Minnesota Capitol Pathways
Capitol Pathways opens access to policymaking and public service to the next generation of leaders who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). It is a paid spring internship program for BIPOC students who are currently enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college or university in Minnesota. With the long-term goal of making Minnesota state government and policymaking more representative of our diverse communities, our program provides students legislative and career readiness training alongside an immersive hands-on internship experience during the legislative session.
The 2024 Capitol Pathways Program is underway!
Learn more about our 2024 students and host organizations below, and join our Capitol Pathways Newsletter to stay in the know on news and events.
About Capitol Pathways
Everyone should have access to opportunities in public service and policy, and our government should be representative of our diverse communities.
Since 2016, the Capitol Pathways program has placed BIPOC college students in paid internships with government offices, nonprofits, corporations, and law firms where they have gained policymaking experience and built relationships in and around the Capitol.
Each year during Minnesota’s legislative session, interns gain the following to advance their future policy careers:
- Develop relationships with established policy leaders.
- Gain first-hand experience in different policy and government careers.
- Increase their understanding of policymaking and the legislative process.
- Create a strong professional resume.
24%
Percentage of Minnesota’s population who identify as part of the BIPOC community
17%
Current members of the state legislature who identify as BIPOC
260
The number of BIPOC college students that have participated in the program since 2016, many of them continuing their careers in policy and government
2024 CAPITOL PATHWAYS STUDENTS
Arushi Nair
Arushi Nair is a senior at Macalester College, where she is a double major in German Studies and International Studies, as well as a minor in Political Science. Additionally they are a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow and pursue an independent research project about Roma and Sinti autonomy in Germany. Through Capitol Pathways, Arushi will be interning with the Asian American Organizing Project (AAOP). In her free time, Arushi enjoys playing soccer on an intramural team at Macalester and exploring the outdoors either hiking or camping! Arushi is originally from Chicago, but has found a home in Minnesota during her four years at Mac and plans to either pursue a Masters degree in Foreign Service or continue working in the new-found Minnesotan community, upon graduating in the Spring of 2024.
College:Macalester College
Internship Site:Asian American Organizing Project
Mya Hillerud
Mya graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2023 with a double major in Financial Economics and Philosophy, and a Music minor. On campus, she worked as a teaching assistant, tutor, and academic assistant across the Philosophy and Economics & Management Departments. During her time at Gustavus, she also played percussion in three different music ensembles: the Gustavus Wind Symphony, Wind Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra.
Mya has a long history of volunteering with nonprofits, like the Edmonton Fringe and Art Works Eagan, and has also worked for the City of Eagan. She has been an active member in several Asian-American cultural organizations at both her school and in her greater community, including the Asian Student Union at Gustavus, Asian Media Access, and the Taiwanese American Association of Minnesota. Recently, Mya had the opportunity to observe the American Medical Association advocate in Washington, D.C. This experience inspired her to apply for Capitol Pathways, where she hopes to gain a better understanding of public policy and how members of the community can get involved in local politics.
College:Gustavus Adolphus College
Internship Site:Minnesota Department of Transportation
Athira Nair
Athira is currently a junior honors student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities pursuing a double major in Psychology and Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice with a minor in Japanese. She is deeply passionate about advocacy and social justice, fueling her aspirations to build a career in international relations and diplomacy. At the University of Minnesota, her desire to understand governmental structures on all levels had inspired her to hold positions such as participating in an internship with the Leo Cussen: Human Rights Law module, serving as the Diversity and Inclusion Committee Director for the Undergraduate Student Government, and an Urban Scholars intern for the City of Minneapolis. Currently, she serves as the Director for Student Group Representatives at USG, an officer of the Honors Multicultural Network, and research assistant in the Psychology Department’s Narrative, Identity, Culture, and Education lab, analyzing data to examine how culturally shared narratives about race/ethnicity emerge from conversations within the South Asian diaspora.
Athira envisions her future role as a dedicated advocate, leveraging the intersection of cultural advocacy and diplomacy to address pressing international issues and promote inclusion. Her commitment to these causes drives her to explore diverse avenues that align with her values and professional goals, as she aims to play a meaningful role in fostering positive change at an international level. Outside of the sphere of government and law, she has also served as the President for the Indian Student Association, the Captain of Twin Cities Bhangra, and a choreographer and Marketing Director for Agni classical dance team. Through this internship, she hopes to get an in-depth understanding of the state legislative process and establish long lasting relationships with both the legislators that she works with, as well as her cohort.
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:O’Rourke Strategic Consulting
Rebeka Alemayehu
Rebeka Alemayehu is a senior at the University of Minnesota pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Driven by her sociological imagination, she hopes to cease inequality through effective public policies. Rebeka has a background in politics, having participated in the Urban Scholars Program and Field Organizing with the Minnesota DFL. During her time with the DFL, she was a part of helping get the historic all-female majority BIPOC City Council in Sant Paul elected into office. Rebeka has also interned with Council Member Chavez, where she worked on constituent services and helped Ward 10 with research about reducing youth crimes. Currently, she is president of the University of Minnesota Sociology Association. Rebeka has been selected to intern at the Minnesota Housing Partnership, an organization dedicated to policies centered around affordable housing and renters’ rights. During the 2024 legislative session, Rebeka will have the opportunity to participate in bill tracking, lead lobbying meetings, testify in committee, help plan rallies, and more. She is excited to take advantage of this great opportunity to grow and sharpen her skillset to help prepare her for future career opportunities in the public policy field.
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:Minnesota Housing Partnership
Hawa Cabdullahi
Hawa is currently a freshman at the University of St. Thomas, majoring in Mathematical Economics with minors in Philosophy and Spanish. She is also the co-founder and secretary of MN Teen Activists/Global Teen Activists (MNTA), a completely youth-led organization recognized as both a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4). MNTA has been awarded for its commitment to combating youth gun violence and its dedication to educational reform, grassroots activism, and youth advocacy. On campus at St. Thomas, Hawa is the Community Outreach Officer for the Somali Student Association and Secretary of the Black Empowerment Student Alliance and also plays the viola with the St. Thomas Orchestra. By being part of the Capitol Pathways cohort, she hopes to further develop her skills in policy and political processes within the state capitol, aiming to continue her impactful work in the policy sphere and contribute to the well-being of communities across Minnesota and increase youth involvement in government.
College:University of St. Thomas
Internship Site:Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP
Yelitza Hernandez-Guitron
Yelitza is an Act Six Scholar and a first-generation student, daughter of Mexican immigrants. She is currently a freshman at Concordia College – Moorhead majoring in Sociology and minoring in International Affairs and Social Activism. Before attending Concordia College-Moorhead, she graduated with her associate degree from North Hennepin Community College as part of the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) while receiving her high school diploma. She plans on pursuing a career in the diversity, equity, and inclusion field to help address the many inequalities and barriers for people of color. Driven by a desire to make a difference from a young age, Yelitza aspires to amplify and advocate for those who are not heard. On campus, she participates and is part of different initiatives and organizations. She is the social media coordinator for the Latinx Organization of Achievement (LOA), which helps to embrace, share, and uplift Latinx culture at Concordia. Along with that, she is a mentor at Moorhead High School as part of the Mentoring Opportunities for People of Color (MOPOC), all while participating with other affinity groups on campus. Overall, she hopes that as part of the Capitol Pathways cohort, she will get a glimpse into the world surrounding the Minnesota Capitol and the legislative process. From networking to understanding how policies are made, she also hopes to learn the skills needed on how to properly advocate at the state level.
College:Concordia College - Moorhead
Internship Site:Office of the Legislative Auditor
Isabella Cabrelli Rusconi
Isabella is a Junior at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Business Law and Global Studies. As an international student from Brazil passionate about politics, Isabella is working alongside one of her Political Science professors in undergraduate research on Brazilian Politics. On top of that, she is the external officer of the CLA Student Board and the secretary of the UMN Brazilian Student Association (BRASA). During this upcoming spring semester, Isabella will also be responsible for leading a section of CLA1001, which consists of a required course that all first-year CLA students at UMN are required to take during their initial fall and spring semesters.
