The Institute for Responsible Citizenship

What makes the Washington Program at The Institute for Responsible Citizenship so impactful? The programming. Institute scholars attend private briefings with some of the nation’s most prominent public and private sector leaders as part of their two summer experience. Do you want to be a part of the conversation? Apply today for summer 2022.

Louis Laine, Institute for Responsible Citizenship class of 2015, and Justin Edwards, class of 2018, have been admitted to Harvard Law School. If they both enroll in the fall, they will join three other Institute alumni at the prestigious institution. Laine is a native of Newark, NJ and a graduate of Swarthmore College. Edwards, of Lafayette, LA, attended Howard University. Both were recipients of the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship as undergraduates.

Alumni of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship include lawyers, a judge, doctors, pastors, professors and teachers, doctors, and other professions. They are some of the nation’s best and brightest African American men.  Learn more at www.theinstitute.net

On Monday, William Keyes hosted an orientation session for new staff members at the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. Standing with Keyes are Andrew Mulinge of the University of Maryland and New York University (L.)) and Coin Ganges of Guilford College (R). Seated are Inga Thompson of Lynn University and Lola Wood of Spelman College and Boston University (R). Mulinge is responsible for programs, Ganges for alumni relations, Thompson for administration, and Wood for communications. The Institute is preparing for its twentieth summer training some of America’s best and brightest African American male college students to do extraordinary things. This summer’s class will join a network that includes Rhodes and Fulbright Scholars, PhD’s and MD’s, and the recipients of numerous prestigious awards.

Jovan Sheshbaradaran is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he double-majors in Business Administration and Political Science. On campus, he is a member of Carolina’s honors program, a Student Leadership Coordinator, and a peer mentor. This summer Jovan served as a lending intern for the National Housing Trust, a non-profit engaged in the preservation of affordable housing through public policy advocacy, real estate development, and lending. After college, Jovan plans to explore career paths in corporate finance and urban planning before pursuing his MBA. His hometown is Belmont, North Carolina.

“This summer I had the opportunity to intern within the lending department at the National Housing Trust, and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Being interested in urban planning, I had always wanted to deepen my understanding of affordable housing development and learn more about how these projects are financed. Interning at the National Housing Trust was a perfect way for me to learn more about this field. Not only did I see firsthand how affordable housing was developed throughout the country, but I was actively engaged in the process. Throughout the summer, I wrote a research paper on potential financing tools to support ADU development, interviewed employees at HUD to discuss their new budget, and even attended loan agreements with affordable housing developers across the country. Overall, I really enjoyed working at the National Housing Trust, and I am excited to announce that I have been extended an offer to continue my internship with them throughout the upcoming school year.

Garvey Goulbourne is a third year at the University of Virginia where he double majors in Foreign Affairs and Global Development Studies. This summer he is interning with the International Career Advancement Program Fellows Association (ICAPFA), a non-profit alumni association supporting diverse professionals in international affairs careers. Garvey hopes to pursue a career in foreign service and potentially work with the United Nations. His hometown is Roswell, Georgia

"This summer, I've been working with ICAPFA to further their mission of improving diversity in foreign affairs. This work is extremely critical as we strive to make our foreign policy initiatives more representative of our demographics at home. ICAPFA achieves this by supporting alumni with workshops, trainings, and professional advancement and networking opportunities, as well as opportunities for advocacy, and hosting events and panels on a range of issues featuring speakers from across sectors. This experience has connected me with professionals in a variety of government agencies and departments, as well as with prominent think tanks, nonprofits, and private sector entities. I have learned a lot about how different actors play key roles in U.S. foreign policy, and my internship has provided a perfect avenue for me to navigate career pathways."

Alton Coston, III is a junior at the College of William & Mary, where he is both a Jackie Robinson Foundation and William & Mary Scholar. Majoring in Public Policy and Africana Studies, Alton is also a member of William & Mary's Student Undergraduate Research Experience program. This summer with the Institute he is conducting research on Black autobiography and its historical effectiveness in influencing American politics, with a specific focus on the Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. Following graduation, Alton intends to begin a career in public service. His hometown is Richmond, Virginia.

"This summer I am grateful for the opportunity to simply engage with an array of Black literature that has been instrumental in shaping my sociopolitical thinking. As someone who has struggled with the issues of my identity, the research project that the Institute has allowed me to partake in this summer has enabled me to wrestle with the intersecting ambivalence of race, power, and politics in America. Furthermore, studying Malcolm X’s autobiography has amplified qualities that I seek to hone in myself as a young man entering the political realm — his recurring spurts of self-creation, the affirmative messages of unembellished self-respect and reliance, discipline, communal responsibility, solidarity, and uncompromising pursuit of truth and justice."

Ron Hall is a junior at New York University, where he is a Presidential Honors Scholar and majors in Politics with minors in Economics, Public Policy, and American Sign Language. This summer, he is interning at the law firm Epstein, Becker, & Green. Ron aspires to attend law school and pursue a career in law. His hometown is Dallas, Texas.

“This summer, I have the immense pleasure of interning at the law firm Epstein, Becker, & Green, a national law firm with a primary focus on health care and employment. Working alongside one of the partners at the firm, I am obtaining world-class legal instruction and mentorship that will better equip me to navigate the legal space. I have prepared summary memos, reviewed case documents, and attend briefings. This experience has far exceeded my expectations, and I am very grateful to the Institute for affording me with this opportunity.”

Zachary Harper is a rising junior from Detroit, Michigan studying accounting at Indiana University where he is a Prebys scholar and serves as a member of the Dean’s undergraduate council for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This summer Zachary is working with the Detroit branch of Ernst & Young as a Launch Intern. Zachary plans to explore career paths in accounting & finance and eventually pursue his MBA or CPA. Zachary is a Select Equity Scholar for the Institute.

“This summer I am interning with Ernest & Young as a Launch intern. As a Launch intern I rotate between tax as well as financial services where I conduct audit for a different engagement team every week. This summer I have worked on form control testing, OAR planning, financial record reconciliation, and more. This has been the most amazing summer experience in every way. Not only am I honored to meet high achieving black men in a multitude of industries, but I am also honored to be around young talented black men all working towards achieving their dreams and pushing me to achieve mine. I can’t wait to do it all again next summer with the Institute.

Kellin McGowan is a rising third year at the University of Chicago, where he double majors in Economics and Spanish. This summer he is interning at Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR), a refugee resettlement nonprofit. After graduation, he plans to attend law school and become an immigration attorney.

“This summer, I am interning for Every Campus a Refuge, researching the region-specific factors contributing to an individual’s decision to leave their country. I’ve explored how political and social institutions within and outside of countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea have led to the mass departure of people who eventually become refugees. I cannot express how grateful I am to the Institute for providing me with this informative, life-changing opportunity; because of this organization, I have an internship that will leave me well prepared for my future in immigration law.”

It was an honor to the meet Secretary Austin earlier this summer. We think the scholars will remember this moment for years to come