$1.1 Million in Reimagine Education Grants Awarded

The Minneapolis Foundation today announced more than $1.1 million in Reimagine Education grants to 29 schools, school districts, and organizations that are advancing equity and uplifting youth voices in Minnesota’s K-12 education system.

“These grants fuel school and community programs that are shaped and led by the Minnesotans with most at stake in our education system: Teachers, school leaders, families, and the students who are our state’s future,” said Patrice Relerford, the Minneapolis Foundation’s Vice President of Collective Impact and Giving.

Reimagine Education grants support organizations and projects that:

• Elevate student and community voices and power to build bridges between schools, families, and communities and improve school climates and academic outcomes.
• Provide opportunities for educators to build their understanding of race and equity and implement strategies that create culturally responsive and inclusive schools.
• Advocate for policies at the school, local, and state level to address systemic barriers to racial equity in Minnesota’s education system.

These grants flow from the Foundation’s Reimagine Education strategy, a collaborative initiative that transforms research into collective action to make Minnesota’s schools better for all students. Including today’s awards, the Foundation has invested more than $5.3 million in Minnesota schools and students through Reimagine Education grants in the past four years.

Photo courtesy of Good Trouble

Many of this year’s grants address two key issues that Minnesota school advocates have identified as priorities:  

Literacy. Schools statewide are rolling out the READ Act, a 2023 law that aims to transform how reading is taught, using research-based strategies to ensure every Minnesota child can read at or above grade level. Implementing the READ Act is a major undertaking that will require sustained investment in reading curricula and teacher training programs. The Minneapolis Foundation is making grants focused on literacy to supplement public funding for this groundbreaking initiative. 

For example, Richfield Public Schools will use a Reimagine Education grant to support continuous improvement in its literacy program. “This grant will support access to diverse literature that reflects our students’ identities and broadens their understanding of different cultures, fostering a sense of belonging in our elementary schools,” said Rachel Gens, Director of Elementary Education at Richfield Public Schools. “It will also support teacher professional development in the Science of Reading, equipping them with the skills to integrate these resources into their curricula using evidence-based reading practices.” 

Leadership. In line with the Foundation’s commitment to empower those closest to community issues, many of its Reimagine Education grants elevate the leadership of students, teachers, and principals who are working to create more inclusive learning environments. 

The nonprofit Education Evolving received one such grant for a program that enables teachers of heritage languages to show they meet state teaching standards by completing a year-long mentorship and submitting evidence of prior training, education, and experience. “Across the metro, heritage language programs—of Hmong, Somali, Spanish and other home languages—have a transformative impact on students’ sense of belonging and improve academic achievement,” said Lars Esdal, Executive Director of Education Evolving. “This grant has provided critical support for a new licensure pathway that will enable the educators leading these programs to attain full teacher licensure and stay in the classroom.” 

Some Reimagine Education grants focus specifically on amplifying the voices of students. These include a 2024 award to Good Trouble. “With support from the Minneapolis Foundation, we’ll be able to help more north Minneapolis young people turn trouble in the streets into good trouble in schools,” said Jose Perez, the organization’s co-founder. “By coaching high school students to share their stories and push for prioritizing meeting youth development needs at the school, district and state levels, Good Trouble aims to increase student engagement and attendance and build an intergenerational movement to improve the school experience of Minneapolis youth facing adversity.” 

Recognizing the critical role of Minneapolis Public Schools, the Minneapolis Foundation also last week announced a commitment of more than $1.3 million to the district’s literacy and talent development efforts for the 2024-2025 school year. 

