WASHINGTON DC – Former Victorville resident and founder of Pay Our Interns, Carlos Mark Vera, has secured pay for White House interns after a six year battle. Last week, the White House announced that it would pay its Fall 2022 intern class, marking the first time the jobs would come with a salary.

“The goal from the start has been creating more equitable pathways across all sectors,” said Vera. “Whether it’s media, philanthropy, private sector — we just need to end up with professionals that reflect the diverse community of this country.”

Whitehouse interns, who can apply by June 24, will be paid $750 a week — $18.75 an hour for 40 hours.

Vera, who was part of the 2019 Forbes Under 30 Law & Policy list, said that young people ought to be free to focus on opportunity, rather than salary, as they begin their careers. Vera had three different unpaid government internships. He lobbied Congress to ensure that future interns didn’t need to work evenings as restaurant servers or forego meals to make ends meet while interning.

Vera spent part of his childhood in Victorville public housing with the help of a government food program. He attended American University in Washington and went on to intern with the European Parliament, the White House and former U.S. Representative Joe Baca. 

Now the executive director of Pay Our Interns, founded in 2016, says he will advocate for private-sector interns.

For more information on applying for a Whitehouse internship visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/internships/apply-to-the-white-house-internship-program/

For more information on Pay our Interns visit: https://payourinterns.org