Named in honor of former California State Senator Richard G. Polanco, a founder and the chair of the California Latino Caucus Institute, the Polanco Fellowship program provides leadership training and development for a select group college graduates. As of January 2011, there are 42 Polanco Fellows.

Considered one of the premier public policy fellowships in the nation, the Polanco Fellowship is a yearlong placement that includes leadership training at the world-renowned Center for Creative Leadership in La Jolla, AB 1234, Value Based Leadership and Ethic Training at the Chrysler/CLCI Elected Officials Training Academy, a six month Sacramento based Community Service Project, a four-month placement in a major state agency in Sacramento such as California Attorney General’s Office, Department of Health, Department of Social Services, CalPERS and, from January to August, an eight-month placement in the Capitol office of a state legislator.

Recent News

2012 POLANCO FELLOW CLASS GRADUATION

THANK YOU to our CLCI GRADUATION SPONSOR

The 2012 Polanco Fellows, ELIZABETH MUNGUIA, JHONNY PINEDA and ILIANA RAMOS, will be leaving the CA LATINO CAUCUS INSTITUTE (CLCI) program on August 31, 2012.  Over the last ten years, CLCI has privately funded and graduated forty Polanco Fellow Alumni to serve as future California leaders.

CLCI extends a very special and heartfelt THANK YOU to CLCI Corporate Advisory Board Member STEVE BURNS, CHEVRON, Director of Government Affairs, for his continued support of the Polanco Fellows program.

[Read the Article]

2012 POLANCO FELLOWS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT A SUCCESS!
57 NEW applicants on the road to becoming US Citizens

Citizenship is the gateway to achieving the American Dream. Working with the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) as a corporate sponsor, and workshop partners SEIU Local 1000, the Sacramento office of Assembly Member Roger Dickinson, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Univision, Tequila Museo Mayahuel, AVI Productions, Starbucks, La Esperanza Mexican Food Products, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Jay's Quality Printing and the Hispanic Empowerment Association of Roseville, the 2011-2012 Polanco Fellows class organized and implemented as part of the Cesar Chavez Day of Service, two Citizenship workshop events. On March 10,2012 a pre-informational citizenship workshop and on March 31, 2012 a full day citizenship workshop. 25 UC Davis Law School students and 15 volunteer attorneys help to process applications. Out of 74 applications, 77% or (57 persons) successfully completed the application process and are on the road to becoming future citizens of the United States.

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MEET THE 2011-2012 POLANCO FELLOWS! (L-R) CLCI 2012 Polanco Fellows, Johnny Pineda, Elizabeth Munguia And Iliana Ramos Quintero, at Dr. Martin Luther King Statue Washington, DC Nov 2011. Find out more about the Current Polanco Fellows.

2010-2011 Polanco Fellows - Graduation

Senator Richard Polanco (ret.) Chairman, CLCI congratulates The graduating 2011-2012 Polanco Fellows Class.
(L-R) Elva Linares, Ruth Leon, Senator Polanco, Marlen Manzo and Alejandro Huerta.



Senator Juan Vargas looks on as Polanco Fellow Elva Linares Acknowledges him as her Legislative mentor. Elva is attending Hastings Law School and is a recipient of the Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Award.



(L-R) Elva Linares, Marlen Manzo, Ruth Leon and Alejandro Huerta
prepare with their friends and families for graduation ceremonies from the
CA Latino Caucus Institute Polanco Fellows Program August 16, 2011 held at Chops Restaurant, Sacramento.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE 2011 POLANCO FELLOWS !

With the New Year, the 2010-2011 CLCI Polanco Fellows begin their Legislative placements. (L-R) Ruth Leon, serving with Assembly Member Tony Mendoza, Chair of the CA Latino Legislative Caucus; Marlen Manzo, serving with Assembly Member Mike Gatto; Elva Linares, serving with Senator Juan Vargas and Alejandro Huerta, serving with Assembly Member Jose Solorio.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWLOAD 2011 POLANCO FELLOWS CALENDAR]

Senator Richard Polanco, Chairman CLCI congratulates all 2009 Polanco Fellows at graduation Reflections: The Journey of the 2009 Polanco Fellows By Michael Castillo Polanco Fellow, 2008-2009 As I look back upon my experience over the past year as a Polanco Fellow, I more clearly realize that I am here because I stand on the shoulder of giants. I shared this unique experience with two Fellows, who also became friends, Trini Solis and Ishmael Herrera. All three of us have been afforded an extraordinary opportunity because of those who came before us. Whether you feel it has been due to chance or destiny, the constant that remains is a helping hand that someone has offered. The Polanco Fellowship has provided all of us with profound guidance about where we are going in life. Let me begin with my experiences before I share Trini’s and Ismael’s stories. [Full Article]

"Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?" -- Cesar Chavez A State Holiday California has established an official state holiday to honor Latino labor leader Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez Day is intended to promote service to the community in honor of Chavez's life and work. This day will be celebrated on March 31st, in honor of Chavez's birthday, or the appropriate Monday or Friday nearest that date. Education & Service Senate Bill 984 (Polanco) asks schools to celebrate the life and work of Cesar Chavez. Education Code, Section 37220-37223, describes the legislation signed by Governor Gray Davis on August 18, 2000.

2009 Cesar Chavez Day activities - Senator Polanco speaks with student on his personal journey working with Cesar Chavez Click Here to View Photos From the Event

Polanco Fellows who have served at CalPERS reunite with the Corporate Governance group at CalPERS' offices in Sacramento, California earlier this month (March 2009)