As part of the advocacy component of the Torture Abolition Civic Engagement Project, 40 TWC summer interns and 10 torture survivors spoke out against torture on Capitol Hill. The Torture Abolition Civic Engagement Project is organized by The Torture Abolition and Survivor Support Coalition (TASSC). TASSC is the only organization founded by and for torture survivors to end torture and empower survivors and their communities. Interns received extensive training by TASSC, which is also a long-time TWC internship host.

As part of the LGBT Civic Engagement Project, students visited the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) national headquarters in Washington, D.C. The visit was organized by Candace Gingrich-Jones, Associate Director of Youth and Campus Outreach. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

35 students and three staff volunteers participated in a community dog park clean up at the Towers Community Canine Area in Arlington, VA. Before they began the clean up, the volunteers heard from Lyndell Core, the park manager, who discussed how community parks benefit dogs and build community support among dog owners.

Students and local dog owners did everything from:

Over the past two weeks, students in the Local Green Civic Engagement Project participated in three service projects, which have aided in making DC both greener and more environmentally friendly.

Projects include:

TWC welcomed nearly 550 new interns to Washington, D.C. during their two-day summer orientation on May 24th and 25th. The first day kicked off with the interns being formally introduced to their TWC program advisors and participating in program activities. There are more than 9 programs offered by TWC, catering to interns from all backgrounds and majors. Interns ended their first day of orientation with ice cream socials taking place at four summer housing locations.

Fall commencement was a memorable event for TWC's fall interns. It was the day they united with their peers to celebrate the memories they began creating in August.

Alumni Speaker

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) celebrated its third annual alumni holiday party with more than 100 alumni and many current TWC students. The event took place on the second floor of TWC headquarters.

In addition to a live band and hors d’oeurves, invitees enjoyed a warm welcome from TWC President Mike Smith. He reflected on his time at TWC, celebrating the 1,600 students who completed internships or seminars over the last year as well as the milestone of more than 50,000 alumni since the organization’s founding.

Starting a brand new internship at The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminar (TWC) is exciting for any new student. Whether that student is traveling domestically or internationally to participate in either a 10-week or 15-week internship, a few things are always guaranteed:

TWC interns participating in the Veterans Civic Engagement Project attended an event at Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).

Spring 2012 students are given the opportunity to participate in one of 5 civic engagement projects allowing them to enhance their civic skills.  Participants of the Immigration Rights Project organized a dinner-dialogue with Washington, D.C. immigrants.  The event was hosted by 30 TWC interns who invited 15 special guests: immigrants who are now living or studying all over the D.C. area!

Volunteer Opportunities