Fresh Energy is thrilled to welcome Armando Akapo-Nwagbo as our 2025 Capitol Pathways Intern! A senior at Macalester College studying political science with an interest in economics and international relations, Armando bring an impressive background, deep curiosity, and passion for public policy that makes him a great fit for our team during Minnesota’s 2025 Legislative Session.
Armando’s journey to Macalaster and Fresh Energy represents his drive to learn. Originally from Nigeria and a citizen of Equatorial Guinea, he moved to California as a high school student, determined to pursue opportunities while he lived with his aunt and grandma. While he initially came for academics and basketball, his interest in policy and clean energy grew along the way, leading him to Fresh Energy’s policy team.
Fresh Energy has hosted interns in the Minnesota Capitol Pathways program since its inception eight years ago. This program works to make our government truly representative of our communities, connecting young leaders of color with established policy leaders. Armando will be working with Fresh Energy’s Public Affairs team, particularly with Justin Fay, chief advocacy officer, and Brynn Kirsling, director, legislative and grassroots advocacy.
“I love to learn how people are impacted by policy, that sparks a lot of interest for me,” said Armando. “What I love about the Capitol Pathways programs is the hands-on-experience. I’ve been attending House and Senate hearings at the Capitol, doing one-on-one meetings with Fresh Energy staff, and gaining insight into advancing Fresh Energy’s mission. I’ve been learning a lot.”
At Fresh Energy, Armando is working alongside our policy experts to support key clean energy initiatives at the State Capitol. His experience navigating complex systems, combined with his international perspective and multilingual skills—he speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Igbo—make him an invaluable addition to the team.
When asked about why he was interested in Fresh Energy, Armando had a ready answer: “I love the mission. In the U.S., transportation and electricity is relatively cheap, but back home, transportation can be tricky because of the bad roads and the prices of fuel is a lot higher,” said Armando. “I appreciate getting to learn public policy, and especially gain insights about energy policy, so I can learn how it affects my home. It’s always been my mission to give back to my community, so learning how decisions are made in a hands-on way about decarbonizing our economy, I’m excited to learn all I can.”
On the court, Armando is a standout player for Macalester’s men’s basketball team, where he plays as a post alongside his close friends and teammates. The Star Tribune recently wrote about Armando’s friendship with his two teammates, Badou Ba and Noah Shannon. Off the court, he balances his studies, a part-time job, and his internship with Fresh Energy—all while bringing his trademark enthusiasm and drive to everything he does. Armando is also a member of Macalester’s Men of Color Collective and the Macalester Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. And despite juggling all of these activities, Armando still finds time to play video games, hang out with friends, and enjoy his life at college.
We’re excited to have Armando on board and look forward to seeing the impact he brings to this year’s legislative session. Welcome to Fresh Energy, Armando!