Executive Director, EdAllies

Josh Crosson

As Executive Director of EdAllies, Josh leads the organization’s efforts to ensure that all Minnesota students, especially those from historically underserved communities, have access to an excellent education. Josh began his career in Washington, D.C., where he turned his passion for public policy and systems change into a fulfilling vocation. He first worked at the Human Rights Campaign, where he spearheaded student outreach initiatives and expanded the organization’s mission to include LGBTQ+ students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Josh then spent five years on Capitol Hill, writing legislation and advising his hometown congressman, Rep. Adam Smith (WA-9), on critical issues such as labor, healthcare, budget, and tax policy. Josh resides in North Minneapolis with his husband, Jon, and their two playful puppies, Jujubee and Symone. He holds an MBA from Howard University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Santa Clara University.

Chief Executive Officer, WomenVenture

LeeAnn Rasachak

LeeAnn Rasachak (she/her) is CEO of WomenVenture, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), US SBA designated Women’s Business Center, and non-profit serving women and minority entrepreneurs and business owners. Based in St. Paul, WomenVenture serves Minnesota, western Wisconsin and beyond through deploying business training, development, and affordable capital access. Rasachak serves as the Board Chair of the Minnesota CDFI Coalition, Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood North Central States, and Advisory Board of Homes for Heroes.

In October 2021, Rasachak was named CEO of WomenVenture after serving on its Board of Directors for three years and 20 years working in the private sector for Fortune 1000 companies in Corporate Communications, Marketing, Digital, and Enterprise Strategy. Rasachak is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas, where she earned degrees in Public Relations and General Business Management. Rasachak also earned her MBA at Hamline University and Diversity & Inclusion certification through Cornell University. She is also Dare to Lead™ Trained.

Rasachak is recognized in the industry as a transformational community leader. She is a 2024 Women in Business Honoree by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. In 2023, she was presented with the Women Elevating Women Cultivate Pillar Award celebrating women who possess a remarkable talent for nurturing and cultivating inspiring entrepreneurs, individuals or organization who need mentoring. Award winners’ dedication to empowering and elevating others provides invaluable guidance and has made a significant impact.

Rasachak lives in Inver Grove Heights with her partner, their four children, and Labrador retriever.

Program Director, Local Initiatives and Opportunities program, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

Terri Thao

Terri Thao is a second-generation Hmong American woman, mother, wife, sister, and auntie. She is passionate about building power with community. Terri is currently Program Director of the Local Initiatives and Opportunities program at the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies which is responsible for funding across Minnesota that is addressing racial and rural equity. Terri has spent her professional career in the fields of community economic development, community building, leadership development, and philanthropy. She has also taught classes on leadership and advocacy at Metropolitan State University. Over the years Terri has served on several local non-profit, government, and philanthropic boards and currently serves on the board of Minnesota Housing and the Marbrook Foundation. She obtained her Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees from the University of Minnesota. She loves to read in her spare time.

Minnesota National Guard

Eduardo Suarez

Eduardo Suarez currently serves as the Director of Communications for the Minnesota National Guard where he oversees their DEI program, Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Joint Prevention and Support Services division. He is a 2022-23 Humphrey Policy Fellow. Since completing the program, Eduardo is intrigued by the intersection of military service, community engagement and how that can improve civic engagement.

He has over 35 years of military service and has served in a variety of traditional and non-traditional assignments. In 1996 he graduated with distinction from the University of Minnesota’s ROTC program. He has deployed several times including Bosnia Herzegovina, Iraq, and Kuwait 2011-2012. Some of his military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota in architecture, and Masters degrees from Central Michigan University in Administration and the US Army War College in Strategic Studies. He also serves as president for a non-profit that provides funding to organizations that support the military connected community. Eduardo is an alumnus of the 1988 US Olympic Team. He lives near Scandia with his wife Jennifer, two dogs and two cats. They have two children, Antonio, and Maria.

Capitol Pathways Alum

Davaris Cheeks

Davaris Cheeks is a 2020 Capitol Pathways alum and served as an Advocacy Intern for Goodwill Easter-Seals during his tenure. He is a graduate from Concordia University, St. Paul and got his Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations along with a Master’s in Leadership and Management. Davaris has continued his policy focused advocacy, particularly serving student from marginalized communities through his leadership as Student Body President, and NCAA conference representative, a former President of the Black Student Union at Concordia, and now in his full-time work as the Director of the Chatman Diversity Center at Concordia University, St. Paul. In this line of work, Davaris is able to pour into the diverse campus community by regularly providing resources and programming that directly support students through emergency funding ventures, college navigation, cultural celebration, and other empowering platforms to lift the students in their academic and professional career.

