By Gene Lambey
Special to the AFRO
Mayor Muriel Bowser officially launched the HBCU Public Service Program on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia earlier this month on Nov. 13. The program invites graduating undergrad seniors from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Howard University to apply for public service positions with the D.C. government.
It is set to begin in summer of 2024 with applications opening on Feb. 1 and closing onFeb. 28, 2024. Those who are interested in applying can do so at does.dc.gov/HBCU.
“Building talent is our number one calling because we want all of our residents to be able to participate in a prosperous D.C.,” Bowser said. “Wherever I go in the city, I see talented people.”
To celebrate the launch of the event, the respective presidents of Howard University Ben Vinson and the University of the District of Columbia Maurice D. Edington were present.
This program provides a yearlong paid apprenticeship for the participating students. The participating students will be provided a competitive salary, a full-benefits package, paid holiday, sick and annual leave. Students must be willing to work at an agency during their apprenticeship. There is no GPA requirement for the students applying.
Bowser spoke at the opening event, promoting the HBCU Public Service Leadership Apprenticeship Program and noting the city has “no shortage of talent” that the program looks to cultivate.
Bowser envisions the HBCU Public Service Leadership Apprenticeship Program as a great learning opportunity for students that are interested in D.C. government services and departments, giving them the momentum they need to pursue their careers.
“We’re a local government and in local government in D.C., you can go to the feds, you can go to think tanks, you can go to a lot of places that do public policy, but you won’t have the immediate impact you can have in local government,” Bowser said. “I tell folks if you like politics, if you like people, you like to mix it up a little bit, you like public policy, but more than that you want to change communities one block at a time, the place you go to local government.”
Overall, Mayor Bowser’s main goal through this program is to have Howard and UDC graduating seniors to apply into the D.C. government to increase the workforce in the several departments around the city.
The AFRO spoke with Unique Morris Hughes Ph.D., director of the Department of Employment Services, who spoke more on the program and how public services agencies would be accessible for the UDC and Howard University students.
“There’s 25 positions that we’re going to offer for this inaugural year and the positions are going to span over multiple agencies from the Department of Employment Services (DOES), D.C. Healthcare, Finance, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), Child and Family Service Agency (CFSA), D.C. Water, D.C. Parks and Rec,” said Hughes. “Those are just some of the agencies that we have enlisted to partner with and our list is growing day by day.”
Hughes believed that graduating seniors from UDC and Howard, entering into this program would not only benefit the students in gaining work experience but also bring young people into D.C. government agencies.
Hughes spoke with the AFRO on the importance of the program, highlighting the benefits of college graduates entering the public service workforce as she mentioned “fulfilling opportunities” that would have workers living in the same communities that they are helping. Hughes also mentioned the possibility that the HBCU Public Service Leadership Apprenticeship Program would be expanded outside of Howard University and UDC.
“We intend on offering mentorship and other professional development opportunities, you name it,” Hughes said. “From understanding economics and the D.C. budget, to specific skills related to that person’s occupation and industry that they are working in, these are really unique components of the program as well.”