ABOUT: Where Our Fellows Intern Born of the need to reduce racial disparities and fill critical talent gaps in the local corporate workforce, the Corporate Internship Leadership Institute (CILI) seeks to create, find, and strengthen pathways for local college students of color to access employment opportunities. and competitive wages. Our flagship fellowship program connects BIPOC students to paid internship opportunities and provides nearly a year of soft skill development training to support both personal and professional growth and success as students transition from academic to adult life. BACKGROUND CILI, a 501c3 organization, was founded in 2019 by entrepreneur and Human Resources executive Perry Sholes in response to the pervasive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues he witnessed in Louisiana after working with some of the country's leading consumer products companies. In particular, Sholes saw the need for an organization that could connect local BIPOC students to corporate employers, who too often fail to tap into diverse talent pools from the local market during recruitment. Sholes wanted to bridge the gap between higher education and meaningful employment.