What we do together matters. Way to Grow Shine Celebration • October 23, 2026, The Depot, Minneapolis

It’s time to shine!

Join Us for the Annual Way to Grow
Shine Celebration

Get ready for an evening of celebration, connection, and purpose!

Enjoy a delicious dinner, spirited entertainment, heartfelt stories, and the excitement of live and silent auctions. Our 2026 theme, What We Do Together Matters, reminds us that we share in a collective responsibility to be stewards of our neighborhoods, relationships, and traditions — our community. Rooted in the real-life experiences of the families we serve, this night honors the strength of parents, the power of early learning, and the community that surrounds each child with care. Together, we’ll raise a glass to brighter futures for all!

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Registration Is Open

WHEN

Friday, October 23, 2026
5:30–9:30 pm

5:30–10:00 pm
Semi-formal and cocktail attire

WHERE

The Depot,
Minneapolis

225 3rd Avenue South,
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Special Guests

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Joshua Crosson, Executive Director, EdAllies

Joshua Crosson is a Minnesota executive whose career has been shaped by a single conviction: that a great education is a human right, and that every child, no matter their race, wealth, or zip code, deserves the chance to reach their full potential. Today, he works alongside organizations like Way to Grow to help turn that conviction into action, creating more opportunities for children and families to thrive.

As Executive Director of EdAllies, Josh leads a statewide advocacy, policy, and research organization dedicated to ensuring Minnesota students from historically underserved communities have access to an education they need to meet their full potential. Under his leadership, EdAllies has driven landmark policy wins. These include rebuilding the state’s teacher licensure system, a change that contributed to a 50 percent increase in teacher diversity over five years, and expanding investments in early learning scholarships. That impact earned EdAllies recognition as Minnesota’s Advocacy Organization of the Year by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits in 2022.

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Josh’s path to this work began in Washington, D.C., where he championed LGBTQ+ students at HBCUs with the Human Rights Campaign and advised Congressman Adam Smith on Capitol Hill. A coalition builder and relentless optimist, Josh is committed to closing the “belief gap.” He believes lasting change begins when communities stop defining children’s potential by race, wealth, or zip code, and start believing in what they are truly capable of achieving.

He holds an MBA from Howard University and a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University. Josh lives in North Minneapolis with his husband, Jon, and their two dogs.

GUEST EMCEES

Alexis Rogers, Award-Winning Journalist & Owner, I Speak People
Reggie Wilson, Award-Winning Journalist & Owner, I Speak People

Alexis Rogers and Reggie Wilson are an award-winning husband-and-wife team and the founders of I Speak People, a storytelling agency helping individuals, organizations, and brands find their why through storytelling. Alexis, a Murrow and Emmy Award-winning storyteller, built her career on impactful community journalism in Little Rock, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and the Twin Cities, and currently hosts “This Week In The Twin Cities” for All About The Culture and co-hosts the Courageous New Start Podcast. Reggie is an award-winning sports broadcaster who rose from a news photojournalist in Wichita, KS to Sports Director at KARE 11, with stops in Dayton and Cincinnati, and is currently on “The Squad Show” Podcast on Locked On Sports Minnesota. The two met at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and bring nearly three decades of combined newsroom experience and community building to every story they tell. When not working, they are raising their daughter, Ayla, and their dog, Izzie G.

 

Location

ADDRESS
The Depot
225 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis

PARKING
The Depot parking is accessible from 5th Avenue.
Enter the event through the Pavilion main entrance.

Centrally located in the Mill District, The Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot is in the former Milwaukee Road Depot building and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship is more than a check—it’s an investment in our shared future.

Will you join us?

Sponsorship Opportunities
Way to Grow
Accreditations

Parents as Teachers Affiliate
Parent Aware Ratings
NAEYC

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