Advocacy Director, Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota

Jeru Gobeze

Jeru Gobeze leads advocacy and public policy efforts at Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota, mobilizing staff and supporters to be bold, effective voices for affordable homeownership. With over a decade of experience in Minnesota’s nonprofit housing sector, Jeru brings an understanding of how housing policy shapes every part of our lives and a steadfast commitment to making those policies more equitable. She is especially passionate about connecting people and communities to the legislative process, helping them navigate and influence the systems that affect them most. Before her policy & advocacy work, Jeru managed a nonprofit vocational training program for youth and young adults facing barriers to employment, a role that continues to inform her drive for systems-level change. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a Macro MSW from Augsburg University.

Capitol Pathways Alum

Kevin Huynh

Kevin (he/him) is a Vietnamese-American descendant of the Southeast Asian diaspora. He believes in the power of connections and relationships as the foundation of how we change the world. He dreams of a world where each individual realizes their stake in the movement and dedicates themselves to a better world where community safety is much more than security. Kevin continues to learn and unlearn what it means to be a (Southeast) Asian-American and how to honor the struggle of our ancestors who faced imperialism/colonialism violence. In 2020, he became further politicized as he saw how the systems of power continue to harm marginalized people. He strives to be grounded in community, joy, and transformative justice.

Youth Leadership Program Manager, City of Saint Paul & Sprockets

Stephany Aguirre Lopez

Stephany Aguirre Lopez is a 2018 Capitol Pathways alum who interned at the Association of Minnesota Counties during her time in the program. It was through this experience that Stephany saw the deep impact policy can have on communities and discovered the power of centering young people in decision-making spaces. A proud first-generation college graduate and professional, Stephany credits programs like Capitol Pathways for opening critical doors and shaping her career path in public service.

Stephany currently serves as the Youth Leadership Program Manager with the City of Saint Paul and Sprockets, where she supports and amplifies youth voices across local government through leadership development, board service, and advocacy. 

Stephany is a firm believer in the transformative power of mentorship and intentional investment in BIPOC leaders. Having experienced strong support from her community growing up, she feels deeply empowered to give back by helping young people recognize their influence, find their voice, and take up space in the rooms where decisions are made.

Vizient, Inc.

Robert Harper

Robert Harper serves as Sr. Program Manager of Community Contracting for Vizient, Inc. where he is focused on connecting diverse businesses with contract opportunities across Minnesota’s healthcare hub. Previously, Robert served as Senior Director of Business Consulting at MEDA where he brought capital, consulting, and contracting opportunities directly to BIPOC entrepreneurs. Robert’s career has been focused on supporting underrepresented communities through policy, advocacy, and economic development. He has consulted hundreds of entrepreneurs on wealth-accumulating strategies and his clients have been awarded $2 Million in capital and more than $500 Million in contracts in the public and private sectors. 

Robert founded R.D.T.H Consulting following the murder of George Floyd, to equip organizations across the country with the tools they need to strategically invest in Black & Brown communities. As a proud alum of our Capitol Pathways program, Robert blends forward-thinking policy expertise with responsible business techniques to drive equitable outcomes. He received his Masters in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and his Bachelors in Sociology from Augsburg University. In his free time, he can be found singing R&B classics or watching Chicago sports with his beloved Grandma.

Director of Advocacy & Innovation, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota

Sara Gangelhoff

Sara is a passionate advocate for policies that uplift Minnesota’s communities. She has nearly twenty years of experience in the non-profit, political, and government sectors. She has worked with organizations in Boston and the Twin Cities, led and worked on multiple political campaigns, directed programming and was a senior policy aide in the Minneapolis City Council. Most recently she led the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys’ advocacy program, centering issues that improved the lives of girls and gender-expansive youth in Minnesota. At the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, she brings her expertise to build a robust legislative agenda, advocate for statewide legislation and policies and work alongside communities to advance racial and gender equity.   

Organizational Effectiveness Principal Consultant and Owner, Ziag Management Consulting LLC

Chao Yang, MPH, SHRM-CP

Chao Yang is the Organizational Effectiveness Principal Consultant and Owner of Ziag Management Consulting LLC, a management consulting agency specializing in aligning people, processes, and technology for optimal organizational outcomes. In addition to her work at Ziag, Chao joined the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging in December 2022 as the Director of Equity and Engagement, where she leads strategic projects focused on championing diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities for aging. A first-generation Hmong American woman, Chao is deeply committed to the aging sector and engaging cultural communities in meaningful ways. She has a proven track record in empowering people through research, policy, and programming. Prior to this role, Chao held several leadership positions, including Asian Health Liaison for policymakers, supervisor of the Asian COVID-19 Response Team, Assistant Director for the University of Minnesota’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and Senior Public Health Educator for Ramsey County Public Health. Chao has also contributed to key initiatives at Nexus Community Partners, the Minnesota Council of Foundations, and the YMCA. She holds a BS in Human Resource Development/Business Marketing Education and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Minnesota.