The Story
In February 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama attended a rally organized by students at George Mason University and attended by students from all over the mid-Atlantic region. From this point, young people played a vital role in the 2008 presidential election. Now, more than two years later, President Obama’s Administration continues to believe in the capacity of young people to move America forward.
The President, First Lady, and staff are committed to providing young leaders from all across the nation an opportunity to develop their leadership skills and gain exposure to the public service sector. This program was developed to provide hands-on experience and cultivate such skills.
In addition to the White House Internship Program, we have created a program specifically for the leaders of the Obamas’ new hometown of Washington, D.C. called the D.C. Scholars Program. This new part-time internship program aimed at young leaders in public and charter high schools within the District of Columbia began in the summer of 2009.
"[At] each and every juncture of our history, somebody has been audacious enough to say, 'We could do better.' . . . And more often than not, it's young people who've done it."
