Celebrating YOU!
Our recent "Celebrating YOU!" collaborative event honored MN teachers and educators changing the world one student at a time. We are grateful to our partners: Kids In Need Foundation, UpLiFT Movement, Black Educators Alliance, Hamline University CEUT. Take a minute to reflect on some memorable quotes from our event speakers.
“If we learned anything from this schoolyear, (it is) that teachers and schools are the center of community. They protect us in all ways than we ever really knew. We are thankful for (every) educator.”
Dr. Marci Levy-Maguire, Education Content Specialist Elevate Teaching
“What are our challenges? And what are the successes that keep us (BIPOC teachers in the field). Retention is a big issue.”
Jonathan C.W. Jones, Founder and CEO, UpLift Movement
“As a Black teacher, all my students look like me. They got to see me in them. And that really helped with building culturally relevant relationships. I’m passionate about seeing young people succeed. And so I say to everybody in this room, it’s amazing how many lives we’re able to touch in a school year. (Each) school year is a lifetime.”
Mr. Mario Reese - UpLift Movement Mentee
“Community not only brings growth but helps with impact. We have to create change with each other.”
Nija Green, Black Educators Alliance
“I was in and out of foster care since the age of five. Education is important to me because it created hope that I can make it out of my situation. I’ll never forget in my first year (as assistant principal at North Education Center), a student who was African American said, “Wow, I’ve never seen a black social worker before.” Last school year, I met Mr. Jonathan (Jones, UpLift Movement). I was like, “Oh my god, I never met another black principal before.” That was powerful for me. I always wanted to create that (feeling) like no matter how tough things are, you can make it out of your situation.”
Mr. Angelo Grant, UpLift Movement Mentee
“It takes all of you in the community. It takes community partnerships. It takes higher education institutions also. We (all) should be in the car. The vehicle of CHANGE.”
Rebecca A. Neal, Ph.D., Director, Center for Excellence in Urban Education, Hamline University School of Education