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We are so thankful for our Community Partner, Magers and Quinn Booksellers! Thanks to their talented Outside Sales and Outreach team members, Christine and Charlie, Way to Grow is able to put unique and culturally relevant books in the hands of children and families. Christine and Charlie spend time working directly with booksellers and publishers to find books that reflect the needs and requests of our Family Educators. They enjoy listening to feedback from families who have purchased books from Magers and Quinn and love to pass this information on to others. 

Because they handle a wide range of books, they’re able to suggest stories for all scenarios like read-alongs, school lessons, bedtime stories, and more! Christine says that working with nonprofits and schools is one of her favorite parts of the job. She loves to find books that kids are genuinely excited to read, stories that speak to them and have characters of different races and ethnicities that mirror the child reading them. With the help of Magers and Quinn staff, our Family Educators are more successful in their roles and provide educational and fun reading materials to their families. 

Thank you, Magers and Quinn, for helping to fill the bookshelves of Way to Grow families!

We are excited to welcome four new team members at Way to Grow! Learn a bit more about Mariana, Sheena, Tomi, and Jeanetta.

Mariana Villegas Ramírez

Family Educator

Tell us a little bit about yourself! 

I moved to the Twin Cities from Mexico in 2011 to continue my undergraduate program in Human Resources Development from the University of Minnesota. In 2015, I pursued a path in education, working and supporting non-profit organizations around Minnesota, including the United Nations Association of MN. In 2016, I discovered the Montessori philosophy and joined the Montessori Center of Minnesota – where my graduate education continued. In 2020, I received her master’s degree in Montessori Education from St. Catherine University, and now I am hoping to pursue a doctoral program in Educational Psychology. 

What excites you most about working for Way to Grow? 

I believe that life is about helping each other, especially children and vulnerable communities. As a Family Educator, I have the opportunity to guide those children and families through the system so that they can also experience a dignified life. 

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

I am passionate about nature spaces, traveling, reading, cooking, running, yoga, and spending time with loved ones. 

Sheena Moss

Assistant Preschool Teacher

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Sheena, and I am a Minnesota native, born and raised in south Minneapolis. I’m currently a student studying Early Childhood Education.

What excites you about working at Way to Grow?

I’ve had a dream of teaching since the first grade! It’s an honor to live out this dream of mine with Way To Grow and I’m excited to share my passion in this company with others and with students.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I like to cook, draw pictures, and FaceTime my older brother and his two-year-old daughter.

Tomi Bali

Family Educator

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I’m called Tomi,  recently graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Bachelor’s in Public Health. I love interacting with people, traveling and tying out new foods. I’m excited about the work I get to do at Way To Grow.

What excites you most about working for Way to Grow?

Way to Grow gives me the opportunity to make an impact in the community through my passion for working with children and families. The work environment has also been a positive place so far, I’m excited to work with everyone!

What do you like to do in your spare time?  

I like to spend time with loved ones, trying new restaurants, cooking, traveling and watching TV shows

Jeanetta Searcy-Cooper

Director of Education

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Fun Facts: 

-We have lived in Minnesota for almost 4 years from Texas. 

-We moved here for the ministry, my husband is a Pastor in Minneapolis. 

-I have worked in the Early Childhood Education field for 24 years. 

-I have a BA, MBA, MA and working toward my Ph.D. in Education Leadership at Concordia University in St. Paul. 

-I love all things peppermint/mocha including my coffee and coffee creamer. 

-I love WWE Smackdown (yes that is wrestling). 

-My favorite color is pink, but for some reason I don’t wear it much. LOL 

-Lastly, I love Minnesota winters, the snow, and the cold, all of it.  And the Fall! 

What excites you about working at Way to Grow?

What excites me most about working for Way to Grow is the diversity in families and students served. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy being outside in nature and spending time with loved ones.

Way to Grow is deeply thankful for the financial support we receive that allows us to serve the most isolated families in Minneapolis, and ensure that children are born healthy, stay healthy, and are prepared for school.  Last year, we served 1,720 children and parents through 11,139 home visits.  With your great support, we can reach even more families whose futures will be brighter because of your generosity. 

