Minnesota Capitol Pathways
#GiveAtHomeMN for Capitol Pathways
For all of us, this spring looks very different than we pictured. Our Capitol Pathways leadership program, which provides college students of color professional development training and hands-on policy experience, is no exception.
We’re proud to say that, because of the resilience and innovative thinking of our students, hosts, staff, and partners, the program continues with remote meetings, virtual gatherings, and other ways to engage our cohort.
However, they face great challenges as we head into the last month of the program. We’ve already heard from our students how Covid-19 is affecting their wages, housing, and academic studies.
As part of #GiveAtHomeMN, we are introducing you to our 2020 Capitol Pathways students to hear about the difference you can make when you invest in these students and the program. It’s easy to imagine the change we can create for the future if we come together as a community. Please join us and make a gift today.
Throughout the month of May, your gift to the Citizens League’s #GiveAtHomeMN campaign will support the Capitol Pathways students of today and tomorrow. Of our $10,000 goal, $5,000 will go directly to this year’s students, and the remaining $5,000 will go to support our 2021 program year.
Be on the lookout during the month of May to hear from our students on what they’ve learned, their career plans in policy, and how the pandemic is affecting them. To hear their stories, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and follow the hashtags #CapitolPathways and #GiveAtHomeMN, and track our progress to our $10,000 goal on our GiveMN page here!
Capitol Pathways Updates
Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan proclaim June 11, 2020 Capitol Pathways Day!
On June 11, 2020, the day the Citizens League celebrates the successful conclusion of the fifth year of our Capitol Pathways program, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan joined our online celebration to deliver the Governor’s proclamation that this day is Capitol Pathways Day in Minnesota!
#CapitolPathways Student Spotlight: Kevin Huynh
Kevin heard about Capitol Pathways through an alumnus of the program and saw it as a pathway to enter a career to further serve his community. Entering the University of Minnesota as an intended Biology major, Kevin has come to realize his passions about social justice and advocating for communities through programs like Urban Scholars and his other various roles on campus.
June 11: Join us for our Capitol Pathways End of Session Celebration!
You’re invited to celebrate a successful fifth year of Capitol Pathways, the only paid internship program in Minnesota creating a policy career pathway for college students of color!
HOST ORGANIZATIONS
Capitol Pathways host organizations include government offices, nonprofits, corporations, and law firms that work in and around Minnesota’s Capitol. They provide their program intern 10 hours of meaningful work per week throughout the legislative session, and compensate the intern at a minimum of $15 per hour. During the course of the internship, hosts involve interns in research, committee hearings, creating policy publications, and meetings at the Capitol.
STUDENT INTERNS
This program follows a cohort model and provides students with supplementary legislative and professional development training alongside an immersive hands-on internship experience during the 2020 legislative session (February – May 2020).
About Capitol Pathways
Everyone should have access to opportunities in public service and policy, and our government should be representative of our communities.
Since 2016, the Capitol Pathways program from the Citizens League places college students of color in paid internships with government offices, nonprofits, corporations, and law firms where they can gain experience and build relationships in and around the Capitol.
Each year during Minnesota’s legislative session, interns can expect to accomplish several things that will help them in their future careers:
- Build relationships with established policy leaders
- Gain exposure to various kinds of careers in government
- Get real-world experience in career fields they would like to learn more about
- Create a strong professional resume
20%
Percentage of Minnesota’s population who identify as a person of color
10%
Current members of the state legislature who are people of color.
164
The number of college students of color that have participated in the program since 2016, many of them continuing their careers in policy and government
Capitol Pathways Video
Twin Cities PBS has covered Capitol Pathways since the beginning of the program in 2016, interviewing participants during their internship and alumni as they continue their careers in policy. Watch below.
CONNECT
Stay connected to Capitol Pathways! Sign up to receive updates in your inbox.
SUPPORT
A gift of any amount is valuable and goes directly to support the program. Donate today to support students of color and their path to becoming civic leaders in Minnesota.
DONATE
This program is made possible in part by major donors:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Dick and Joyce H. McFarland Family Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation
F.R. Bigelow Foundation
Jefferson Lines
McKnight Foundation
The Martha Struthers Farley and Donald C. Farley, Jr. Family Foundation & Sarah Farley and Betty Tisel
Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation