Table of Contents
From Student to Mentor: Announcing Our Paid Internship Partnership with the Colin Powell School
At Davila Applied Anthropological Research, we’re far more than just a typical business. We’re deeply committed to building meaningful pathways for growth, forging authentic partnerships that create lasting impact, and pursuing a clear sense of purpose in everything we do. Rooted in the principles of applied anthropology, our work focuses on using cultural insights, data-driven research, and equity-centered strategies to help organizations, communities, and individuals thrive in an often unequal world. That’s precisely why we’re incredibly excited and proud to announce our brand-new collaboration with the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York (CCNY), one of the most dynamic and inclusive institutions in higher education.
This announcement goes well beyond a routine internship posting or corporate partnership reveal. It represents a powerful, deeply personal full-circle story that inspires us every day: a journey from being a student profoundly shaped by the values and experiences of this very school, to now stepping into the role of a founder who is actively creating accessible paid internship opportunities for the next generation of changemakers and leaders.
Our founder, Miguel Angel Davila, is a proud alumnus of the Colin Powell School, where he earned his degree in Anthropology. During his time at City College, he navigated the same demanding realities that many CCNY students face today, he juggled rigorous academics, part-time jobs to support himself, and active involvement in community life. These challenges weren’t obstacles; they were formative. They instilled in him a deep sense of resilience, empathy, and a lifelong commitment to equity and social justice. Those lived experiences directly shaped his core values and his long-term vision for creating inclusive professional spaces that uplift underrepresented voices.
The Colin Powell School itself stands as a true beacon in public higher education. It serves one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation, with a strong emphasis on supporting first-generation college students, students of color, working adults, and those from New York City’s five boroughs who often face financial and systemic barriers. Its mission, to prepare engaged citizens, ethical leaders, and tomorrow’s global changemakers through a lens of social justice and civic engagement, aligns perfectly with our own dedication at Davila Applied Anthropological Research to fostering equitable opportunities, cultural understanding, and meaningful professional development.
Now, through this exciting partnership, we’re proud to give back in a tangible way. We’re offering meaningful paid internship roles that go beyond surface-level tasks, they provide hands-on experience in real-world applied anthropology projects, mentorship from seasoned professionals, and genuine pathways to career growth. These opportunities are designed to align seamlessly with our broader mission of promoting equity, empowering underrepresented talent, and helping individuals build the confidence, networks, and skills needed to succeed in competitive fields.
By partnering with the Colin Powell School’s Career Fellows Program, a forward-thinking initiative that funds paid internships at $18/hour for up to 300 hours, we’re helping to remove traditional barriers like unpaid labor or lack of access. We’re investing directly in students who might otherwise be overlooked, ensuring they gain not just resume lines, but transformative professional tools and a true sense of belonging in the workforce. This collaboration feels like a natural extension of our founder’s journey, and we can’t wait to see the positive ripple effects it creates for years to come.
If you are interested in a paid internship, simply fill out this form to get started.
The Personal Roots Behind This Paid Internship Collaboration
This partnership feels deeply personal because it ties directly to our origin story. Our founder, Miguel Angel Davila, earned his Anthropology degree at the Colin Powell School, where he navigated the very real challenges that many first-generation and working students still face today. Balancing demanding coursework, part-time jobs to cover living expenses, family responsibilities, and active community involvement wasn’t easy. It required immense resilience and determination. Those formative years weren’t just about earning credits. They were about developing a profound understanding of systemic barriers, cultural dynamics, and the power of education to drive social change. Those experiences ignited a passion for equity that continues to fuel his work and our company’s core values.
The Colin Powell School has long stood as a powerful beacon for leadership, access, and inclusion in public higher education. Located in the heart of Harlem at The City College of New York (CCNY), it serves one of the nation’s most diverse student bodies. Over 70% first-generation college students, more than 85% people of color, and a significant portion immigrants or from lower-income backgrounds across New York City’s five boroughs. Its mission, “Lifting Leaders, Shifting Power, and Transforming Society,” centers on preparing globally-minded, diverse leaders through rigorous social sciences training, civic engagement, social justice, and ethical leadership.
By emphasizing evidence-informed debates, community service, and challenging inequities, the school empowers students who are often hindered by financial, societal, or systemic constraints to become tomorrow’s changemakers. This vision aligns seamlessly with our own commitment at Davila Applied Anthropological Research to fostering equitable opportunities, cultural understanding, and meaningful professional advancement.
As a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Davila Applied Anthropological Research was deliberately founded to support, train, and uplift adult urban college students, particularly those frequently overlooked or excluded by traditional corporate hiring pipelines. In fields like applied anthropology, research consulting, and B2B strategy, entry-level roles often favor candidates with elite networks, unpaid internships, or prior prestigious experience. We exist to disrupt that cycle by prioritizing lived expertise, diverse perspectives, and practical skill-building over conventional credentials. Our bilingual, boutique approach allows us to deliver culturally attuned insights while creating inclusive spaces where underrepresented talent can thrive.
