Competitive program offers robust learning opportunities for recent graduates and students
February 13, 2020
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza recently announced the City is accepting applications for the 2020 Mayoral Fellowship Program. The competitive program, sponsored by Cox Charities for over a decade, offers recent graduates and students the opportunity to gain meaningful experiences in city government by working on high-impact projects in varying departments across the city.
“Our Fellowship program provides young people an opportunity to gain robust work experience, explore the world of public service and fall in love with all our city has to offer,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “Working closely with city leaders to achieve real results that make Providence a better city is why this program is so unique and exciting. I encourage those interested in gaining real-world work experiences to apply today.”
Through a generous donation from Cox Charities, Mayoral Fellows will once again have the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of city programs aligned with their background, stated interest and qualifications. Former fellows have worked in a variety of departments including Healthy Communities, Arts Culture + Tourism, Planning, Sustainability and in the Mayor’s Office, each offering a unique experience.
“I was a Mayoral Fellow the summer after my sophomore year of college,” said City Councilwoman Katherine Kerwin, who worked in the Department of Arts, Culture + Tourism in 2017. “I hadn’t been home much since I had left to go to college out of state. The program connected me to people who were passionate about our city and having a government that works for all of us. The experience inspired me and after my fellowship ended, I decided to stay in Providence and contribute to all the amazing work our city was doing by running for office.”
The 10-week program offers participants a $2,000 stipend as they work under the direct supervision of a Department Director. The program also accommodates students interested in receiving academic credit for their participation.
“The Providence Mayoral Fellowship allowed me to gained first-hand experience maneuvering the challenges of municipal government,” said Inga Bagepalli, a 2019 Mayoral Fellow. “As someone who is passionate about public systems, I was eager to develop a quality understanding of government with direct access to policy, crisis management and projects that benefit real people. I am thankful for my time as a Mayoral Fellow for increasing my appreciation for the work of local civil servants and the role of the city in enacting meaningful change.”
The 2020 Fellowship will begin on Thursday, June 4 and end on August 13, 2020. Applications are due on March 31, 2020, and may also be submitted online at:
https://jobs.providenceri.gov/mayoral-fellowship/