Mission Statement
Working closely with parents and communities, we ensure that children within the most isolated families are born healthy, stay healthy and are prepared for school.What We Do Matters
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to early childhood education. By focusing on early education, we know we can make a difference for the future of individual children and families, our community, our workforce and our economy.
For over 30 years, Way to Grow has brought the community together to address the serious and prevalent gap in early childhood education in Minneapolis. While Minnesota may be a leader in education, our children of color are too often left behind. With one of the largest opportunity gaps in the country, we have made a promise to our community—we will be there for you.
At Way to Grow, we support families with children from birth to age eight, empowering our next generation of leaders. We are proud to work with more than 2,400 individuals in both North and South Minneapolis—neighbors who work hard to provide for their children and are active in their community and their child’s education. With a team of talented Family Educators and Resource Advocates, we provide year-round services every day to these families throughout Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center.
Community Leader
Way to Grow leads the Twin Cities’ early-childhood education community with our innovative home visiting model and expansive programming. While we have touched the lives of thousands of people, we know there are families who still need our help. To reach those not already receiving our services, we are finding new ways to share our knowledge.
Way to Grow staff can be seen at neighborhood events, school nights, and even in the grocery line, telling new parents about the resources available to their family. Last year alone, Family Educators attended more than 30 events to connect with new families. The cornerstone of our work may happen in the home, but there is much more that we can do to shape the future of our youngest neighbors and their families throughout our entire community.
98%
of parents attended at least one parent-teacher conference during the last school year
Our Story
For over 30 years, Way to Grow has brought the community together to address the serious and prevalent gap in early childhood education in Minneapolis. In 1989, when former Mayor Don Fraser, Honeywell CEO Jim Renier, and the Greater Twin Cities United Way formed Way to Grow, community leaders around the country were beginning to recognize the ever-growing education gap. Minneapolis decided to do something about it.
Originally a program of the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, the Way to Grow mission brought together different facets of our community to address the early childhood gaps. We connected city programming, corporate community partners, and leaders from across the Twin Cities to make change happen. Our founders and early supporters believed that only by working together could we make a difference.
In 2004, Way to Grow became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit and under the direction of Carolyn Smallwood, began to develop and implement research-based, holistic best practices. Our Great By Eight program is now the cornerstone of our work, and our unique, proven methods secure our role as a leader in early childhood education.
Our Team
At Way to Grow, we’ve lived what we teach. Our leadership and team of family educators and staff come from many different cultures and countries, and collectively speak more than seven different languages. Our own experiences help us offer more personal care while building trust and acceptance in our participating families’ homes.
Leadership
Though our leadership team and board of directors help define our holistic, results-driven program, we firmly believe that we are in this together — from leadership to staff to the families we serve. And only together will we enable a successful and happy future for all.
Carolyn Smallwood, CEO
Carolyn Smallwood joined Way to Grow in 2004. She previously served as vice president for Sales and Marketing at Twin Cities Rise! and Executive Director of the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) Prior to entering the nonprofit field, she was the Director of Supplier Diversity with ADC, the Broadband Company, and a senior business banker at U.S. Bancorp.
In 2014, the Star Tribune named Carolyn on one of the Twin Cities’ “Top African-Americans of Influence.” She currently serves on the Ciresi and Walburn Foundation Board of Directors, the African American Leadership Forum Board of Directors, Minnesota Comeback Board of Directors (where she serves as Co-Chair), and the MinneMinds Executive Committee. Carolyn also sat on Governor Mark Dayton’s Early Learning Council for four years. In 2014, she was selected by Mayor Betsy Hodges to co-chair the Cradle to K Cabinet. Other previous board positions include the MacPhail Center for Music, the College of Saint Benedict, the Jeremiah Program, the Citizen’s League, and the Children’s Theatre Company. She also served as a member of the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Early Learning Executive Committee, as well as the Promise Neighborhood Solution Action Group.
Carolyn is a dynamic leader who has a deep passion in serving others and making the world a better place. With a passion for working with diverse communities, Carolyn brings a solid background in business, marketing and strategic development, strong executive experience, and an inclusive leadership style to Way to Grow. She is a bright, influential presence who puts the Way to Grow mission above all.
Our Staff
Way to Grow is proud to have a passionate and dedicated staff who supports thousands of families and children on their way to a successful future.
Way to Grow Board of Directors
The Way to Grow board of directors is composed of proven leaders from our community. As experts in their individual fields, they share a belief that a brighter future for our economy starts at home with our children.
Gaye Adams Massey, Chair
Chief Executive Officer, YWCA St. Paul
David Nassif, Vice Chair
Retired
Robin Shroeder, Treasurer
Finance Committee Chair
Retired, Former Chief Financial Officer
Schroeder Company
Robert Barnett, Ph.D., L.P.
Governance Committee Chair
Senior Fellow & Principal Consultant
MDA Leadership Consultants
Jennie Carlson
Fund Development Committee Chair
Retired, Former Executive Vice President of Human Resources
U.S. Bancorp
Kevin Nilan, P.h.D.
Human Resources Committee Chair
Retired, Global Assessment Manager
3M
Laura Bohlander
President
LRE Foundation
James Boyle
President
James R. Boyle + Associates
Julie Baker
Retired
Jason Brandenborg
Executive Director
Douglass Brandenborg Family Foundation
Susan Cary-Hanson
Co-CEO and Owner
PGC
Dani Deering
Of Counsel
Innova Law Group, PLLC
Mel Dickstein
Retired, Former Hennepin County Judge
Fourth Judicial District
Julia Halberg,
Occupational Medicine Specialist
University of Minnesota
David Henderson
Managing Director and Founder
TripleTree
Michael Garrett
Senior Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Sophie Kelley
Senior Vice President, Market Director
Associated Bank
Laurie Lafontaine
Retired, Former Vice President of Finance and Treasury
Allina Health System
Vanessa Laird
Executive Director
Center for Integrative Leadership at the University of Minnesota
Malcolm McDonald
Retired
Christopher Mongeon
Wealth Advisor
Thrivent Financial
Jeanne Ravich
Community Volunteer
Art Rolnick
Senior Fellow, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota
Nasibu Sareva
Executive Director
African Development Center
Randy Sauter
Assistant Vice President
U.S. Bank
Frank Schweigert
Dean, College of Community Studies and Public Affairs
Metropolitan State University
Carolyn Smallwood
Chief Executive Officer
Way to Grow
Sharon Smith-Akinsanya
Founder and CEO
Rae Mackenzie Group
Jamie Stilson
Partner
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Join Our Team
We employ individuals who share our passion for early education and believe that together we can make a difference for the future of children, families, community and economy. Please check back regularly for updated opportunities.
Current openings:
A great way to get involved with Way to Grow is to volunteer. We deeply appreciate the generous donation of time and talent our volunteers provide.
Our Sponsors and Partners
We’d like to thank our generous funders and community partners.
Way to Grow donor privacy policy available here.
Annual Report
We’re making strides every year. Read about last year’s successes in our current annual report. If you’d like, you can also view our past annual reports.
A Community Conversation
I Am Not A Number
Way To Grow Program Overview