Isabella was placed at Target Corporation for Capitol Pathways and is excited about the amazing and unique opportunity of working alongside the Target legislative team. Her biggest goal is to go to law school, so obtaining experiences related to law and the US legislative field is in her best interest. She applied to the Capitol Pathways program hoping to expand her knowledge regarding US law and she will be able to accomplish this goal!
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:Target Corporation
Ayomide Adesanya
Ayomide is a senior year student at Bethel University-St Paul. She is double majoring in Social Work and Reconciliation Studies. She is highly passionate in doing acts of service for people- especially ones in her community. Truly an advocate, Ayomide works hard and has made it her life mission to keep providing resources, especially resources that get made as response to the situational needs of the people within her community. In internship experience, Ayomide has interned with Ramsey County through the Americorps program as a Homeless Navigator. Likewise, she has also volunteered with Sarah Oasis. Currently, in addition to her internship with Capitol Pathways, Ayomide is also interning with Anoka Hennepin at their district ESC. In leadership, Ayomide is an independent contractor and a co-facilitator of teaching equity and ADEI to organizations, community and/or schools. In addition, she is also a current Act Six and Wallin scholar. As she interns with Lutheran Social Service, Ayomide is hoping to keep serving the world and the people in it through her daily exposure to policy and working at the MN Capitol.
College:Bethel University
Internship Site:Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
Mayande Mamba
Mayande is a sophomore pursuing a double major in Economics and Applied Mathematics at Macalester college. She is interested in two distinct economic areas which are policy analysis and investment banking and how they interconnect. She has interned as a data and digital intern at the Institute for State Effectiveness in Washington DC where she conducted research on the value of policy strategies that have been implemented by small island developing states and countries in Africa. Mayande has also taken part in several insight series related to investment banking, including the Goldman Sachs Emerging leaders series and the Take-off Fellowship program. She is passionate about pursuing a career that embodies both policy work and investment banking and contributes to global social responsibility.
On campus, she is actively engaged with a variety of clubs including the Macalester Investment group and Consulting group. She also serves as the official student representative for the Strategic Planning and Analysis Committee.
College:Macalester College
Internship Site:Clean Energy Economy MN
Izabella Andor
Izabella is a third-year student at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She is majoring in Political Science and is set to graduate in May 2024. Izabella is a part of her university’s Pre-Law Society and plans to attend law school after graduation. She has been passionate about politics and law for quite some time and is excited to have the opportunity to put this passion into her work at this internship. Her main goal is to work toward better representation of minorities in legislation and policymaking.
Izabella applied for this internship program because she hoped to further her skills in legislation. She loved the idea of being able to spend time at the Capitol, attend committee meetings, or learn more about behind-the-scenes processes like planning, scheduling, or bill tracking. The goal of Capitol Pathways to make Minnesotan policymaking more representative of the state’s diverse communities perfectly aligned with Izabella’s goals and why she chose to focus her undergraduate studies on political science. Izabella has recently begun working on her policy-related skills and hopes to continue this learning and practice through this internship experience. She’s confident that this internship will help her reach her goals by extending her knowledge of legislation to hopefully one day address the nation’s most pressing issues through government action.
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
LeSean Greer
College:Macalester College
Internship Site:Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies
Roaya Ghuneim
Roaya is a first-generation student and a current sophomore at St. Olaf College is pursuing a dual degree in Quantitative Economics and Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Data Science and Statistics. Roaya is extremely passionate about Economic empowerment and development through business, technology and innovation. Her passion expands to advocating for the significance of diversity, equity and inclusion in fields like Business, Economics, and Politics. At St. Olaf, she is part of Women in Economics and Management Consulting clubs.
This internship serves as an opportunity to allow her to deeply understand how the Economic Policy process influences economic empowerment and development for underrepresented communities. Through this internship, Roaya is hoping to build long-lasting connections with her fellow interns, get exposed to the legislative process in Minnesota, and enhance her understanding of the Economic policy process.
After graduation, Roaya plans to pursue a career in Economics Consulting or Management Consulting believing that we can have an impact through any career path we take.
