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ILF Civic Fellowship Program Accepting Applications for 2021

11/20/2020

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The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2021 Civic Fellowship Program. Every year, ILF’s selection committee identifies approximately 30 outstanding Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) college students to spend 8 to 10 weeks interning at a federal agency in Washington D.C. during the summer.
 
Students accepted into the program are known as Civic Fellows and will receive a stipend upon program completion. In addition to their full-time federal internships, they will attend professional development workshops and leadership training.  Fellows are responsible for their own travel, housing, and living expenses.
 
“One of ILF’s goals is to prepare and advocate for the next generation of leaders in public service,” said Dr. Paul Hsu, Chairman of ILF. “It is so important to increase exposure and understanding of civic engagement so that young leaders can take action to support their communities in relevant ways.”
 
"Developing next generation AAPI leaders is at the heart of our mission," said Linh Hoang, Executive Director of ILF." We help college students acquire the skills, experience, and insights necessary to become leaders and continue the fight of those who came before them. The ILF Civic Fellowship is a unique opportunity to jumpstart their careers and leadership journey." 
 
Undergraduate students of AAPI heritage are encouraged to apply. Requirements include United States citizens, minimum 3.0 GPA, and current undergraduate sophomores, juniors, or seniors. Additional documents such as an official transcript, resume, and at least one letter of recommendation is required. 
 
Applications are open now and must be submitted by January 22, 2021 at 5pm Eastern Time. 
 
To learn more or submit an application, please visit www.ilfnational.org
 
Important note: ILF anticipates the widespread availability of effective COVID-19 vaccines in the first half of 2021. Applicants should expect that summer internships will be on-site in Washington, DC. However, some or most internships may be virtual, depending on each agency’s policy. ILF will keep applicants informed during the application and placement process.
 
About ILF - International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is a non-profit organization that promotes civic engagement, leadership, empowerment, and economic prosperity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to enhance diversity in our country. The mission of ILF is to cultivate civic-minded future AAPI leaders. Founded in 2000, ILF has provided scholarships, leadership training, and educational programs to over 10,000 AAPI students.
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​ILF Congratulates President-elect Joe Biden and the First AAPI Vice President-elect Kamala Harris

11/16/2020

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Washington, DC – The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) congratulates President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their win.  Kamala  Harris will be the first AAPI woman and woman of Color as Vice- President in American history. 

“We celebrate Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ smashing the glass ceiling as she becomes the first woman, first Black woman, first Asian American to be elected to national office. Representation matters, and Vice President-elect Harris will continue to inspire so many AAPI to run for office and to get involved in public service.” stated Linh D. Hoang, Executive Director of ILF, "This is a pivotal time for our country, our economy, and for generations to come. Now is the time for a new era of inclusion, opportunity, and innovation. Together, we will work to heal our nation and rebuild stronger than ever before.” 
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ILF encourages the Biden-Harris administration to fill the positions in the administration with racial and gender equality.  ILF is ready to work with the Biden administration and elected leaders across the nation to restore public health, revitalize our economy, rebuild American lives and communities, and empower next generation leaders to lead change.  It is our civic responsibility to unite our country and encourage more young people to engage in civic life. 
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Congress Can Protect People and Businesses by Expanding Access to Broadband

8/14/2020

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​As the country continues to grapple with an unprecedented public health and economic crisis, millions of families and business owners are left with no choice but to conduct their lives and responsibilities remotely – away from offices, schools, and other social settings. Increasingly, our communities depend on internet access to connect with loved ones, attend online classes, video conference into office meetings, and manage businesses without putting themselves or others in harms way.  
 
As important as connectivity is, the pandemic has shown that broadband accessibility and affordability eludes far too many households – and especially communities of color and rural Americans. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 18 million people lack broadband internet service across the U.S. today. Our leaders must address the growing digital divide to help people and businesses weather the negative economic impacts of the pandemic, and to give them access to the digital infrastructure they need to prosper in a post COVID-19 economy.  
 
We are active participants in our community – more than half a million AAPI-owned employer firms in the United States – and take pride in positively contributing to America’s success as a global hub for talent, innovation, and growth. From hosting business and leadership conferences to offering competitive fellowship programs in the nation’s capital, ILF strives to promote the economic effectiveness of the AAPI community. That is why we urge Congress and the FCC to hasten their initiatives to make universal broadband a reality for more Americans. 
 
