CIEE Frederick Douglass - Daniel O'Connell Internship Concludes with Celebration at Dublin's Mansion House
Authored By:
The Frederick Douglass – Daniel O’Connell Global Internship Program concluded with a beautiful and intimate closing ceremony at the historic FIRE Restaurant in Dublin’s Mansion House. The venue carried deep symbolism for the program: Daniel O’Connell once served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from the Mansion House, and Frederick Douglass himself dined there during his time in Ireland.
The Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship in Ireland is a collaboration between Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN), The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) designed to celebrate Frederick Douglass' transformative experience visiting Ireland over 175 years ago where he met the famous Irish reformer Daniel O'Connell. The immersive opportunity for exceptional students honors the program namesakes' exceptional contributions to society and their notable business acumen by inspiring young professionals to emulate their success and apply their principles in the modern world.
During their eight weeks in Ireland, the 12 Douglass-O’Connell Global Interns interned with a host organization that aligned with their skills and career goals, attend lectures on Irish history and culture, and participated in extracurricular and networking activities in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast. They even met the Taoiseach of Ireland!
The closing ceremony brought together host organization partners, program sponsors, and program leaders to celebrate the 2025 Global Interns and all they learned during their summer in Ireland. Distinguished speakers included Pat Moran, Vice President of College Enrollment at CIEE; Dennis Brownlee, Founder and CEO of the African American Irish Diaspora Network; and Detria Austin Everson, CEO of the John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation.
Each Global Intern was presented with a certificate and a symbolic baton, representing the passing forward of the legacies of Frederick Douglass, Daniel O’Connell, and Congressman John Lewis. They were encouraged to continue the work of these towering figures in fight for justice and equality.
"I can truly say this summer changed my life,” said Jocelyn Baker, a rising junior, International Studies major at Spelman College, who spoke on behalf of the 2025 Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship cohort. "Being apart of this cohort...has taught me that there is no prize for making yourself feel small to fit in, or dimming your light so a room isn’t too bright."