The 2027 development internship features a series of workshops, discussions, and guest speakers. Interns emerge from the program with new leadership and professional skills, direction on their leadership opportunities and/or career path, and a heightened understanding of how their identities and leadership potential intersect. The program integrates identity-level work with applied leadership skills, so students develop not just what they know about leadership, but who they are as leaders.

Sessions consist of pre-readings, discussions on various advocacy-related topics, a guest speaker conversation, and interactive exercises. Open to college students and recent graduates, the program is designed to help set young leaders up for success: creating lifelong relationships and offering a pipeline for further development opportunities, including an internship at the Oregon State Legislature.

The Legislative Internship places interns in a State Representative or Senator’s office for the duration of a legislative session. Interns learn the inner workings of the legislature, develop invaluable networks, and gain insights into what leadership looks like in the real world. Interns exit the program with a broad spectrum of new experiences and professional skills, as well as, more often than not, opportunities to continue on either in the legislature or other political work.

Interns who complete the Fall Development Internship are invited to apply for the Legislative Internship. The Legislative Internship follows the Oregon legislature’s timeline, with alternating short sessions during even years and long sessions during odd years. Every legislative office has their own logistical structure and priority areas, so APICCO makes internship placements to fit the interns’ focuses as best possible. APICCO also convenes regular check-ins with interns to help flesh out their goals for the program and identify any opportunities for further development.

Train-the-Trainer gives young leaders who have completed APICCO’s previous programs the opportunity to take their leadership development to the next level. Participants learn how to facilitate workshops, lead meaningful discussions, and create an engaging experience for others. Through guided training and hands-on experience, young leaders leave with a stronger sense of who they are as leaders. 

Before the Fall Development Internship, trainers participate in a series of virtual training sessions designed to build both the hard and soft skills needed to lead with confidence. They then join the Fall Development Internship as assistant facilitators, putting those skills into practice alongside APICCO staff and facilitators. They build valuable working relationships with APICCO facilitators, guest speakers, and the next generation of participants, while providing meaningful mentorship for the incoming cohort.