Intro from Our Board Chair
As I write this in July of 2020, we are in a pivotal moment. Minnesota’s inequities have been laid bare, first through COVID-19, and then through the uprising following the murder of George Floyd. The racism and inequities that communities have been fighting against for years are now center stage. And I stand with my community in the hope that change is on the horizon. It is up to us to be a part of that change, bringing what we know needs reform to the forefront now, and making it clear that we can no longer wait.
When I look at Minnesota’s stagnant opportunity and achievement gaps, it’s clear our systems have a long way to go to live up to what our children deserve. As a parent, longtime advocate, and educator, the urgency for systemic change brings me to my work at EdAllies. We must ensure that all students can achieve their full, unlimited potential.
As you scroll through the timeline of 2019’s highlights, you’ll see that there’s a lot worth celebrating that I hope we can leverage in 2020. We engaged in challenging community conversations about issues of cultural relevance, school quality, integration, and parent choice. We strengthened teacher diversity and quality, supported pathways to college and career, and worked to ensure that our schools are held accountable to our communities. We pushed for greater nuance in high-profile education conversations, centering the voices of those our education systems should and must serve. And we welcomed several new team members. That said, our work is far from done.
Last year reinforced that we cannot do this work alone. Your partnership will be critical as we work to advance equity, remove barriers, and change the education conversation in Minnesota. We rely on partners like you to support us in achieving our vision: a Minnesota where systems finally support all children to thrive.
To our community, advocates, partners, and friends: Thank you for believing in—and advocating for—the limitless potential of every child.