This paid internship partnership extends that foundational mission in a concrete, impactful way. By participating in the Colin Powell School’s Career Fellows Program, we’re actively creating real, sustainable professional pathways for underrepresented talent. These internships offer not just compensation at $18/hour (fully funded to remove financial barriers), but up to 300 hours of hands-on work in data collection, insight synthesis, strategy development, and equity-focused projects. Interns receive dedicated mentorship aligned with their academic goals, exposure to authentic client work, and the tools to build confidence, networks, and belonging in professional environments. It’s more than an opportunity.
It’s a deliberate investment in breaking down barriers, amplifying diverse voices, and ensuring that students from backgrounds like our founder’s can transition from classroom to career with purpose and support. Through this collaboration, we’re not only honoring our roots but actively helping to shape a more equitable future for the next generation of leaders.
Inside the Career Fellows Program: A Game-Changing Paid Internship Initiative
Our collaboration is part of the Colin Powell School’s Career Fellows Program, a forward-thinking initiative. The Career Fellows Program connects Colin Powell School students with paid, purpose-driven internships that emphasize real impact, skill development, and professional growth in meaningful fields.
Too often, internships in mission-based, creative, research-oriented, or equity-focused sectors remain unpaid or simply out of reach. Students from diverse backgrounds, including first-generation college attendees, working adults, and those facing financial pressures, frequently can’t afford to take on roles without compensation. This creates a persistent cycle of exclusion, where valuable experience goes only to those who can volunteer their time. The Career Fellows Program fundamentally changes that dynamic by prioritizing equity and accessibility. It ensures professional experience is truly inclusive, allowing students to focus on learning and contributing without the added stress of unpaid work.
As a participating host site, Davila Applied Anthropological Research is proud to offer interns through this innovative program:
- Up to 300 hours of hands-on professional work experience, tailored to fit around class schedules and personal commitments
- Compensation at $18/hour, fully funded through the program (equating to a potential total of $5,400 per student), removing financial barriers entirely
- Dedicated mentorship from experienced professionals that aligns closely with each intern’s academic interests and long-term career goals
- Exposure to authentic, real-world projects that build practical skills, boost confidence, expand professional networks, and provide portfolio-worthy accomplishments
Through this structured paid internship model, students receive far more than just a line on their resume. They develop essential tools for future success, forge meaningful connections in their field, and cultivate a genuine sense of belonging in professional environments that may have previously felt out of reach. The program supports year-round participation (with paid opportunities particularly emphasized for certain start dates), flexibility for remote, hybrid, or in-person setups, and a focus on students who may be pursuing their first professional role—no prior experience required.
By removing traditional hurdles like lack of pay or access, the Career Fellows Program empowers paid internship participants to engage deeply in purpose-driven work. At Davila Applied Anthropological Research, this means interns contribute to equity-centered research, cultural analysis, and strategy projects that make a tangible difference. They gain confidence applying classroom knowledge to real challenges, receive personalized guidance to navigate career paths, and leave with stronger resumes, expanded networks, and renewed motivation. This approach not only benefits individual students but strengthens the broader ecosystem by diversifying talent pipelines in applied anthropology and related fields.
Ultimately, this paid internship structure transforms professional entry from a privilege into an attainable opportunity for all eligible Colin Powell School undergraduates. It fosters growth, inclusion, and long-term impact, ensuring that talented individuals from underrepresented communities can thrive and lead in their chosen careers.
Welcoming Our First Paid Intern: Meet Marcus Khan
We’re thrilled to welcome our inaugural Career Fellow: Marcus Khan, a standout triple-major in Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology at the Colin Powell School. Marcus perfectly represents the talented, purpose-driven students the Career Fellows Program seeks to support, and we are genuinely honored to kick off this paid internship journey with him as our first participant.
Marcus joins Davila Applied Anthropological Research as a Research Assistant, where he contributes directly to data collection, insight synthesis, and strategy development across both client projects and our internal initiatives. His strong foundation in the social sciences allows him to bring thoughtful analysis and fresh viewpoints to every task. From examining qualitative datasets and spotting key trends in community-centered research to helping shape equity-focused recommendations, Marcus adds immediate value to our research-driven, justice-oriented approach. His skill in bridging classroom theory with practical, real-world application has quickly become a key asset to the team.
“I’m excited to gain real experience in a space where I can apply what I’ve learned in class and contribute to something bigger,” Marcus shared. “It’s meaningful to be part of a business that values both impact and opportunity.” His words highlight exactly why this paid internship is so powerful. For Marcus, this role is far more than professional experience; it is an opportunity to test ideas, receive constructive guidance, and see his contributions make a tangible difference in a setting that prioritizes both social good and career development.