The digital divide in our community – intensified by the COVID-19 crisis – jeopardizes, and in some cases has already back-pedaled, the economic advancements accomplished by AAPI-owned businesses. The scale of the looming crisis for all small businesses is unprecedented.  According one report published in April of this year, “nearly 7.5 million small businesses may be at risk of closing permanently over the coming five months.” Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy and often serve other important social functions in minority communities. Broadband connectivity will give these businesses a fair shot at adapting to a world of e-commerce and remote services.
 
We take pride in our core values and mission to develop the next generation of AAPI leaders in both the public and private sector. That is why the growing “homework gap” that accompanies the digital divide is so alarming. According to Pew, the homework gap is more pronounced for minority and low-income households, and 15% of U.S. households with school-aged children do not have a home broadband connection. If we want our communities to recover and emerge from this difficult time ready to succeed, we need to unlock all the talent and potential in AAPI and other minority communities across the country. Internet access is a necessary and important step toward meeting this goal.
 
What we need is swift and bold action. We commend Congress and FCC for their renewed push to provide the necessary tools and resources to expand broadband access and investment across the county, but more needs to be done – and soon. The pandemic has made clear that private investment on its own is not economically feasible and legacy government infrastructure funding initiatives have not properly filled in the gaps of the digital divide in America.
 
A vibrant, connected AAPI community can contribute to a swift economic recovery. Today’s economic hurdles can be offset with smart, responsible investment in our broadband infrastructure – a welcomed, and urgent, measure necessary for AAPI’s businesses and leaders to prosper now and in the future.  

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The International Leadership Foundation Begins 2020 Civic Fellowship Program

6/19/2020

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is pleased to welcome the 2020 cohort of Civic Fellows during the first ever Virtual ILF Civic Fellowship Program Orientation on Saturday, June 6th, 2020.

This year’s cohort is comprised of 30 diverse and ambitious students from distinguished universities across America. Fellows will intern at federal agencies and congressional offices; in addition, Fellows will also have the opportunity to work on ILF Challenge Teams focusing on the Social Justice Initiative, COVID-19/PPE Relief Effort, and Innovation Spaces. Each Fellow will participate in educational seminars and professional training to develop a deeper understanding of public service and policy. 

The Fellows create an exemplary Civic Fellowship Program due to their tireless dedication to service, growth in leadership, and championing advocacy and inclusion above all. Chairman, Dr. Paul Hsu stressed the importance of the Fellowship, “The pandemic’s impact on small businesses is long, deep, and binding.” 

The ILF Civic Fellowship program aims to build a pipeline of emerging young leaders who are civic-minded and community-focused. Interim Executive Director Linh Hoang furthers adds, “ILF Fellows are the future agents of change in government and private sectors. ILF is a platform for Fellows to pursue their varied interests and gain deeper insight into the inner workings of government and most importantly take the skills and knowledge they’ve acquired to impact change in their local communities.” 

Fellow Sean Lin from Indiana University, intern at Minority Business Development Agency, hopes to make his own mark in the business world by providing minority businesses with the tools they need to achieve growth and success. Sean believes, “minority businesses face their own unique challenges when building the path to their version of the American Dream. While the fight for social justice has recently reached even greater heights, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.”

The Civic Fellowship Program also offers an opportunity for Fellows to gain a deeper insight into their future career paths.  

Fellow Jeremiah Azurin from Harvard University, intern at the State Department, hopes to officially join the Foreign Service full-time later this fall. “I am excited to share this unique experience with the other Civic Fellows this summer who care deeply about AAPI leadership and public service,” said Azurin.
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Fellow Rebecca Soo from the University of California at Berkeley, intern at The White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders, plans to pursue a career in public policy in human rights, education, and foreign policy after witnessing the effects that this type of legislation has on minority communities. Rebecca said, “ I want to uplift minority communities and research on how to break the glass ceiling that many AAPIs face in the workplace. These issues must be addressed in order to contribute to a brighter, more equitable future for all.”