College:St. Olaf College
Internship Site:Partnership in Property Commercial Land Trust
Katelyn Maqsudi
College:St. Catherine University
Internship Site:Hennepin Healthcare
David Mesta
David Mesta is a Senior at Minnesota State University, Mankato majoring in Communication and Media with a Minor in Political Science and is from Faribault, MN. David is currently a Fellow at today’s student coalition comprised of 40 higher education organizations to help support college students by making policy changes in the federal level. He has been involved on campus in Speech and Debate, Student Government and Latinx Student Union. David previously served as the LeadMN Vice President where he launched the LeadMN emergency grant program to help students facing food insecurity during the pandemic and worked with student leaders from across the state to craft the LeadMN legislative agenda to address student issues and support better policies like hunger free campus act, Minnesota college mental health awareness act, and free college grants.
As a part of the 2024 Capitol Pathways cohort, David is excited to be involved in the legislative process and create tangible experiences and connections where he can better support low income and BIPOC communities. He is excited to be placed at Second Harvest Heartland where he can help support ending hunger.
College:Minnesota State University - Mankato
Internship Site:Second Harvest Heartland
Naima Mohamed
Naima Mohamed is currently enrolled in prerequisite nursing courses at Normandale Community College, but she intends to transfer to a four-year university to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing. At Normandale, Naima attends the phi theta kappa club, where she develops her leadership skills and enhances her leadership style while also pursuing her passion for learning more about it. Naima is also a member of the TRIO club, which helps her pursue her passion and career even more. Naima established a solid foundation of independence and resistance through this club. Naima previously interned as the attorney office assistant for the City of Minneapolis, which improved her knowledge of the state of Minnesota’s current legislative landscape and broadened her knowledge of the legal industry. This spring, she is working for the Nurses Association as part of the Capital Pathway program. She is excited to be a part of the program and hopes to learn as many new skills as possible while also growing personally and professionally. These opportunities will help her learn more about her field and understand her passion. This spring, Naima plans to broaden her knowledge by joining a Capital Pathway Internship Cohort.
College:Normandale Community College
Internship Site:Minnesota Nurses Association
Maegan Polanco
Maegan, a Junior at St. Olaf College, is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Asian Studies, setting the stage for her future aspirations in diplomacy, where she envisions proudly representing her homeland, Belize.
Maegan has found herself taking up many leadership roles from High School to College. She is currently serving her second year as the social media manager for KARIBU, the African and Caribbean organization on campus where she brings her creative flair to amplify the organization’s presence. Simultaneously, she is serving her second year as an international student counselor where she assists incoming first year international students with their transition into college. Maegan’s leadership trajectory extends back to high school, where she held the position of Vice President from 2017-2018. Along with her role as vice president, she was selected to represent her high school on the UNICEF Child Advisory Board in her city. She successfully worked with other board members to curate an anti-bullying campaign which was shared with other students in the community. Beyond her leadership roles, Maegan is an avid learner, always seeking opportunities for personal and professional growth. As a part of the Capitol Pathways cohort, she hopes to expand her knowledge on the legislative process aiming to acquire practical skills that will serve her in her future endeavors. Her aspiration is not just to expand her knowledge but also to forge meaningful connections with fellow leaders dedicated to making a difference at both community and national levels.
College:St. Olaf College
Internship Site:Habitat for Humanity
Kathleen Mason
Kathleen is a junior at Hamline University studying Public Health with a Concentration in Public Policy. On campus, she works as a Resident Assistant and helps coordinate and staff campus events as a Conference and Event Management Office Assistant. She has interned with the Food, Pools, and Lodging team of Washington County’s Department of Public Health and Environment and done volunteer work with her city’s former mayor. Kathleen is interested in how public policy can promote health equity and help people reach their full potential for health and well-being. She chose to apply for the Capitol Pathways Program in order to gain first hand experience with the policy making process in a way that can’t be achieved in a classroom.