• $25,700 to 826 MSP to create curriculum guides, lesson plans, and training materials to support schools in the Twin Cities and statewide with engaging students in writing projects as part of Minnesota’s new ethnic studies requirement.
• $30,000 to the Advancing Equity Coalition to facilitate student-led advocacy efforts and influence systemic change to ensure Minneapolis schools meet young people’s educational needs.
• $40,000 to the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) for Twin Cities Healing Justice program, which engages youth leaders at North High School in Minneapolis to improve the school climate and culture and reduce suspensions. AFSC will also support educators at North High to develop a social justice curriculum.
• $40,000 to American Indian OIC for culturally centered education at Takoda Prep, an alternative high school in Minneapolis, and for statewide advocacy to support and retain Native American educators in K-12 teaching positions.
• $40,000 to the Coalition of Asian American Leaders to organize and engage Asian American parents and caregivers in efforts to create safer and more equitable schools for Asian American students in Minnesota.
• $75,000 to EdAllies for policy advocacy campaigns to ensure all Minnesota students are prepared for college and careers. EdAllies also researches and advocates to remove barriers for people of color to enter the teaching profession.
• $50,000 to Education Evolving to support teachers of Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Karen, and other heritage languages with obtaining the licenses they need to remain in the classroom.
• $50,000 to Educators 4 Excellence MN to support teacher leaders in identifying challenges with the implementation of the READ Act and proposing solutions at the school board, district administration, and state legislative levels.
• $50,000 to Elevate Teaching (Plum Blossom Strategy, LLC, fiscal sponsor; Access Philanthropy Charities) to partner with youth-serving organizations to engage young people in the teaching profession, shift narratives about education careers, and diversity the field.
• $40,000 to Good Trouble (fiscal sponsor: Propel Nonprofits) to support the development of a student-led movement in North Minneapolis for high school redesign. Good Trouble will also advocate for policies that advance youth development-oriented high school redesign statewide.
• $30,000 to Great MN Schools for the Minnesota Literacy Coalition. The Minnesota Literacy Coalition supports Twin Cities area schools and school districts to implement evidence-based instructional practices and engage families in improving literacy outcomes for all students.
• $40,000 to Groves Learning Organization for Groves Literacy Partnerships, which will launch affordable, virtual professional development content grounded in evidence-based approaches to literacy instruction for Minnesota educators through The Groves Method Portal. GLO will pay special attention to schools and districts with the largest opportunity gaps in reading and literacy achievement.
• $30,000 to Illusion Theatre and School to engage middle school students at five Minneapolis schools in a theater and performing arts education curriculum that improves social and emotional learning skills
• $30,000 to the Islamic Civil Society of America to partner with East African and Afghan youth and families. Together, they will navigate cultural, language, and economic challenges and develop skills to partner with public schools in Minneapolis and surrounding areas to support students’ education and career goals.
• $25,000 to La Oportunidad for leadership and career pathways programs for Latinx high school youth and young adults in Minneapolis and the surrounding area. These programs aim to close opportunity gaps and eliminate poverty.
• $40,000 to the Legal Rights Center to partner with Minneapolis Public Schools to implement youth-centered restorative justice practices, professional development, and capacity-building support for educators. The Center aims to strengthen the relationships between educators, students, and families to reduce discipline disparities.
• $40,000 to MIGIZI Communications to integrate cultural practices with academic support for Native American youth, during and out of school. MIGIZI also offers youth training to build career pathways in the media, communications, and renewable energy industries.
• $40,000 to Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP) to support educators at Minnesota’s schools, districts, and colleges as they develop equity strategies for providing culturally validating pedagogy and learning opportunities for students. MnEEP advocates at the local and state level to improve instruction and increase funding for English language learners.
• $40,000 to the Minnesota Humanities Center to partner with Minneapolis Public Schools’ ethnic studies department to offer lesson plans, professional development for educators, and place-based learning experiences that boost cultural awareness and offer students learning opportunities that connect to local and national history.
• $40,000 to MN Zej Zog for Hmong-led educational equity efforts, including hosting an annual conference for Hmong educators and school leaders to share ideas, foster belonging, and support Hmong students’ academic achievement and career goals.
• $35,000 to OutFront Minnesota for educational equity efforts to support inclusion and safety in schools for Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ youth. OutFront Minnesota offers training and technical support to educators and schools to create inclusive classrooms and supports youth to build community by creating Gender and Sexuality Alliances in schools.
• $50,000 to Project for Pride in Living to embed youth voice into its Learn and Earn to Advance Potential (LEAP) program through an advisory board and alumni network. LEAP supports young people to earn their high school diplomas while gaining life and professional skills and training.
• $45,000 to Richfield Public Schools for professional development and training to increase teachers’ knowledge of evidence-based literacy practices and instructional strategies. The district will also engage its Latino and American Indian parent groups in selecting culturally relevant texts for its K-5 reading curriculum.
• $40,000 to the Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition (fiscal sponsor: Ed Allies) to partner with Minneapolis Public Schools parents, educators, students, and community members to gather feedback as the district implements new student discipline policies. The Coalition will also engage in advocacy at the state level to shape policies related to school resource officers.
• $30,000 to Spark-Y Youth Action Labs to offer culturally relevant, experiential STEM learning opportunities, mentorship, skills development, career pathways, and employment opportunities in urban agriculture, green infrastructure, energy and sustainability, and entrepreneurships fields.
• $35,000 to Smart North for its efforts to raise awareness of technology-related careers and engage in policy advocacy for increased investment in technology education and career pathways for Minnesota youth and young adults.
• $40,000 to Unidos MN (formerly Navigate MN) for youth-driven organizing and advocacy in Minneapolis and at Minnesota colleges to advance the implementation of ethnic studies coursework statewide.
• $40,000 to the UpLIFT Movement to design and launch a mentorship program focused on teachers who are Indigenous, Black, or people of color and are new to special education roles.
• $40,000 to Uŋčí Wičhóiye Ahókiphapi Omáškekičhiyapi to partner with Concordia College’s language department and Minneapolis Public Schools to support Indigenous language teachers toward licensure and offer professional development that advances their careers.

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