Transform Your Summer: Make an Impact for People in Cities Through the Summer Scholars Program!

Are you ready to dive into real-world public innovation projects and make a difference in city hall? The Summer Scholars, a program at the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, is your chance to gain hands-on experience addressing our cities’ most pressing challenges by participating in impactful public innovation and civic engagement projects.

Why Apply?

As a Summer Scholar, you’ll spend 10 weeks embedded in a city hall team, working on cutting-edge public innovation projects. You’ll gain practical skills, network with professionals, and enhance your career prospects – all while creating a positive impact in local communities in the United States and abroad. Plus, you’ll receive a stipend and travel funds to support your journey.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking passionate and talented graduate students from all Johns Hopkins divisions who have skills in:

• Policy analysis

• Design thinking

• Stakeholder management

• Data analysis and visualization

• Qualitative analysis

• Mapping (GIS)

• Writing and editing

• Language fluency (e.g., Spanish, Portuguese)

What We Expect from You

• Own your project: Take responsibility for driving the work plan in collaboration with city leaders, ensuring timely and impactful results tailored to local needs. 
• Deliver results: Through 10 weeks on-site, fully immerse yourself in priority projects with  city hall teams to produce tangible outcomes that address city needs. 
• Lead with initiative: Approach problems with a proactive mindset, bringing creative solutions while demonstrating humility, curiosity, and a strong desire to learn. 
• Maintain professionalism: Bring a team-oriented, problem-solving approach to tackling challenges and opportunities to improve life for city residents. 
• Present with impact: Deliver a final presentation to city leadership and share your experience and insights with the university community in the fall.

What You’ll Gain

• Practical experience: Apply your academic knowledge and a public innovation approach to real-world challenges in cities. 
• Exposure to city leadership: Engage with high-level city officials, gaining insights into local government and leadership. 
• Executive audience: Present your findings and solutions directly to decision-makers. 
• One-on-one coaching: Personalized support from expert staff to guide your growth. 
• Peer support: Regular check-ins with your fellow scholars for shared learning. 
• Professional development: Workshops designed to enhance your skills and career readiness. 
• Self-reflection: Exercises to help you process your experiences and deepen your learning.

Learn More and Apply

Contact the [email protected]  for more information. 

Summer 2025 applications open in the spring semester for full-time Johns Hopkins graduate students. To apply for Summer Scholar placement, please visit the JHU SMILE portal and search for “BCPI”. 

Learn about the 2024 Summer Scholars, their city hall projects, and their new perspectives on careers in city halls.

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