College:Hamline University
Internship Site:Fresh Energy
Nathan Ellis
Nate is a senior at Carleton College majoring in Political Science/International Relations with a strong background in public policy. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree, he aspires to attend Law School with a focus on Foreign Policy and policymaking. Nate has held many leadership positions during his time at Carleton. He is currently the President of an organization called Men of Color, serves as captain for Carleton Club Soccer, is a Student Department Adviser for Political Science and works as part of the Student Activities Programming Board. Outside of school, Nate has participated in a number of internships. This past winter break, Nate worked as an extern for a United States diplomat. During the summer of 2023 he worked as an Investigative Intern with the Hennepin County Public Defenders’ office. Nate also has experience conducting research as he spent time in Eastern Europe studying Nation-Building and Perceptions of Otherness. Being an International Student from Ghana, Nate has developed a strong passion for International Law and Public Policy. Nate aspires to be able to positively impact the lives of underrepresented people both in the United States and internationally through policy. He believes that this internship with Capitol Pathways gives him the opportunity to take steps in the right direction in achieving his ultimate goals and looks forward to gaining the skills that this experience is bound to equip him with.
College:Carleton College
Internship Site:YWCA Minneapolis
Kelven Kai Manuel
Kelven Kai is currently a junior at Concordia College in Moorhead. He is a double major in Business with Economics and Global Studies and a concentration in Development Studies. Kelven is passionate about international politics and how to achieve sustainable development within distinct societies. His goal is to actively work on policies that create positive economic change for low-income communities and underdeveloped countries. Hence, while interning for Capitol Pathways he hopes to learn more about the policy-making process, and how to make an impact through strategic economic policies.
At Concordia, Kelven is involved in many extracurricular activities and organizations with an international focus such as the Concordia African Student Association (C.A.S.A) and International Student Organization. Soon, Kelven aims to develop skills in communication, strategic thinking, and foreign policy. After graduation, Kelven aims to pursue a master’s degree in economics and improve his language proficiency in French and Spanish.
College:Concordia College
Internship Site:Minnesota Budget Project
Trung Dam
Trung Dam is a junior majoring in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on renewable energy and Data Science at Macalester College. He hopes to pursue a career in Renewable Energy, specializing in solar and wind energy. Trung’s goal is to focus on issues related to the application of renewable energy to daily life, entailing access to suitable energy sources, installations of public policies, and sufficient support from governmental bodies. At Macalester, Trung engaged in various leadership opportunities, ranging from entrepreneurship to cultural organizations. He was a part of a start-up incubator program, MacStartups, dealing with the excessive use of plastic bags in Vietnamese households. Additionally, he has served as the Treasurer of the Vietnamese Cultural Organization at Macalester with the mission of introducing and connecting the Scots with invaluable Vietnamese traditions. Trung applied for the Capitol Pathways Program to get a better understanding of the legislative process regarding the passing of renewable energy policies.
College:Macalester College
Internship Site:Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development
Sakiya Mohamed
Sakiya Mohamed is a Second Year university student studying Political Science and Business Law. She is an active member in her community, often engaging in student government, the Human Rights Working Group, and the UNICEF chapter at the University of Minnesota. She enjoys hiking, reading, and baking!
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:Minnesota Attorney General's Office
Lawrence Smith
College:Minneapolis College
Internship Site:Residential Providers Association Minnesota
Elizabeth Landherr
Elizabeth is currently a junior at St. Olaf College majoring in Sociology/Anthropology and Chinese. She hopes to pursue a career in appellate law. At St. Olaf, she has the honor of serving as the President of her school’s Asian American Student Union and Teaching English as a Second Language Club, as well as the treasurer of the tennis club’s competitive team. As part of the ESL club, Elizabeth volunteers at a Somali afterschool program tutoring students in a range of subjects. Last summer, she interned at a family law and estate planning firm, which she found highly rewarding. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking.
Elizabeth pursued the Capitol Pathways internship program because she is curious about Minnesota’s current legislators and legislative process as a whole, especially in how external actors advocate for bills of interest. Additionally, as someone interested in the practice of law, the nature of this experience is invaluable in becoming an effective advocate for her smaller community and state at large.
