Dear Friends,
At Way to Grow, we understand families need both a plan and a trusted partner.
Every day, we support families to ensure children are ready for school and life. This work is deeply personal and profoundly impactful. It changes what’s possible for the children we serve today and for the long-term strength of our communities. When a child enters kindergarten ready to learn, the ripple effects last a lifetime by lifting up our future workforce, neighbors, and community leaders.
Why Way to Grow?
Because our work is not one-size-fits-all. It is relationship-based, community-centered, and grounded in proven practices that deliver real results. It’s the head and the heart working together to build a system of support that empowers families and strengthens communities.
In 2025, we saw both the urgency of this moment and the power of our model. More families than ever sought support, and together, we took steps to meet that need, expanding our reach while maintaining the quality and trust that defines Way to Grow. Our approach is unique. Rooted in home visiting, we meet families where they are, connect them to a broader network of resources, and walk alongside them as they pursue their goals.
Sustaining and growing this impact requires continued investment. With strong momentum, we are poised to strengthen outcomes for the families we serve while expanding our reach where the need is greatest. None of this happens alone. It happens because of you: our partners, supporters, and advocates.
Together, we are creating opportunities, changing trajectories, and building a stronger tomorrow. Thank you for being part of this movement.
Coco Du
Chief Executive Officer
THE CASE FOR WAY TO GROW
Strong Starts Matter
Kindergarten readiness is one of the clearest predictors of long-term academic success. Yet in Minnesota, roughly half of children arrive at kindergarten without the skills they need to succeed.¹ Left unaddressed, that early gap tends to compound: children who are not reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma than proficient readers.² In 2025, more than half of Minnesota third graders failed to meet grade-level reading standards.³ In Minneapolis, that gap runs deeper still, with reading recovery among the furthest behind nationally since the pandemic.4
The effects ripple well beyond the classroom. Children who fall behind early are more likely to need remediation and intervention throughout school, and are less likely to enter Minnesota’s workforce prepared to compete.
Way to Grow has spent more than three decades working to close that gap for families across the Twin Cities. We believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed in school and life, and we deliver on that belief by investing in the whole family beyond the classroom. Our Great by Eight program connects families with a Family Educator, from pregnancy through third grade, providing consistent, individualized support that shifts as each family’s circumstances and goals change. It is this sustained model, not a single service or intervention, that positions Way to Grow to change a child’s trajectory long before kindergarten begins.
Closing Minnesota’s readiness gap takes more than one organization, it takes a whole community. Way to Grow is proud to work alongside a growing network of families, Family Educators, community partners, and supporters who share our conviction that every child deserves the chance to start school ready, confident, and supported.
References
1. Minnesota Department of Education, school readiness data.
2. Annie E. Casey Foundation, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters, 2011.
3. Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA), Minnesota Department of Education, 2025.
4. Education Scorecard, 2026.
Our Impact in 2025
HEALTH EDUCATION
100% of newborns born at or above healthy birth weight*
EARLY CHILDHOOD
72% of Way to Grow children prepared for kindergarten**
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
83% of K–3 students demonstrated growth in reading level assessments**
LITERACY SUPPORT
73% of parents read to their children 3x or more per week**
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
88% of parents attended at least one parent-teacher conference during the last school year.**
*Enrolled prior to 28 weeks, **2024-25 school year metric
Families Served in 2025
11,574
family visits throughout the Twin Cities Metro
2,320
individuals served:
1,368 children, 952 adults
830
families served
“Their support didn’t just help my daughter read, it helped her believe she could.”
Nakesha Caldwell, Way to Grow Parent
WAY TO GROW VOICES
A Letter from Nakesha
When I first connected with Way to Grow, I was navigating the beautiful, yet often overwhelming journey of motherhood—times three! As a single mother, resources felt stretched, the days were long, and the pressure to provide every opportunity for my children was a constant hum in the background. Then came Way to Grow. They didn’t just offer a program, they offered unwavering support and a profound belief in my children and me.
Way to Grow became a foundational stone, not just in my success as a mother but in the very fabric of my family’s story. They understood something fundamental: children thrive when they are seen, celebrated, and supported at every single stage.
In fact, Way to Grow’s support extended far beyond celebrations. They equipped me as a parent, offering encouragement and practical tools: thoughtfully curated reading materials, engaging games, and creative learning strategies that reshaped our daily routines at home. Way to Grow also opened doors to experiences we might not have otherwise had access to, inviting us into moments of joy through tickets to events, adventures, and cultural experiences. For us, these weren’t just outings. They were sparks of wonder, learning, and lasting connection for my children.
One of the most transformative chapters involved my daughter. She started in a Spanish immersion daycare, and while it was a wonderful experience, transitioning to an English-speaking school presented challenges and reading became a daunting task. She struggled, and as a mother juggling so much, I felt the weight of needing to bridge that gap but lacked the bandwidth to do it alone. This is where Way to Grow stepped in; not just with a helping hand, but with a lifeline. They provided Ms. Bella, a dedicated tutor, four days a week.
Witnessing my daughter’s journey from needing significant support to soaring to the top of her reading class wasn’t just academic progress, it was a transformation in her confidence. That spark, that belief in herself, is the priceless gift Way to Grow gave her. Their support didn’t just help my daughter read, it helped her believe she could.