  • Aaron Pathak, Rice University, EPA/ILF Challenge (COVID-19/PPE)
  • Adney Silva, Franklin & Marshall College, Rep. Meng
  • Angela Zhang, University of Michigan, ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative) 
  • Callie Wen, University of Maryland College Park, USAID/ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative)  
  • Chi Shing Lam, Washington and Lee University, ILF Challenge (COVID-19/PPE)
  • Christine Shan, University of Virginia, ILF Challenge (COVID-19/PPE & Innovation Spaces)
  • Daniel Kim, Columbia University, WHIAAPI
  • Ellen Lasko, University of California Berkeley, ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative)
  • Emilie Hu, Scripps College, ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative & Innovation Spaces)
  • Esther Hung, Georgia State University, MBDA
  • Ethan Hong, University of Southern California, ILF Challenge (COVID-19/PPE)
  • Jeffrey Tsai, Pepperdine University, ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative)
  • Jeremiah Azurin, Harvard University, State Department, ILF Challenge (Innovation Spaces)
  • Julian Lin, University of Southern California, MBDA 
  • Justin Yuan, University of Michigan, ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative)
  • Karen Gan, Princeton University, ILF Challenge (COVID-19/PPE & Innovation Spaces)
  • Khana Hoang, California State University East Bay, ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative)
  • Linda Tang, Duke University, ILF Challenge (COVID-19/PPE)
  • Ilena Peng, The George Washington University, FCC 
  • Matthew Leung, New York University, MBDA
  • Melissa He, Wellesley College, ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative)
  • Mengwei (Crystal) Chen, University of Washington, WHIAAPI
  • Michelle Lin, University of Michigan, ILF Challenge (COVID-19 PPE)
  • Rebecca Soo, University of California Berkeley, WHIAAPI
  • Sarah Lu, Vanderbilt University, DOJ/ILF Challenge (Social Justice Initiative)
  • Sean Chou, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, ILF Challenge (COVID-19 PPE & Innovation Spaces)
  • Sean Lin, Indiana University, MBDA
  • Syeda Shazia Ahmed, New York University, FCC
  • Yanni Zhang, Vanderbilt University, ILF Challenge (COVID-19 PPE)
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The International Leadership Foundation upholding the Values of Justice and Equality

6/10/2020

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​We join in solidarity with the Black community and those who are peacefully protesting around the country in the continuing struggle against racism and injustice. We strongly condemn police violence and racism in all their forms and deeply grieve the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. 
 
As we strive to be inclusive and to amplify the voices of those who are marginalized, we must redouble our commitment and efforts - individually and collectively - to support the Black community and engage in this work as agents of change in the United States. 
 
Each of us is called today to stand against injustice and the wanton murders of our fellow citizens, and to renew a nation dedicated to upholding the values of justice and equality for all. We must come together as communities of our allies, friends, and neighbors, business leaders and decision makers to stop this crisis once and for all. 
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Over 200K Face Masks Donated by Rhode Island Chinese-American Community to Local COVID-19 Response Efforts

4/20/2020

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Lt. Governor McKee (center) joins Sunny Ng (left) and Louis Yip (right) of Tai-O Group to accept a shipment of face masks for Rhode Island.

​PROVIDENCE, RI--Lt. Governor Dan McKee today shared news of a donation of 208,000 face masks from Rhode Island’s Chinese-American Community to the Rhode Island Department of Health and several municipalities to support local COVID-19 response efforts.


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​ILF's Response to COVID-19

4/20/2020

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​ILF Efforts on COVID-19 Update

We are living in unprecedented times – the coronavirus is impacting our families, our communities and our very way of life. ILF National is working closely with Capitol Hill, the White House, federal agencies and other AAPI organizations in Washington DC to provide accurate information and action to support and sustain our families and small businesses.  

We will continue our Civic Fellowship Program as scheduled. Our students’ safety is our top priority and we will monitor the development of the pandemic. We also take your health and the health of our staff very seriously and will keep you posted on future activities. Please stay safe and healthy.

What we are facing is daunting, but we are heartened by the moments of triumph in everyday acts of courage, humanity and love. We would like to recognize and thank all local Chapters for donating and supporting hospitals and local communities. Please continue to support our Civic Fellowship Program and the battle against COVID-19 with a donation to ILF. ​

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Newsletter: April 2020

4/20/2020

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ILF Efforts on COVID-19 Update

We are living in unprecedented times – the coronavirus is impacting our families, our communities and our very way of life. ILF National is working closely with Capitol Hill, the White House, federal agencies and other AAPI organizations in Washington DC to provide accurate information and action to support and sustain our families and small businesses.  

We will continue our Civic Fellowship Program as scheduled. Our students’ safety is our top priority and we will monitor the development of the pandemic. We also take your health and the health of our staff very seriously and will keep you posted on future activities. Please stay safe and healthy.

What we are facing is daunting, but we are heartened by the moments of triumph in everyday acts of courage, humanity and love. We would like to recognize and thank all local Chapters for donating and supporting hospitals and local communities. Please continue to support our Civic Fellowship Program and COVID-19 donation to ILF. ​
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ILF Welcomes the 2019 Civic Fellows!

7/12/2019

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) was pleased to welcome the 2019 cohort of Fellows at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center during the ILF Civic Fellowship Program Orientation on Saturday, June 1st.

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