My Experience at Habitat Minnesota as the Capitol Pathways Intern 

My name is Thanh Nguyen, a student at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, majoring in sociology with minors in cultural studies and comparative literature. For the past few months, with the start of the 2025 legislation session, I have been the Capitol Pathways fellow for Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota (Habitat Minnesota) as the advocacy and policy intern. Capitol Pathways is an internship program for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) college students to get involved in Minnesota’s government and policymaking, seeding the development of legislative knowledge and career readiness through organizations like Habitat Minnesota. This has been an exciting and valuable journey for me every step of the way.  

Although I am saddened to leave, I am overjoyed and appreciative of the experience I’ve had here, especially with the relationships I’ve nurtured with the rest of the team members. I’ve always felt welcomed in the space, with my voice being heard and conversations that expanded my knowledge on all fronts, especially housing.  

Mentorship and New Projects

Ever since the start of the session, Jeru Gobeze, the advocacy director and my supervisor, has provided me with substantial guidance on the Minnesota legislative processes, which has been a whole new realm for me. Some advocacy projects I engaged with included bill tracking for the organization and updating legislative information for affiliates to help streamline efforts for Habitat Minnesota’s advocacy on housing funding and policy. I also enthusiastically participated in coalition meetings like Homes for All that came together to learn and advocate for several housing policies, like family homelessness prevention and assistance funds, and the statewide tenant and homeownership education hotline to keep Minnesotans safe and secure in their homes. 

Likewise, the Habitat Minnesota team meetings consisting of the discussion of the organization’s values for households of color, the creation of data and resources that expand the knowledge of Habitat Minnesota’s building efforts and homeownership disparities, and the value of leadership and self-care in non-profit work which gave me new perspectives on the collective efforts put towards the driven goal of housing access.  

Another part of my time here included viewing and taking detailed notes on the Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee to aid Habitat Minnesota’s advocacy efforts. I learned about the various issues that impact Minnesota’s housing shortage and the proposed solutions that stakeholders and legislative committee members work diligently on. This ranged from appropriations for Greater Minnesota for infrastructure and housing, the workings of the task force on Homeowner Association (HOA) and common interest communities, down payment assistance for first-generation families, and the need to sustain the housing market through regulatory changes, such as zoning and construction. 

Through Capitol Pathways, I was able to visit the State Capitol for the first time with my fellow cohort of other BIPOC students. Throughout the legislative session, I had the opportunity to visit a few more times. One instance I wish to highlight is the time when I went in person with Jeru to observe the Senate and House committees discussing a set of bills founded through the Yes to Homes coalition that seek to broaden affordable housing construction and availability for all Minnesotans. I learned about the critical facets of the power of testimonies, how legislators engage with stakeholders to author and push for bills, and gained an in-depth look at how Minnesota’s governmental systems function. 

Leveraging My Voice

I had the opportunity to meet with several legislators, like Representative Matt Norris and my lawmaker, Representative Samantha Vang. With them, I was able to discuss and advocate for several topics dear to my heart, including housing and other issues that affect communities like mine, such as the lack of educational resources for low-income children and discriminatory job practices.

During the session, I also attended Habitat on the Hill at the Capitol. There, I and other Habitat advocates pushed for affordable and equitable housing policies across Minnesota. I supported the swag table (and got a cool Habitat scarf!) and met with various advocates like donors, Habitat homeowners, and the staff of Greater Minnesota Habitat affiliates. I also had the opportunity to meet with my representative again to further push Habitat’s priorities in my district and beyond. It was a fun and memorable event where I felt my voice shine and united with others who share my passion.

One big takeaway for me is that the housing crisis is vast, and no single solution will fix it. That is why I appreciate all the ongoing discussions and efforts that are put into making housing and living sustainable and affordable for everyone, especially for low-income families. 

Though my time here is over, the experience, values, and lessons will forever stick with me as I take the next steps in my journey. With a final thank you to Jeru for being my supervisor and the rest of the team for their care and guidance, I now say goodbye to take the next steps in my career and wish for the courageous efforts of Habitat Minnesota to thrive for years to come! 

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Interested in learning more about the advocacy work being done by Habitat Minnesota and the housing and homeownership policy at the legislature? Sign up for advocacy updates today: https://habitatminnesota.org/advocacy/