Amid a divided nation and federal cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the Institute for Responsible Citizenship’s Ascension Internship Program gathered dozens of Washington-area interns on June 27 to network, build lasting bonds, and spark conversations about leadership, justice, and the future of Black excellence.
The event was hosted just minutes away from the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro stop in Northwest D.C., at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, where attendees enjoyed tacos, quesadillas, and churros. As they dined on free food, participants representing various majors, including journalism, political science, economics, business, pre-med, finance, engineering, government, history, and sociology, mingled with peers on how to work together to strengthen the District, nation, and world.
“It’s almost like a breeding ground for excellence,” said Myles Davis, one of the interns at the event, who is working with the Ascension program this summer. “When you have these great people — these intelligent young scholars — all trying to make it big in their own industry, it pushes everyone to do better. As iron sharpens iron, man sharpens man.”
The Institute for Responsible Citizenship is a two-year program that selects standout African-American students from across the country for internships, high-level networking, and seminars on constitutional principles and ethics.
This year’s cohort includes students from prestigious institutions, such as Howard University, Yale University, Harvard University, New York University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Southern California, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, and Williams College.
“I always strive to surround myself with good people,” Davis, a senior attending the University of Southern California, told The Informer. “This program has connected me with incredible people who have so much energy and passion for being a positive force in society.” Andre Monroe, a Penn State broadcast journalism major interning at CNN, emphasized the power of the networking event for Black interns.
“A lot of people at this event look like me, so it’s easy to connect and relate to one another,” Monroe said. “As a guest, you get to meet friends of your friends, people who have similar career goals, and a lot of people who share common goals.”
Beyond building friendships, attendees spoke about how these networks can tackle real challenges back home and in the real world. For Davis, that means combining his passion for sports with a mission to close the Black wealth gap.
“One thing I want to do is make sure that our people have the opportunity to continue to be successful,” Davis said. “If I’m doing well, that means we as a people are doing well, too.”
The mixer also spotlighted The Coalition (formerly CNHED or Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development), a local nonprofit advancing economic development solutions for under-resourced communities in the District. Organizers encouraged attendees to learn more and get involved to help build a more equitable city for all.
Eric Veal Jr., University of Michigan student body president and scholar at The Institute for Responsible Citizenship, addressed how to get more involved with helping.
“I would encourage everyone here to donate to The Coalition Venmo as a way to support and help citizens here in the District who may not have the opportunity to go home to a house or apartment like you do tonight,” said Veal, during the event at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila.
The energy inside was bright with promise — a room full of young Black leaders sharpening each other for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“I’m walking away with a ton of incredible brothers,” Davis told The Informer. “I just can’t wait for what the future holds.”
