OVERVIEW
The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is designed to attract, recruit, and retain undergraduate and graduate students for DC Government. The program, which consists of several subset programs, will provide constant, consistent, informed, innovative ideas, options, best practices and recommendations on municipal programs from around the country to assist the Mayor and his administration in further building Washington into a world class city.

• The District of Columbia Government is facing a workforce crisis.
• The “baby boomer” generation continues to retire.
• Nearly 50 percent of the District’s Workforce will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years.
• More than 4,100 employees, or nearly 20 percent of our workforce is eligible to retire today.
• At the DC Department of Human Resources (DCHR) alone, 60 percent of its current work force is eligible to retire today.

GOALS OF THE EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM
By extending our outreach to the next generation of District employees from the city, the region and the country, this will enable Mayor Fenty’s Administration to:

• Be responsive to city government challenges and proactive at arriving at modern solutions
• Identify best practices from other jurisdictions and develop implementation strategies in the District
• Monitor and evaluate implementation strategies for best outcomes.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAMS

The Capital City Fellows Program
A successor to the Mayor's Urban Fellows Program which was established in 1985, the Capital City Fellows Program is a two-year management recruitment program for recent graduates of master’s degree programs in public administration, public policy, urban planning, and related fields to work for the city of Washington, DC.

Applications for the July 2008 cohort of the Capital City Fellows Program are now being accepted through January 4, 2008.  To learn more about the program and obtain application information, please visit Capital City Fellow Information Page for details and deadlines.

Certified Public Manager Program
The Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program is designed to enhance the skills of the District government’s managers and provide them with the tools to be more effective leaders. The nationally accredited CPM program is administered by the District of Columbia Department of Human Resources.

Academic rigor is brought to the program through strategic partnerships with The George Washington University, as well as renowned government, nonprofit and private sector practitioners who bring the best of leadership and management theory and practice to the classroom.

Selections for the 2007-2008 cohort of the Certified Public Manager Program have been finalized, and the recruitment process is closed at this time.  To learn more about the program and future recruitment dates, please visit the Certified Public Manager Program Information Page.

Centralized College Internship Program
The Centralized College Internship Program will offer part-time positions to undergraduate and graduate students. Students work 30 to 40 hours each week during the summer. The program will promote leadership in local undergraduate and graduate students who want hands-on public-policy municipal government experience.

The Centralized College Internship Program is scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2008. To learn more about the program and obtain application information, please visit the Centralized College Internship Information Page for details and deadlines.

Mayoral Summer Fellows Program
The Mayoral Summer Fellows Program is now called the Centralized College Internship Program. Please visit the Centralized College Internship Information Page for details.

High School Intern Program
This program promotes leadership and development in junior and senior high school students attending DC public high schools. Students accepted into this program will receive mentorship and professional and career development from assigned mentors within DC government agencies.

To learn more about the program and obtain application information, please visit the High School Intern Program Information Page for details and deadlines.

For additional information about the Centralized College Internship Program or the High School Intern Program, contact Cheryl Robertson, Program Analyst, at (202) 727-1599 or via email at cheryl.robertson@dc.gov.