EDTalks: Transforming Education For A Changing World by EDTalksMN

This EDTalk features Sandy Bolton Barrientos is community coach for the South High School debate team and member of the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) community, where they focus on curriculum design. An abolitionist organizer in South Minneapolis, they are a studio trainer for REP MN, where they teach workshops that build networks of community crisis support, and co-founder of Futures Beyond Criminalization, which hosts events on public safety, harm reduction and policing alternatives. Sandy is an alum of Minneapolis Public Schools and a student in the University of Minnesota’s DirecTrack to Teaching program with a concentration in second languages and cultures.

Sandy believes debate offers a unique space where students can freedom-dream institutions that affirm their livelihoods, visualize a future of joy and liberation for all people, and ultimately begin to formulate imaginative and realistic solutions for the big problems facing their communities. Sandy presents testimonials from current and former students on the impact of debate on their lives and argue strongly for additional resources and support for debate in Minneapolis Public Schools.

EDTalks is co-presented by Achieve Twin Cities and Graves Ventures, a project of the Graves Foundation.

For more information on EDTalks or to watch EDTalks videos or listen to audio podcasts, visit achievetwincities.org.

This EDTalk features Coach, author and educator Larry McKenzie. Larry is the first coach to win four straight state titles in the 100-year history of Minnesota State Boys Basketball, and the first coach in Minnesota high school basketball history to lead two separate schools to multiple titles. But beyond the trophies and medals, Coach McKenzie has accomplished something even more impressive: coaching and supporting his athletes to increase their academic performance alongside their athletic skills. Using basketball as a tool, he has led his players to 100% high school graduation and a 3.4 team GPA. Coach McKenzie shares stories about his journey at Minneapolis high schools and how he helps his student athletes become champions on the basketball court, in the classroom, in their families and in their communities.

EDTalks is co-presented by Achieve Twin Cities and Graves Ventures, a project of the Graves Foundation.

For more information on EDTalks or to watch EDTalks videos or listen to audio podcasts, visit achievetwincities.org.

Although Minnesota has started to move the needle on teacher diversity, we still have a very long way to go. Over the past few years, policymakers have created a variety of incentives to increase the numbers of teachers of color in our state—along with some changes to teacher preparation and licensure systems—but too many obstacles remain.

This EDTalk features three education professionals who will share insights from people of color who were at one time considering a career in education, but ultimately changed their minds and did not pursue this field. Josh Crosson is Executive Director of EdAllies; Haben Ghebregergish is an educator at the High School for Recording Arts, and Jocelyn McQuirter is a local government engagement manager.

This EDTalk was recorded at Icehouse on November 13th, 2023.

EDTalks is co-presented by Achieve Twin Cities and Graves Ventures, a project of the Graves Foundation.

For more information on EDTalks or to watch EDTalks videos or listen to audio podcasts, visit http://www.achievetwincities.org.

Despite the critical role educators play in shaping our young people, the teaching profession in the U.S. has been losing respect and admiration, with negative messages perpetuating an unflattering and incomplete image of a viable and impactful profession. Increasing teacher diversity is a critical component in the effort to elevate the teaching profession.

This EDTalk features Dr. Rose Chu from Elevate Teaching, part of a state-funded teacher recruitment campaign and movement to shift how we view and talk about the teaching profession to include the profound impact teachers have in our society. Dr. Chu is, among other things, professor emerita of Urban Education at Metropolitan State University; former assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education; founder and president of Plum Blossom Strategy LLC, and the visionary and project lead for Elevate Teaching.

This EDTalk was recorded at Icehouse on November 13th, 2023.

EDTalks is co-presented by Achieve Twin Cities and Graves Ventures, a project of the Graves Foundation.

For more information on EDTalks or to watch EDTalks videos or listen to audio podcasts, visit http://www.achievetwincities.org.

As a central player in Minneapolis’ vibrant and complex community, Minnneapolis Public Schools serves over 35,000 students each year and requires sufficient resources to create truly welcoming and safe spaces where all young people have the resources and support they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom and beyond graduation.

Minneapolis Public Schools has balanced its budget for the past three years with the help of nearly $262 million in federal pandemic funds, nonrenewable revenue that is set to expire late next year in 2024. The district’s most recent five-year budget projection predicts an "imminent financial crisis" due to declining enrollment and a failure to cut costs. Both strategic budget cuts and investments are critical to ensure student learning.

