Capitol Fellowship Program

The CLLARO Capitol Fellowship Program helps college students develop a practical  understanding of legislative processes and public policy making. Students are admitted to the  program annually on a competitive basis. CLLARO places each fellow in the office of a  participating state legislator, other public official, or public policy advocate. Students receive a  $875/month stipend from CLLARO throughout the regular legislative session.  

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METHODS OF LEARNING AND TEACHING 

Each fellow is required to devote 20 hours per week to the program while staying current with any college courses in which they are concurrently enrolled. Fellows attend an orientation for all  General Assembly interns in early January plus additional training by CLLARO before the  session begins. Throughout the fellowship, fellows will spend fifteen hours a week on  policy-related tasks assigned by their host office. Examples of assignments may include researching policy or community problems, preparing fact sheets, monitoring specific bills, taking notes at committee hearings or caucus meetings, staffing town hall meetings, and  answering constituent inquiries. 

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Fellows are required to help CLLARO welcome and orient visitors to the capitol on the annual Latino Advocacy Day. CLLARO staff will visit capitol offices during the session to hear suggestions and resolve any concerns legislators or their staff  might have about fellows’ performance or the fellowship program in general.  

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Fellows are required to attend CLLARO in-service training and policy seminars at the capitol or Mi Casa Resource Center (location may change) every Friday from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. Seminars  feature expert guest speakers on a variety of policy topics.

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EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, LEARNING OUTCOMES AND FRIDAY SEMINARS TOPIC SCHEDULE

The Friday seminar topics are divided into the following categories:

About the Colorado Legislature and the Policy making Process in Colorado

Learning objectives: 

Demonstrate conceptual and practical understanding of state legislative policy making  processes and structures. 

Describe the role and internal processes of legislative committees and relevant House and  Senate leaders, including their roles and responsibilities.  

Explain the roles and functions of legislative service agencies; i.e., the Joint Budget  Committee Staff, the Legislative Council Staff, the Office of Legislative Legal Services, and the  Office of the State Auditor.  

Describe legislative functions and roles of leaders, committee chairs, members, and staff of the  House and the Senate of the Colorado General Assembly, including ethical expectations and role  constraints affecting each of those positions.  

Describe roles of the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Colorado Supreme Court with  respect to the legislative process and other policy decisions.  

Track legislation, starting with introduction of a bill and ending with final disposition. 

Use appropriate tools for monitoring legislation, including the legislature’s daily calendar,  committee schedules, official and unofficial on-line resources, and professional interaction with  public officials, public employees, and members of advocacy groups.  

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Policies & issues impacting Latinos in Colorado

Learning objectives: 

Give examples illustrating how specific policy, legislative, or budgetary decisions might affect  Colorado residents, organizations, and institutions, including low-wealth, low-income minority  residents and communities.  

Develop or anticipate potentially effective policy advocacy strategies and tactics grounded in  accurate understanding of legislative processes and legislators’ political and personal interests  and perspectives.  

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Leadership

Learning objectives:

Understand your own leadership style, and learn new skills for effective leadership as a CLLARO Capitol Fellow and beyond.

Explain how and why policymakers and advocates might appropriately practice the art of  political compromise while advancing the cause of social justice.  

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Civic Engagement

Learning objectives:

Describe or use of advocacy and lobbying techniques used by specific agencies or advocacy  groups, including those advocating for low-income, low-wealth minority populations and  specific populations at risk. 

Learn how to increase personal civic engagement, and how to engage the community. 

Identify potential career options for fellows themselves that might advance the interests of  those minority populations and other populations at risk.  

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Personal Finances

Learning objectives: 

Learn about resources available to the Latino community, learn financial management and planning, and examine strategies for good financial decision making. 

Learn about different financial institutions, how to invest, and learn the process of becoming a first time home buyer. 

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FRIDAY SEMINAR TOPICS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE  FOLLOWING:

1. First check in: first few days at the Capitol, research projects, pre-program  survey, the Colorado legislative process overview.

3. CLLARO’s advocacy priorities: past, present, future  

4. Legislative work as an intern: policy research & analysis, creating a fact sheet

5. Key roles of the federal, state, and local government

6. Aging Latinos: why is this an issue? CARE program at CLLARO

7. Latino Advocacy Day: Your role as Lobby Leads, policy issue areas

8. Latino Caucus policy issue areas

9. Joint Budget Committee & State Budget Process

10. Immigration issues

11. Affordable housing, homelessness, gentrification

12.Access to healthcare, health equity

13.Oral health equity

14.Education: k-12 and Higher Ed

15. LGBTQ policy issues, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

16.Climate change, environmental issues

17.Redistricting: why is this done and how?

18. Civic engagement: volunteering, community engagement, organizational involvement, government work and electoral participation

19. Personal finances: credit, investing, retirement, first time home buyer

20. The role of the Attorney General

21.The role of the Colorado Supreme Court

22. The role of the Governor’s office

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR CLLARO CAPITOL FELLOWS

• Fall 2023, exact date TBD - Program orientation at Mi Casa Resource Center
• Fall 2023, exact date TBD - Fellows and host offices Meet & Greet  at Mi Casa Resource Center
• Week of January 1, 2024 - Legislative training at State Capitol for interns and staff, exact date TBD (check with your legislative host office if applicable)‍
• Wednesday, January 3, 2023 -  Cohort State Capitol tour, 10:30AM-12PM
• Friday, January 5, 2024 - First Friday Meeting: Prepping for the Legislative Session.
• Date TBD  - First day of the Second Regular Session of the 74th Colorado General Assembly
• We will be meeting weekly every Friday starting on January 5, 2024 until May 24, 2024 from 11AM-2PM in person at Mi Casa Resource Center. Virtual meetings may be conducted under certain circumstances and will be announced prior to the meeting date. All Friday meetings are mandatory. If a Fellow misses more than three meetings, they will be asked to withdraw from the program.
• Friday, May 31, 2024 - CFP 2024 graduation ceremony 5PM

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