Introducing Sarah Ragoonanan — Capitol Pathways Intern
About me
I was born and raised in South Minneapolis, but my home was filled with Caribbean culture. With both of my parents immigrating from Trinidad and Tobago, I was fortunate to live in an environment filled with tasty food, rich music, and cultural love. I graduated from Hiawatha Collegiate School in Minneapolis, and I am currently a first-year at Macalester College in St. Paul, where I plan on double majoring in political science and sociology with a concentration in legal studies.
Long term, I plan to further my education even more by attending law school in hopes of pursuing a career as a civil rights attorney — maybe getting into politics! When I’m not attending classes, working, or partaking in activism, I love baking, writing, and listening to music.
Fun facts
- I have a pet bunny named Peaches! She’s a seven year-old orange Netherland Dwarf bunny.
- I’m an only child.
- I love the ocean and anything ocean-related.
Passion for policy
Growing up in a lower-income community that’s predominantly BIPOC allowed me to see the systemic issues making the lives of people I care about harder. From education to the environment, I experienced firsthand what the lack of political representation did to my community and communities alike, so I began engaging in advocacy.
During my freshman year of high school, I joined the legislatively mandated Minnesota Youth Council (MYC), where I served for four years. I was a Congressional District 5 representative in addition to being co-chair of the Juvenile Justice subcommittee. My time on the council allowed me to gain insight into the policy-making process at the Capitol and furthered my passion for policy. I was able to testify on bills affecting the everyday lives of young people in my community, lead advocacy workshops at the Capitol, and familiarize myself with politics in general.
My time on the council was an amazing opportunity, and I’m grateful that the experience I gained there has allowed me to have a foundation for this position, which I am extremely excited about!
Clean energy
Working with CEEM will be my first time working with clean energy policy, and I can’t wait to learn more about it! I know how intertwined social issues are, which is why clean energy, and the ability to afford it, is essential —especially for communities like the one I grew up in. I hope to familiarize myself with energy policies and how they play out at the Capitol.