His curiosity, steadfast dedication, and strong community orientation are precisely the attributes we were hoping to find when we joined the Career Fellows network. Marcus tackles every assignment with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to grow, while also carrying a deep awareness of the social challenges our projects frequently address. This paid internship represents the exciting launch of what we know will be an inspiring path forward, not only for Marcus but for all of us fortunate enough to mentor and work alongside him.
Our founder reflects: “When I was a student at the Colin Powell School, I had big ideas but limited access to turn them into action. This partnership changes that, helping students like Marcus build confidence and purpose through meaningful paid internship experiences.” Watching Marcus step confidently into this role is deeply fulfilling. It completes a personal cycle while simultaneously creating new possibilities for others. The founder draws from his own student years at City College—balancing classes, work, and community commitments—to offer relatable advice, thoughtful feedback, and encouragement for Marcus to think ambitiously about how anthropological tools can create real change.
It’s a true full-circle moment: from student to entrepreneur, and now mentor. This collaboration shows the transformative power of intentional partnerships between educational institutions and mission-driven businesses. Marcus’s early contributions already illustrate the impact of providing paid internship opportunities to talented individuals who have historically been underserved. We are eager to witness his continued development, celebrate his milestones, and expand this model with future Career Fellows. Through this paid internship partnership, we are not only paying tribute to our origins but actively helping to build a more inclusive, equitable professional world for the leaders of tomorrow.
To get in touch with Marcus, you can connect with him via linkedin.
Why Paid Internships Matter and How We’re Expanding the Impact
In today’s highly competitive professional landscape, businesses have a clear responsibility: not merely to consume talent, but to actively cultivate and grow it for long-term success. Far too many motivated, capable students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, encounter significant barriers that prevent them from gaining essential experience. These obstacles include financial constraints that make unpaid internships impossible, limited exposure to professional networks, and lack of access to entry-level roles that value diverse perspectives over traditional credentials. Paid internships like those offered through the Colin Powell School’s Career Fellows Program effectively bridge that gap, providing equitable entry points into the workforce while delivering real compensation and skill-building.
By hosting interns like Marcus, Davila Applied Anthropological Research invests directly in their futures, offering not only hands-on opportunities but also the financial stability needed to focus on learning and growth. At the same time, we enrich our own work with the fresh insights, diverse voices, and lived experiences these students bring. Marcus’s contributions already demonstrate how new perspectives can enhance research quality, challenge assumptions, and inspire more inclusive strategies. These paid internship opportunities push companies to evolve, encouraging us to listen more deeply, adapt our practices, and genuinely center community needs. This is not about charity or token gestures; it is a strategic, smart approach to meaningful business growth that benefits everyone involved.
Our first paid internship through this program is just the beginning of a broader commitment. In the coming months and years, Davila Applied Anthropological Research plans to welcome additional talented students from the Colin Powell School, building a steady pipeline of emerging professionals. We are actively exploring ways to expand our impact, including deeper one-on-one mentorship sessions, targeted skill-building workshops on topics like qualitative data analysis, ethical research practices, and career navigation in social sciences, as well as guided career exploration sessions to help students map out the full spectrum of opportunities available with degrees in fields like Sociology and Anthropology.
We warmly invite other small businesses, startups, agencies, and organizations, particularly Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs) and community-focused firms, to consider becoming host sites through this remarkable Career Fellows Program. With funding that covers $18 per hour for up to 300 hours (totaling $5,400 per eligible student), the program removes financial hurdles and makes participation accessible year-round. Hosting a paid internship participant is a powerful way to shape individual lives, strengthen your team with innovative thinking, and contribute to building a more equitable, vibrant community overall.
This partnership powerfully demonstrates that business can be a genuine force for equity and positive change. It happens through intentional hiring decisions, empathetic and supportive mentoring, and a willingness to remember and honor our own roots. When companies prioritize these values, we create ripple effects that extend far beyond any single role or project.
A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated faculty, staff, and visionary leaders at the Colin Powell School for their ongoing commitment to students and for inviting us into this vital work. Your efforts make programs like this possible.
To Marcus: We are truly honored to have you on the team. Your journey is just beginning, and we are excited to support every step along the way.
And to all the students out there dreaming big and working hard: Know that intentional spaces like this are actively being built for you. Do not wait. Explore paid internship opportunities through the Career Fellows Program today and take that first transformative step toward the career you envision!
View Davila Applied Anthropological Research services here
Program Contact information
To get started with our paid internship program, simply fill out this form to get started. If you’re interested in learning more about our paid internship program or you’re an alumni looking to reconnect, please reach out to:
Ana Mendez – Internships Program Manager amendez3@ccny.cuny.edu
Lesly Calle – Alumni Relations Manager lcallejuca@ccny.cuny.edu
Recent Comments