The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation Join AAIDN and CIEE to Expand the Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship in Ireland
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Spelman and Morehouse College Students Named Douglass-O’Connell-Lewis Interns
In recognition of what would have been Congressman John Lewis’ 85th birthday this year, the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation will sponsor three students to join the 2025 Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Interns, a cohort of high-achieving American students who will participate in an eight-week international internship program in Dublin, Ireland.
The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation joins Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN), and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) as partners supporting the Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship in Ireland program, which honors two iconic leaders in the fight for civil rights, social justice, and economic mobility for all, by preparing students for future career success. Students awarded this competitive internship spend the summer interning with an Ireland-based company, attending lectures on Irish history and culture, and participating in extracurricular and networking activities in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast.
Three students who attend colleges in the district that Congressman John Lewis represented for more than 30 years will join the 2025 cohort of Douglass-O’Connell Global Interns in Ireland this summer. The students sponsored by the John and Lillian Miles Foundation will be known as Douglass-O’Connell-Lewis Global Interns, and are:
- Morehouse College, Zackary Harris, Biology
- Morehouse College, Mouhamadou Kane, Journalism
- Spelman College, Jocelyn Baker, International Studies
“This Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship in Ireland aims to empower and engage students in global internships that emphasize intercultural learning, leadership development, and social justice—values that honor the life and legacy of Congressman Lewis,” said Detria Everson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation.
“CIEE is honored to partner with the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation to strengthen the bonds between America and Ireland through international student exchange programs that also contribute to workforce development and student success,” said James P. Pellow, President and CEO of CIEE.
“In the 19th Century, American Frederick Douglass was inspired by the great Liberator, Irish abolitionist Daniel O’Connell, and in the 20th Century, Irishman John Hume, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and architect of the Good Friday Agreement, was inspired by Americans Rev. Martin Luther King and John Lewis,” said Michael Collins, Board Chair of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. “I joined Congressman Lewis when he visited Ireland in 2014 and gave the first Douglass-O’Connell speech exploring the relationship between Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell, so it is an appropriate tribute to Congressman Lewis’ legacy to support programs that reinforce the strong bridges between America and Ireland.”
About CIEE
Since 1947, CIEE has built bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures through study abroad and international exchange programs that advance peace in our world. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Learn more at ciee.org.
About the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation (JLMLF)
The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, Inc. was conceived by Congressman Lewis to carry on his and his wife’s passion for purposeful living, civic engagement and building the “beloved community,” and to inspire and support Good Trouble. For more information, visit jlmlf.org.
Media contacts:
Leslie Taylor (CIEE)
media@ciee.org / 207-553-4274
Neil Parekh (JLMLF)
neil@digimentors.group / Cell: 206-370-0058