Beyond criminal justice reform, the NREI will explore policy in economic opportunity, education, and healthcare.
The NREI expands on the work the CBCF has been doing since its inception to offer scholarships and paid fellowships and internships to students. According to the CBCF, it has put more Black interns on Capitol Hill than any other organization in the U.S.
“Being a visionary is one thing, but we need to find resources to encourage young people who are already committed to social activism to be rewarded for that — especially if they're in college,” says Menna Demessie, Senior Vice President of Policy Analysis & Research at CBCF’s Leadership Institute. “We’re creating a pipeline for those folks to go on to be amazing leaders in the policy field and beyond.”
This initiative launched in June 2020 and is funded by organizations including Capital One.
“CBCF has a storied tradition of lending its voice and resources to advance the needs of communities that have long been overlooked and the NREI is the latest innovation to advance that work,” says Joe Vidulich, Director of Government Relations at Capital One. “Capital One is very excited to be a part of that journey and contribute to the CBCF’s mission to create equitable opportunities for students of color.”