Celebrating our Graduates!
It was a day full of pride and joy on July 15th as Way to Grow held our 2018 Early Learning and Third Grade Graduation at Urban Ventures in South Minneapolis. 30 staff members, 12 community volunteers, and hundreds of family members celebrated our graduates through a late-afternoon program that involved an activity and social […]
Transforming Lives Together: Our Spring Luncheon
On Wednesday, May 2, Way to Grow welcomed nearly 200 guests to our annual Spring Luncheon at the Walker Art Center. As our keynote speaker Dr. Anne Gearity noted during her remarks, social support is a key factor for children and parents living with adverse experiences. By listening and providing guidance and encouragement, we can all play a role in […]
What is it about eating that brings us closer?
These past two months, our preschools and our families have been talking about food. The children’s interest in food started when they read Bunny Cakes, The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza, and then a conversation about how they all ate rice but in different ways. They were perplexed, they were hooked, and we loved […]
My Voice Matters: Minneapolis Board of Education
Recent research shows that boards of education have a significant impact on student achievement in their districts and that across the nation there is a low percentage of parents – especially in vulnerable communities – that are not engaged with their local boards of education. Through Way to Grow’s “My Voice Matters” initiative, this past […]
Shine Celebration recap
Thank you! Our 2017 Shine Celebration: Blessings in Disguise, held on Friday, October 27 was an extraordinary evening of community and generosity! Over 400 guests came out to The Depot in Minneapolis to celebrate the work of Way to Grow and empowering parents to be their children’s primary educator. Together with sponsors, table hosts and […]
Way to Grow Spring Luncheon Recap
Dr. Mary Dana Hinton, President of the College of St. Benedict delivered a keynote address focusing on building pathways to hope, to opportunity, and ultimately, to success. “A pipeline to success begins with the assumption that children can be successful.” Click To Tweet Dr. Hinton also stressed the importance of starting early. “By the age […]
Living United – Action Day 2015 provides 500 backpacks for Way to Grow children
Throughout the Twin Cities, volunteers gathered over lunch hour, taking part in the fifth annual Greater Twin Cities United Way Action Day with the goal of helping students (pre-K to college-bound) get on the right track to school success. Volunteers – including Way to Grow families and staff – joined in the fun, assembling back-to-school kits for children in need. […]
What the Education Bill Promises the State’s Earliest Learners
After much debate, Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature have passed the Education Bill with hopes of narrowing Minnesota’s achievement gap and ensuring all children receive the best education possible. The bill includes enacting free all-day Kindergarten, expanding access to early learning opportunities, and increasing funding for K-12 schools. Though the final bill does not […]
Cradle to K Cabinet Releases Final Plan to Address Early Learning Disparities in Minneapolis
Mayor Hodges and the Cradle to K Cabinet released the final Cradle to K report outlining policy, legislative and collaborative recommendations for 2015 and beyond. “As much as possible, these recommendations are based on research and the prevailing best practices in the field and in our community. We want to focus on what works.” -Mayor […]
2015 Children and Youth Issues Briefing Recap
This morning, nearly 1,000 influential advocates gathered at the 2015 Children & Youth Issues Briefing in Saint Paul. The event kicked off with an address from Governor Mark Dayton who announced that his upcoming budget proposal (reviewed next Tuesday) will allocate $372 million to “children and education.” Acknowledging that many Minnesota families have critical unmet […]