College:St. Olaf College
Internship Site:Minnesota Realtors
Ana Alvarez
Ana is a sophomore at Macalester College double majoring in Economics and Educational Studies. As a first-generation college student attending a predominantly white institution, she builds a community through sharing similar experiences and backgrounds with other students. In an effort towards equity and diversity in both the economic and education sector she is excited to intern at Camp Fire Minnesota. She looks forward to enhancing her knowledge of the legislative process to work towards change in the U.S. education system, with a focus on government funding. On campus, Ana is a part of Bonner Community Scholars and works with underrepresented youth in the Twin Cities. She is passionate about working towards bridging the inequality gap in education disparity in low-income communities and making quality education accessible to everyone.
College:Macalester College
Internship Site:Camp Fire Minnesota
Mohamed Shukri
Mohamed, currently a senior at Hamline University majoring in Global Studies with minors in Legal Studies and Political Science, aspires to build a career in humanitarian development and international affairs. His personal history as a former refugee fuels a strong commitment to serving those affected by civil strife, shaping his trajectory.
At Hamline, Mohamed has actively translated his passion for public service into action by dedicating three years to the Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress. Beginning as a representative, he progressed to the role of Chair of the Board of Elected Representatives, akin to the Speaker of the House. Concurrently, he served as a Resident Assistant for two years, supporting a first-year floor. Mohamed’s engagement extends to the realm of Mock Trial, where he has been a dedicated member for three years. In addition to active participation, he has played a pivotal role in running the program.
Beyond the university, Mohamed’s professional journey includes interning for the Office of US Senator Amy Klobuchar. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the American immigration system. Furthermore, he served as a Fellow for the Institute for NonProfit Practice, gaining a profound understanding of the inner workings of nonprofit organizations. Mohamed’s multifaceted involvement reflects his commitment to making a positive impact both locally and globally.
College:Hamline University
Internship Site:African American Leadership Forum
Dayana Sinchi Sanchez
Dayana is a third-year student at the University of Minnesota, First Gen, and is pursuing her major in Political Science and Chicano/Latino Studies passionate about immigration law. She has always had an interest in raising awareness for the underrepresented immigrant community and would like to engage and learn more to help the communities that go through social and economic barriers. Dayana is part of the First-Year Leadership Institute where she is developing personal and community growth. She spends some of her time volunteering with Nutritious U food pantry and is currently working as an undergraduate outreach coordinator working with K-12, increasing Latine undergraduate student involvement. As an Ecuadorian American education is the biggest empowering tool for her and that is why she applied to Capitol Pathways so that she could start her path to support the minorities in her community.
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:LatinoLEAD
Kai Yang
Kai is a junior at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities majoring in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice with an emphasis on Policy Analysis and a minor in Integrative Neuroscience. Aspiring to become an attorney, she hopes to one day act as an advocate for individuals and communities as a whole who are often underserved. As a President’s Emerging Scholar student, she is highly active in the community. Taking a role in organizations such as Pre-Law Society, Sigma Psi Zeta, and the Asian American Student Union. Through her various positions she’s grown in her leadership and interpersonal communication skills.
With a varied background, her first internship was with Bremer Bank as a Field System Engineer. Immediately after, she enrolled in the UCodeGirl x Women’s Foundation of Minnesota Program where she created an app for students to easily organize their school work and learn English. While working in tech she got a first hand look at the racial and gender disparities/inequities that are embedded into professional spaces.
As a member of the 2024 Capitol Pathways cohort, she hopes to strengthen her adaptability and time management skills as well as obtaining a more holistic understanding of public policy.
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
Andy Muthoni
Andy is a senior at Concordia College Moorhead, pursuing Multimedia Journalism and Communication Studies with a Criminal Justice Minor. As a passionate leader, he was drawn to the Capitol Pathway Program after hearing from an alum. Juggling responsibilities, he’s interning at Tunheim while also returning as the Concordia Student Government Elections and Credentials Lead for a second term. Andy’s professional journey spans diverse experiences: from a DC stint as a Program Management Intern with Atlas Corps and a Digital Media & Communications Intern with the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems to a Summer News Reporter Intern with Sahan Journal. On campus, he’s been deeply engaged as the International Student Ambassador, a Tri-College Student Ambassador, and a Policy Ambassador with Free the Facts. Andy’s campus involvement extends through various roles in the International Student Organization, Concordia Black Student Association, and as a trailblazer for the Concordia African Student Association. With this rich tapestry of experiences, Andy is poised to contribute meaningfully, driven by a fervent dedication to community engagement, investigative reporting, and policy advocacy.