Way to Grow isn’t just a program. It’s the foundational stones of countless families like mine. It’s celebrations that make children feel seen and valued, tutoring that unlocks a child’s confidence, and experiences that broaden limitless horizons. Way to Grow empowers parents to be their best and creates ripples of success that uplift our entire community, one incredible child at a time.
WHAT WE DO
Great By Eight
Home visiting is at the heart of Way to Grow’s programming. Through our Great by Eight program, families are paired with a Family Educator who visits regularly, adapting to each family’s goals and daily realities. Whenever possible, that Family Educator shares the family’s language and culture, a match that builds trust from the start and helps them understand what each family truly needs. Our curriculum and programming support these critical relationships as they evolve over weeks, months, and years. That connection and consistency are what make the difference for our families, and why our program works.
Our Work
EARLY LEARNING + ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
HEALTH EDUCATION + FAMILY WELLNESS
PARENT ENGAGEMENT + FAMILY SUPPORT
SYSTEMS NAVIGATION + ADVOCACY
EARLY LEARNING + ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Learning begins long before a child starts school and continues through third grade and beyond. Using the Parents as Teachers® curriculum, Family Educators work with parents on early literacy, language, and social-emotional growth, turning everyday moments at home into learning opportunities. As children move into elementary school, families get help with reading development, academic confidence, and staying engaged with teachers. Parents also get support with school enrollment and screenings so they can confidently advocate for their child’s education.
HEALTH EDUCATION + FAMILY WELLNESS
A child’s health starts before birth and shapes everything that follows. Way to Grow guides families through pregnancy with prenatal education across all three trimesters, support for healthy births, and guidance on newborn care, safe sleep, home safety, and healthy routines. As children grow, families get help with nutrition, developmental screenings, well-child visits, and connections to healthcare providers. Health isn’t a separate goal. It’s the foundation everything else is built on.
PARENT ENGAGEMENT + FAMILY SUPPORT
A child’s health starts before birth and shapes everything that follows. Way to Grow guides families through pregnancy with prenatal education across all three trimesters, support for healthy births, and guidance on newborn care, safe sleep, home safety, and healthy routines. As children grow, families get help with nutrition, developmental screenings, well-child visits, and connections to healthcare providers. Health isn’t a separate goal. It’s the foundation everything else is built on.
SYSTEMS NAVIGATION + ADVOCACY
Parents shape a child’s development, and that role looks different for every family depending on what they’re navigating. Family Educators work one-on-one with parents to set goals, solve problems, and adjust as circumstances change, connecting families to resources like housing, employment services, food, and financial education. Parents also get opportunities to learn from and connect with one another. We help create a community where no parent has to do it alone.
“I have seen firsthand how Way to Grow shows up for families, especially through our Community Baby Showers, consistently providing valuable educational opportunities for parents and children that support family well-being and growth.
Way to Grow’s commitment to serving all communities is reflected in the diversity of its staff, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where families feel seen, valued, and supported.”
Rebekah Floyd, Community Health Navigator, Sabathani Community Center
HIGHLIGHTS
A Look Back at 2025
“The combined impact of equipping parents to guide their children through school and connecting families to community support is Way to Grow’s metrics-driven model for improving health and education outcomes. I’ve seen its success here in the Twin Cities, and I believe it is a formula that could be applied nationally.”
Dr. Julia Halberg, Way to Grow 2026 Board Chair
WAY TO GROW VOICES
From Our Supporters
Mall of America®
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation
I was deeply impressed by the results Way to Grow was achieving through its home visiting model and wanted to learn more and contribute in any way I could to support its mission. My experience supporting Way to Grow has been incredibly rewarding, and I continue to be inspired by the dedication of its staff, the strength of its mission, and the impact of its work. I am proud to be associated with such an exceptional organization.”
IGNITING GENEROSITY
Maureen Bazinet Beck
A former principal in Minneapolis Public Schools and community advisor to the Superintendent, Maureen Bazinet Beck witnessed Way to Grow being formed in its early days by Mayor Don Frazer with the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board and United Way. “Mayor Frazer had a dream that every child would be ready for school,” says Maureen. “Parent educators could help mothers understand the importance of reading to their child.”
Way to Grow emerged as a home visiting program bringing skilled Family Educators to families in many languages and cultures to coach parents on preparing their children for school. “Way to Grow produced confident parents and children succeeding in school, so we supported it,” Maureen recalls.
In 2025, buoyed by Way to Grow’s success metrics, and with growing concern for immigrant families, Maureen gathered her friends at a lovely reception to hear about Way to Grow’s work with families and CEO Coco Du’s own immigration story. Maureen’s friends were taken with the strong literacy outcomes as well as Coco’s leadership and determination, and they made generous gifts which were matched by Maureen. Way to Grow is truly grateful for Maureen’s passion for early education, concern for our neighbors, and her generosity that ignited joyful giving across her circle of friends.
IN MEMORIAM
Remembering Jim Boyle
Jim Boyle was a stalwart supporter of early childhood education and school readiness for every child. He served for over three decades as a consummate board member, leader, donor, and friend to Way to Grow since its inception in 1989.
As a marketing executive with United Way (one of three entities that sparked Way to Grow’s founding), Jim generously shared his expertise in strategic communications, organizational development and marketing counsel to strengthen Way to Grow’s reach in the community. These strategic plans and initiatives helped lead us to sustained growth year after year.
We are thankful for Jim’s wisdom, keen insight, dedication, friendship, and many contributions that have been vital to our cause of children’s literacy and family well-being. He is deeply missed.