This EDTalk features presentations by Rochelle Cox, MPS Superintendent, and Ibrahima Diop, MPS Senior Officer of Finance and Operations. Following the presentations, there is a panel discussion, including Amira Ali, student at South High School and member of the MPS CityWide Student Leadership Board; Tara FitzGerald, principal at Andersen United Middle School; Teresa Gloppen, Minneapolis Public School teacher on special assignment; Briana Thompson, parent from North Community High Schools; and Elleni Fellows, parent from Lyndale Elementary School

This EDTalk was recorded at Icehouse on October 2nd, 2023.

EDTalks is co-presented by Achieve Twin Cities and Graves Ventures, a project of the Graves Foundation.

For more information on EDTalks or to watch EDTalks videos or listen to audio podcasts, visit achievetwincities.org.

In this EDTalk, Paula Cole discusses opportunities for educators and families to collaborate, advocate and ultimately hold school districts and legislators accountable for the wellbeing and academic success of young people. She argues that we need to change the narrative around parent engagement, particularly for lower-income and BIPOC families, and provide culturally relevant tools for all families to become powerful agents of change for education excellence.

Paula Cole was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, a place she left to pursue her dream of a college education in the United States. After six years as an Educators for Excellence (E4E) member and teacher leader, Paula joined the Minnesota chapter as executive director. Prior to this role, she worked as an elementary teacher and academic coach in Minneapolis Public Schools. Paula believes that the voices of educators are rarely sought and often ignored by policymakers, and she loves her work at E4E because it allows her to ensure that teachers’ perspectives are included in education policies that directly impact children’s education outcomes.

This EDTalk was live streamed from Icehouse in Minneapolis on May 8th, 2023. EDTalks is presented by AchieveTwinCities in partnership with Graves Ventures, a project of The Graves Foundation.

For more information on EDTalks or to watch EDTalks videos or listen to audio podcasts, visit achievetwincities.org.

In this EDTalk, Rosie Lais and Natty B. Hels share information on new guides Great MN Schools developed to help families better understand what their kids should be learning each year in English language arts and math. They share what they have learned from beta testing with nine community organizations and over 250 Minneapolis families. Families who use the guides are better equipped to be learning advocates for their children and more likely to provide support at home, connect with teachers and seek additional learning opportunities.

Rosie Lais is the director of community resources at Great MN Schools, where she blends her strategic and relationship-building skills to ensure that every family has the tools they need to navigate the K-12 system for their children. She began her education career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama, where she served as national coordinator for the Leadership Development for Global Education program. An alumna of Minneapolis Public Schools, she earned her master’s degree in public administration from Princeton University.

Natty B. Hels was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. Early in her career she worked as assistant director of an early learning center, where she witnessed the importance and value of high-quality education in supporting the health and well-being of children and youth. After immigrating to the U.S. in 2015, she began working at Centro Tyrone Guzman, where she currently serves as the youth programs director. She is proud to be part of an organization where she can work with her community and follow her passion for supporting children and youth.

This EDTalk was live streamed from Icehouse in Minneapolis on May 8th, 2023. EDTalks is presented by AchieveTwinCities in partnership with Graves Ventures, a project of The Graves Foundation.

For more information on EDTalks or to watch EDTalks videos or listen to audio podcasts, visit achievetwincities.org.

In education, nonprofit and government spheres there is much discussion today about diversity, equity, and inclusion – but relatively few conversations that address disability or its intersections with race. In her EDTalk, Maren Christenson Hofer identifies how ableist ideas inform our educational systems and discusses the profound impact educational practices and policies have on students with disabilities. She also offers a new vision of education that replaces ableist ideas with models of true inclusion and concrete steps we can take towards realizing that vision.

EDTalks is co-presented by Achieve Twin Cities and Graves Ventures, a project of The Graves Foundation. Learn more at www.achievetwincities.org/edtalks or follow us on Twitter at #EDTalksMN​.

This EDTalk was live streamed from Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN on April 19, 2023. It was emceed by Kyrra Rankine.

As a spoken word artist and educator, Frank Gardner has seen first-hand the power of young people who are harnessing artistic expression as a tool for social change, interpersonal reflection and community building. In his EDTalk he explores how young people are processing the tumultuous years of COVID quarantine and the murder of George Floyd through Spoken Word, poetry, theater, songwriting and activism, such as school walkouts. He shares how he utilizes youth voice and Spoken Word to support young people in tapping into honesty and authenticity and suggests tools for teachers as they navigate our current challenging teaching environment. He argues that young people are already deciding what’s next for our world – adults just need to listen!

EDTalks is co-presented by Achieve Twin Cities and Graves Ventures, a project of The Graves Foundation. Learn more at www.achievetwincities.org/edtalks or follow us on Twitter at #EDTalksMN​.

This EDTalk was live streamed from Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN on April 19, 2023. It was emceed by Kyrra Rankine.