippi studying International Studies with an emphasis in government and politics as well as Public Policy Leadership. Through her studies, she channels her passions for learning about new cultures, policy creation and analysis, and effective leadership, and ultimately wants to pursue a career in policy-making, law or nonprofit work. From guiding visitors through the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute as a member of their Youth Legacy Leadership Program to cooking meals at the Firehouse Shelter, her community involvement in Birmingham has instilled in her a great passion for both the Magic City and across the South. Genevieve wants to aid in the reimagining of the South, and believes the opportunity to intern for Congresswoman Sewell is the perfect place to witness and support real change happening within Alabama communities. Meaningful change begins locally, which is why the work done at home will not only change Birmingham for the better, but can have incredible implications for the rest of the nation. During her time in college, Genevieve has become heavily involved in different community organizations and nonprofits within Mississippi and is ready to return to Birmingham to support groups closer to home.
Tuscaloosa Office
Makayla Jordan
Motivated by the rise in gun violence and voter disenfranchisement in her community, Makayla joined Students Demand Action in 2018 to make a change in Birmingham. Makayla Jordan co-captained an initiative that registered over 100,000 voters in the 2020 presidential election. Makayla has been interviewed by ABC News, Mashable, AL Political Reporter and has written op-Ed’s about her advocacy work in Teen Vogue and Prism Reports. As a rising junior at the University of Alabama majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science, Makayla is deeply involved with advocacy on campus. Makayla is apart of the Blackburn Institute, and a contributing columnist with the Crimson White writing about policy issues that effect the state of Alabama. Upon graduation, Makayla plans to work in politics and campaign management for the Democratic Party.
Montgomery Office
Jecayla Howard
Jecayla Howard attends Auburn University at Montgomery, majoring in Chemistry while minoring in Political Science. She is from Union Springs, Alabama, and is the daughter of Carrie and Jerry Howard. Howard graduated from Bullock County High School as Valedictorian, then reached many accomplishments. She is a member of the AUM Talons Dance Team, Vice President of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Vice President of Affairs via First in Flight First Generation Organization. She plans to attend pharmacy school in the near future. While doing her best to promote political knowledge to others.