College:Concordia College - Moorhead
Internship Site:Tunheim
Tania Chappell
Tania is currently a senior attending The University of Northwestern – St. Paul. She is majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology and Bible. She plans to continue her education by getting her master’s in law with a paralegal certificate. In the near future, she plans to pursue law school where she can work towards ending mass incarceration and restorative justice in many different realms.
Tania is very passionate about community building, and this has shown in her participation. Tania is currently the executive director of an organization at her university called CORE. Where she manages a team of 6 in social media and marketing along with event directing. This is her second year on the team, and she helps build community at UNW. Tania also is the president of Black Heritage Club where she’s been on the team for 3 years. She also was a youth leader for Richfield YoungLife for 2 years. Tania decided to pursue an internship with Capitol Pathways for many reasons. Yet the reason that triumphed all was that she wanted to gain experience within a professional setting. Tania has built her leadership, but she felt she hadn’t touched on the professional side within her major. This program was a great opportunity for her as a BIPOC student and provided a learning experience like no other. Tania hopes to gain a better understanding of public policy and become more experienced in her major of expertise.
College:University of Northwestern - St. Paul
Internship Site:Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
Isel Hernandez
Isel is a second-year student at St. Catherine University. She is majoring in Social Work, highly motivated to help people change their lives. She looks forward to helping people see and utilize their strengths to change their own lives, as well as improving their environment which heavily affects many problems and solutions.
College:St. Catherine University
Internship Site:Flaherty & Hood, P.A.
Putrimolia Cahyudi
Putri is a junior at Macalester College studying Political Science and International Studies. She is from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and also from Central Java, Indonesia. On campus, she has leadership experience in mentoring for Macalester’s International Student Programs. She is hoping to pursue careers in advocacy and international human rights, law, and women’s rights. She has had experience working with legislation by interning at the Minnesota Senate as well as with World Without Genocide this past summer and through her internship placement at NAMI Minnesota, she is hoping to broaden her knowledge of mental health advocacy and legislation from the perspective of interest groups.
College:Macalester College
Internship Site:NAMI Minneosota
Charu Soloff
Charu is a senior at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities completing a BA in Environmental Conservation with a minor in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. She has had many experiences that have led her to her interest in policy today. She has interned at the Owl Moon Raptor Center, the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, where she did her own research in addition to her duties as an intern, and was part of the Policy Engagement Program at her university.
Her passion for mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic activity on wildlife and the environment has fueled her journey to heal the environment. Through the Capitol Pathways program she hopes to better understand policy, and gain experiences and connections that will help her make the changes she wants to see.
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:The Nature Conservancy
Damaris Zamora-Aguilon
Damaris is a 2nd-year Questbridge Match Scholar at Macalester College, double majoring in Political Science and International Studies, with a minor in Latin American Studies and a concentration in Legal Studies. She plans to pursue a career in international policy and human rights within the immigration/criminal justice sector. Damaris hopes to attend law school after undergrad and gain a Ph.D. later in life.
Damaris is currently a legislative intern through the Capitol Pathways program and stationed in the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. There, she hopes to learn about the local and state implications of human rights in Minnesotan legislation. She applied to the Capitol Pathways program to find a niche community that bridges opportunities for BIPOC and their love of public service. Damaris believes that opportunity will grant her greater knowledge of human rights Damaris is passionate about engaging and creating community through purposeful change. Throughout her academic career, she has taken on leadership roles that highlight her passions. For example, at Macalester, she is the president of Central Americans for Empowerment, a competitor in Moot Court, a leader in the Bonner Scholar foundation, and the Civic Engagement Chair for the Questbridge Chapter board. Outside of her academic circle, she is a Bonner Scholar Intern at the Neighborhood Justice Center, which is a criminal defense non-profit that helps the Twin Cities community with legal services, and a volunteer at the Advocates of Human Rights as an Immigration Court Observer.
