Capitol Pathways Host Info
Host a Capitol Pathways intern for the 2026 legislative session!
Capitol Pathways is a paid spring internship program for college students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). With the long-term goal of making Minnesota state government and policymaking more representative of our diverse communities, our program provides leadership, legislative and career readiness training alongside an immersive hands-on internship experience with organizations doing policy work during the legislative session.
Application now open! Apply by November 6, 2025.

Why Participate?
Does your organization do policy, advocacy or civic engagement work? Care about championing equity and opening access to policy and public service careers for young leaders of color? We invite you to host a Capitol Pathways intern for the 2026 legislative session!
Program Information:
Learn about the program, host expectations, timeline, and more by clicking on the sections below.
HOST EXPECTATIONS
- Intern Hours. Provide student a minimum of 10 hours per week interning with your office.
- Program Cost. Budget $4,150 overall to participate as a host. Of the $4,150 amount, $3,400 will go directly to your student for the internship stipend.
- Host Fee. Of the $4,150 amount, $750 will go directly to the Citizens League to support programming efforts.
- Time at the Capitol. Hosts are only expected to bring their students to the Capitol and their office to the extent that is safe and necessary for their organizational work.
- In-office plan. If you expect your student to come into the office, communicate with them to develop a hybrid plan that works and makes them feel safe.
- Hands-on learning experience and networking. Help facilitate your student’s exposure to policymaking and build their professional network.
- Cohort Meetings. Allow your student to attend 4-hour long monthly cohort meetings for community building with cohort peers and career readiness training.
INTERN POSITION DESCRIPTION
Our goal is to provide students exposure to policymaking and first-hand experience with the legislature. Students should support hosts as an intern, be involved in session preparations, and visit the Capitol when possible.
Some examples of activities your student can support with:
- Assist in scheduling, planning and staffing meetings or events
- Research, track and summarize bills
- Informational interviews with co-workers, legislators, Capitol staff and other policy professionals
- Write articles for social media (e-newsletters, blogs, etc.)
Note: All activities will be dependent on the needs and interests of host organization and student.
ABOUT CAPITOL PATHWAYS STUDENTS
Students will come from a variety of academic backgrounds and be enthusiastic to learn about policymaking.
- All students are in good academic standing at an accredited undergraduate college or university in Minnesota. .
- Have completed their first year in college or have the equivalent in credits as a full first year student.
- Self-identify as Black, Indigenous or a person of color.
- International students are eligible to apply.
- Students with under documented status are encouraged to apply.
SELECTION AND PLACEMENT PROCESS
There are three phases in the selection and placement process:
Phase One: Pre-selection
Program staff review host and student applications to determine interests and needs. Based on this information, we will pre-select student applicants to move on to the interview phase.
Phase Two: Interviews
Host sites interview with three pre-selected students. Host sites will provide program staff their top two candidates. Not all students who interview will move on to Phase Three.
Phase Three: Official Acceptance into the Program
Program staff will make final selection based on host feedback from interviews along with information from host and student applications. Program staff will notify hosts and students of final placements.
PROGRAM CONTACT
If you have any additional questions or feedback, please contact Program Manager Domonick Fields:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 651-289-1075
CONNECT
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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:
F.R. Bigelow Foundation
McKnight Foundation
Otto Bremer Trust
Summer Fund