As the seventh year of Capitol Pathways winds down, students gathered for the final cohort meeting of the session.
Citizens League Director of Public Policy Blanca Martinez Gaviña led a policy workshop designed to encourage them to think about how public policy shows up in their lives, and what roles they can play in driving the impact they want to see in their communities.
This was followed by a panel of professionals in various policy roles to engage in conversation about their stories, career trajectories, and experiences as BIPOC professionals in the policy field. Panelists included Melissa Lam Young, Assistant Commissioner of Communications and Planning at MN Management and Budget, MMB; Jessica Oaxaca, District Director for Hennepin County Commissioner Chris LaTondresse; and Kareem Murphy Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Hennepin County.
Roshandra Brown, ConnextMSP Network Manager at Greater MSP, joined the meeting as our guest speaker to share with students about the ConnextMSP talent network—an online platform to support young BIPOC professionals by building their networks and connecting them to resources and employment opportunities.
We concluded the meeting with our final social hour, an opportunity for students and policy professionals to connect.
This program is made possible in part by major donors:
Clifton Allen Larson Foundation
F.R. Bigelow Foundation
Jefferson Lines
McKnight Foundation
Minnesota Government Relations Council
Otto Bremer Trust
Youthprise