College:Macalester College
Internship Site:Minnesota Department of Human Rights
Haimanot Tadesse
Haimanot is a senior at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. She is majoring in Marketing. She has many passions including art, music, public health, sustainable architecture, and environmental conservation. Haimanot hopes to pursue a Master’s in Public Health or Social Work. She has an interest in working in public and non-profit sectors. She has interned in organizations such as Hennepin County’s Behavioral Health Department and Minneapolis Elections and Voter Services. Haimanot applied for Capital Pathways because she wants to get a better understanding of policy and legislative processes and how synergy can be formed between policymakers and community members.
College:University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Internship Site:Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
Aicha Abdoulaye
Aicha is currently in her third year at Concordia College, where she is pursuing a major in Global Studies with a concentration in Culture and Identity in Global Affairs, as well as a major in Environmental Studies with a focus on Environmental Humanities. Additionally, she has chosen Sociology as her minor.
As an active member of the Concordia College community, Aicha has held various leadership roles. She notably served as the Director of Law and Government Careers for the career readiness board on campus. In this capacity, she played a crucial role in connecting students with professionals in their respective fields of interest. Aicha also took on the responsibility of being the event planner for the Concordia African Student Association. This organization was established to engage in discussions on topics related to Africa and explore the rich diversity of its culture.
Driven by a passion for equality and social justice, Aicha aspires to build a career in Human Rights. Her involvement in the Capitol Pathways Program reflects her commitment to enhancing her leadership skills and gaining a deeper understanding of public policy.
College:Concordia College
Internship Site:Greater Twin Cities United Way
Emily Hodge
Emily Hodge is an undergraduate student who is majoring in the Social Work program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. They are a third-year student involved in several extracurricular activities. Currently Emily is involved in leadership positions on-campus including being the Multicultural Learning Community Coordinator (LCC), the treasurer for the MSU Social Work Club, and being a part of the Women Empowerment (WE) RSO executive board. They are also a member of other programs on campus which are the Maverick Machine, the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP), the MSU Honors Program, and the WE RISE Leadership Development Program with the Women’s Center. Additionally, they have recently joined the Big Brother Big Sister program to branch out more into the Mankato community. In past years, Emily has taken part in the Mayor’s Youth Commission, the Iowa Youth Congress, and has operated as an Orientation Peer Assistant. Emily Hodge has gained great leadership qualities and strives to support their community from the experiences they have had.
They applied for this internship because they want to gain more experience in the legislative sector and gain social work knowledge on the macro level. Through the Capitol Pathway Program, they want to help promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to every corner of Minnesota with Goodwill-Easter Seals. They have a passion for communicating with others and connecting others with resources and will continue that passion after the program. This internship with Capitol Pathways will allow them to address disparities in Minnesota and learn how to support a community.
College:Minnesota State University - Mankato
Internship Site:Goodwill-Easter Seals of Minnesota
Marvin Ruiz
Marvin Ruiz is a second-year student at the University of St. Thomas-Minneapolis, currently working towards his associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. Marvin is continuing his educational career with a bachelor’s in Political Science & Economics. As the President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society club at St. Thomas, Marvin actively directs both social and service events, providing a sense of community for the school as well as extending support to the Twin Cities area. Outside of school, Marvin has worked with organizations such as ISAIAH and the Young Adult Coalition to advocate for climate, racial, and economic justice. Growing up, Marvin has always valued connection and community. He was taught to be selfless and give a helping hand whenever he can. Marvin is interested in economics, business, and public policy. He is excited to intern with PTR Associates LLC.
College:University of St. Thomas
Internship Site:PTR Associates LLC
Not pictured: Ariah Crosby, Marrea Taylor-Knighten
Capitol Pathways Updates
Capitol Pathways Student Spotlight: Roaya Ghuneim
We are excited to begin spotlighting our 2024 Capitol Pathways students to learn more about their experiences of the program so far. Here, we highlight Roaya Ghuneim, a a sophomore at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
Photos: Capitol Pathways cohort gathers for first meeting & social
During the course of each Capitol Pathways program year, the entire cohort gathers each month for additional training, networking, and discussion of their internship experiences thus far.
Friday, February 16: Capitol Pathways Social
Join us for our first Capitol Pathways social of the year!
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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