Sen. Ed Markey Encourages Diverse Applicants for Internships

Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, recently shared a post on X, promoting internship opportunities at his Boston office for fall 2025. He specifically encouraged “BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class, and other underrepresented candidates” to apply.

Longtime advocates in the Democratic party have pushed for initiatives supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, which have grown significantly, especially under the Biden-Harris administration. In his post, Markey emphasized the importance of inviting these groups to apply, though he didn’t suggest excluding white or male applicants explicitly. It’s interesting to see how these initiatives are gaining traction.

Markey stated, “We are hiring voluntary and enthusiastic interns for fall 2025 at our Boston office. We encourage applications from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working-class, and other underrepresented candidates with connections to Massachusetts.”

While detailing the positions available, Markey’s website outlined some prerequisites. Candidates should ideally hold an undergraduate degree or an associate degree and be “self-starters with strong writing, research, and interpersonal skills.” It’s a pretty high bar, I think—having to juggle all those skills can be daunting.

The role will also require interns to demonstrate the ability to work well independently as well as with others, showcasing both task delegation and completion skills. Notably, veterans were mentioned as encouraged applicants, although this wasn’t highlighted in his initial social media post.

According to the website, “This office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, disability, age, ethnicity, national origin, gender, family status, or military status.” There’s a clear call for candidates from underrepresented communities, emphasizing inclusivity.

The response to such measures has been mixed. Since President Trump’s second term began, some companies have started to reevaluate their diversity policies. For instance, Goldman Sachs recently moved away from its 2020 policy requiring public companies to have at least two board members from underrepresented groups. Other major companies like Target and Walmart have taken similar steps, although some, like Costco, have continued their approach despite criticism.

It’s quite a complex issue, navigating the balance between inclusivity and meritocracy. Markey’s office has yet to respond to inquiries about these initiatives.