Fall 2025 Communications Fellowship

Are you a storyteller at heart? The Office of Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) is seeking an immediate Communications Fellow with Spanish language skills for Fall 2025, based in Washington, DC. This fellowship offers you the opportunity to develop your skills by drafting speeches, statements, and scripts; and designing digital communications that reflect the values of Houston, Texas, and beyond. You’ll work alongside our Communications team to capture the spirit of public service and connect with our constituents.

This position is available beginning October 2025 through January 2026, with the opportunity for full-time employment afterwards. We're especially interested in candidates who have graduated or will graduate by January 2026, as this fellowship is designed as a potential pathway to a permanent communications role.

What You’ll Do:

• Draft and Edit Speeches: Write for real moments that matter, from House floor remarks to statements on breaking issues. Your words will bring the Congresswoman’s message to life. Work closely with our communications team to master tone, style, and storytelling techniques that make speeches memorable. 
• Capture and Create Content: Use your photography, videography, and design skills to highlight the Congresswoman’s work. Capture events, create visuals, and design shareable content for social media, bringing our message to life in ways that engage and inspire.
• Research and Shape Narratives: Dive into pressing issues and craft stories that resonate with our district’s values and vision.
• Prepare Talking Points and Briefing Materials: Create concise, impactful points that deepen our messaging and support the Congresswoman’s engagements with the press.
• Attend Events and Hearings: Capture the essence of a day on Capitol Hill—take engaging photos, record B-roll, take notes at briefings, and use these moments to inform your work.
• Compile Daily Press Clips: Track news coverage to keep the Congresswoman and staff informed on current events and monitor how her message is spreading in the media. Fun fact: press clipping used to mean physically clipping articles from newspapers and pasting them onto paper. It’s all digital now, but the impact remains the same—keeping everyone in the know and inspiring legislation, speeches, and more.
• Collaborate with Other fellows: Join forces with fellow interns on projects of the day. From legislative research to helping out with the odd office project, your work will support our collective mission.
• Build a Network: A key part of being a Hill fellow is networking. It can be intimidating at first, but our team is here to help you find your people and grow connections.

What Makes You a Good Fit:

This role is perfect for someone with a passion for public service and a knack for storytelling. We’re looking for candidates who are:

• Spanish Speaker (Required): This role requires advanced Spanish — ideally native fluency. You know how to adapt English political language into authentic Spanish, avoiding literal translation and false cognates, while capturing the punch and clarity of the message. Preference given to candidates who completed education in Spanish-speaking countries or Spanish-language programs.
• Strong Writers: You turn complex topics into relatable, creative, and compelling language that everyday people can understand. 
• Creative Thinkers: You think outside the box, finding unique angles to connect with listeners.
• Skilled with Visual Storytelling: You know how to create stories that stop the scroll, whether it’s beautiful photographs from committee, a shareable carousel post, or a memorable Reel that embodies our motto “Congressional, but cuter.” You have a knack for making complex information relatable, using visuals that are clear, compelling, and accessible to everyone. 
• Detail-Oriented and Proactive: You take initiative, pay attention to the finer points, and work independently. You believe your work speaks for itself.
• Team Players: You work best within a team, knowing your job is in service of a collective mission.
• Passionate about Public Service and Politics: We love when our fellows take a genuine interest in public service, politics, and the quirky work of Congress. You don’t need to be a political science major, but staying informed and curious about government will make this role much more rewarding.

Why You’ll Love This fellowship:

• Real-World Experience: You’ll gain invaluable experience in speechwriting and communications, building a portfolio of work that makes an impact.
• Meaningful Contributions: Your writing will reflect the Congresswoman’s voice and resonate with constituents, giving you a chance to shape public narrative.
• Competitive Stipend and Flexible Hours: This is a full-time, paid fellowship. We offer a stipend that values your time, with flexibility to accommodate other commitments.  

How to Apply:

Please send the following materials in one merged PDF document:

• One-Page Resume: Keep it simple and straightforward. One page MAX.
• One-Page Cover Letter: Show, don’t tell why you’re interested in this role and how you’ll contribute to our team. Share what makes you unique and highlight any Texas/Houston ties. Please also describe your Spanish language skills. (For some good tips, you can refer to NPR’s cover letter guide).
• Writing Samples (1–3 pages max): Send us work you’re proud of that shows your ability to communicate clearly and with a unique voice. It doesn’t have to be political—any style is welcome. We’re looking for engaging, accessible writing, whether it’s a narrative essay, script, press release, blog post, e-newsletter, advice column, or something else entirely.
• Digital Portfolio (Optional): You may include a digital portfolio showcasing your visual storytelling or data journalism work (e.g., photography, graphics, short videos). Please keep samples brief—long PR slide decks or client reports will not be reviewed. 

Email the merged PDF to Brytan Mendes at brytan.mendes@mail.house.gov with the subject line “Garcia FALL 2025 Communications Fellowship - FirstName LastName”. Please name your file in the format: FirstName_LastName_GARCIA_FALL25_APP.pdf. The priority deadline for this position is October 1, 2025. Due to the volume of applications, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.