Want to join our family of supporters?  It’s easy!   You can choose from several ways to give that will fuel our mission.  Four ways to support Way to Grow:

Go online:   You can find our website here (link).  With a few keystrokes, you can make a one-time gift, or set in motion an automatic monthly gift.  Either way, we are grateful for your support which helps us serve families and children. 

Mail us a check:  We love receiving checks!  Simply send your gift to Way to Grow, 201 Irving Avenue North, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55405.  Your envelope will put a song in our hearts. 

Shares of stock:  If you own stock that has grown in value – and that you’ve held for one year or longer – it may be tax-wise to transfer the shares directly to Way to Grow (rather than selling them).  Here’s why.  First, you’ll avoid paying capital gains tax on the shares’ growth, and so will Way to Grow, which receives 100% of the proceeds tax-free as a charitable organization.  Second, you’ll enjoy a tax deduction for the increased full fair market value of the shares.  Third, you can make a meaningful gift without draining your checkbook.  For details, call us at (612) 874-4740. 

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA:  If you are age 70-1/2 or older, you can send a gift to Way to Grow directly from your IRA.  This bypasses your federal tax return, so it is not counted as income, nor deducted as a gift.  Even better, you are using pre-tax dollars to make a gift, so the gift costs you less.  Individuals can give up to $100,000 each year to qualified charities through this method, putting already saved up dollars into action now to serve neighbors in need.   Way to Grow would be pleased to receive your IRA gift!  For assistance, check with your tax advisor or call us at (612) 874-4740. 

Way to Grow cherishes gifts of all types and sizes.  You have our heartfelt thanks for generously supporting our vision to ensure that every child has an opportunity to succeed in school and in life. 

[Updated February 3rd, 2022]

Way to Grow is proud to endorse the Page Amendment in partnership with Our Children MN.

The 2022 Minnesota legislative session (#MNLEG) began this week, and we need your help to get the Page Amendment on the November ballot.

According to a 2019 report published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota students of color, as well as families with lower incomes, face one of the largest achievement gaps in the nation.  

The Page Amendment is a proposed bipartisan amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution that would provide all children with a civil right to quality public education. Named after former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, The Page Amendment would read: 

 “All children have a fundamental right to a quality public education that fully prepares them with the skills necessary for participation in the economy, our democracy, and society, as measured against uniform achievement standards set forth by the state. It is a paramount duty of the state to ensure quality public schools that fulfill this fundamental right.” 

Several attempts have been made to close the education gap in Minnesota over the last several decades, but the Page Amendment is the first to establish quality public education as a civil right.  All children have a fundamental right to a quality public education that fully prepares them with the skills necessary for participation in the economy, our democracy, and society, as measured against uniform achievement standards set forth by the state. It is a paramount duty of the state to ensure quality public schools that fulfill this fundamental right.

Closing the achievement gap in Minnesota is at the very core of Way to Grow’s mission. For more information about the Page Amendment, visit https://ourchildrenmn.com/. 

Minnesota’s Congressional Districts and their Representatives:

1. Jim Hagedorn
2. Angie Craig
3. Dean Phillips
4. Betty McCollum
5. Ilhan Omar
6. Tom Emmer
7. Michelle Fischbach
8. Pete Stauber

Last Wednesday, we said “congratulations!” to our 43 third graders as they graduated from the Way to Grow Great by Eight program. Graduation was held on zoom and was filled with cheerful faces of our Way to Grow students and their amazing families.

The celebration featured fun and animated story time with Ellie McKay, an educator from the Children’s Theater. Ellie had everyone engaged by having us express different aspects of the story with poses and silly faces.

To our third grade graduates:

We are so proud of you! We want you to know that this is not ‘goodbye,’ just a ‘see you later!’ We can’t wait to see all of the big and exciting things you accomplish. Congratulations to you!

Additionally, thank you to all of the Way to Grow parents, guardians, and families— your hard work commitment to your child’s education is irreplaceable.

With love,

The Way to Grow team