Office of Harris County, Texas Judge Lina Hidalgo – Houston, TX

Summer 2023 Fellows:

Skyley Mitchell

Summer 2024 Fellows:

Summer 2025 Fellows:

Sonika Harish

Office Description

County Judge Lina Hidalgo has a bold, new vision for what is possible through Harris County government. As a member of the County Judge’s team, Policy Fellows will engage directly with Judge Hidalgo’s staff and senior leadership, gaining valuable professional and personal development experience.

Throughout the program, Fellows will collaborate with peers and senior officials in the office, contributing to the development and implementation of policies that affect millions of Harris County residents. They will also attend meetings with staff across various County departments to deepen their understanding of local government operations and public service delivery.

Guided by the values of Judge Hidalgo and her team, the CJO policy fellowship invites applications from current undergraduate and graduate college students of varied cultural, geographic, and academic backgrounds.

Description of the Work

Work with fellow policy team members to maintain the Judge's policy and research agenda;
Learn more about county government and the process of implementing policies that impact millions of Harris County residents;
Synthesize research around a variety of policy topics;
Transform qualitative and quantitative data into easily shareable and digestible information;
Gain exposure to some of Harris County’s most pressing policy topics;
Attend and take high level notes for meetings with Harris County staff, community partners, and constituents.

Desired Skills

Detail-Oriented - Pays close attention to accuracy and precision in all tasks.
Communicative - Able to clearly express ideas both verbally and in writing and comfortable collaborating with team members and asking questions when unsure.
Creative and Resourceful - Can think outside the box and work independently to find solutions.
Strong Work Ethic and Self-Disciplined - Reliable, punctual, and takes ownership of assigned tasks and comfortable working in a dynamic environment (high paced) and adjusting to change.
Proficient in basic computer applications (e.g., MS Office, Google Workspace).