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2023 Annual Report

Minnesota Education Equity Partnership Annual Report 2023

From Our Executive Director

The old adages, “Two steps forward, one step back” and “No work is ever completed” both have something to say about the MnEEP work for racial equity in education.

This summer’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action in college admissions felt more than just “taking a step back”. It also evoked a painful reality that anti-racism work is never done and that victories today don’t preclude defeats tomorrow. 

It wasn’t lost on MnEEP that students who are people of Color and Indigenous (POCI) are disproportionately the ones who are excluded from post-secondary and as such, to whom affirmative action sought to provide equitable opportunities. 

On the local scene, those same dynamics for taking a step backwards appeared when some in law enforcement called for undoing a new state law barring E-12 school resource officers from physically restraining students and when the Governor, who had proposed the new law, then expressed a willingness to hold a special legislative session to change it. 

It wasn’t lost on MnEEP that POCI students are disproportionately the ones harmed by such use of force and for whom the law sought to provide relief.

After powerful gains for ethnic studies, we saw a proliferation of state and local laws across the nation to ban books and to limit how Black history should be taught in schools.

It wasn’t lost on MnEEP that as POCI student populations grow, they are disproportionately the ones whose historical story is being made difficult to told.

Knowing that no racially equitable social policy is ever safe from being pushed back, MnEEP continues to passionately inform how education policies and practices can be shaped to empower POCI students for achieving academic excellence and ending the racial predictability of student outcomes.

This year, MnEEP sought systemic change work by following several strategies; 

With every passing year, our society and state become more racially and culturally diverse. With that has come a growth in POCI leaders and policymakers with social and political power. 

But while that bodes well for increasing racial equity and educational excellence for POCI students, we’ve observed that racial justice and educational excellence can indeed be driven backwards. Our students and communities need us to keep taking steps forward, to keep “re-winning” for their inclusion and well-being.

MnEEP will do that. We will use social and political science for strategies to keep racial justice and inclusive educational excellence moving forward. 

 Join us in being clear on what it takes for racial equity.

—Carlos Mariani Rosa
MnEEP Executive Director

Our Team

Carlos Mariani Rosa Executive Director

Carlos Mariani Rosa

Executive Director
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Dr. Rev Hillstrom, MnEEP Director Of Research

Dr. Rev Hillstrom

Senior Director of Research
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Ikram Mohamud

Ikram Mohamud

College Race Equity Initiative Coordinator
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Leiataua Dr. Jon Peterson

Dr. Jon Peterson

Policy Fellow & Consultant
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Nan Yurecko

Nan Yurecko

Coordinator, Superintendent Race Equity Leadership Network
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Molly Priesmeyer

Communications & Systems Change Strategist
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Our Board

Our board members are integral to our mission.

Our Board members have wide variety of experience and expertise in education. Their range of skills and perspectives are integral to the progress and success of our organization. Several members have served with MnEEP for a number of years, helping us shape and support our achievements.

We are thankful for their continued leadership and commitment as we work towards educational equity in Minnesota.

Officers

Dr. Bernadeia Johnson, Chair; Faculty, Minnesota State University Mankato

Josefina Landrieu, Vice Chair; Sr. Director of Equity and Inclusion, Metropolitan State University

Bryan E. Bass, EdD, At Large, Assistant Superintendent of Equity & Achievement, Osseo Area Schools

Dr. Sandy Pulles, Secretary; Vice President of Equity & Inclusion, ServeMinnesota

Megan Rozowski, Treasurer; Director of Research & Policy Development, Minnesota Private College Council

Suzan Samaha, Community Member

Members

Dr. Stanley Brown, Coordinator of Equity & Inclusion, Hopkins Area Public Schools

Virginia Clay-Chism, IT Director at Medtronic

Kim Ellison, Chair, Minneapolis Board of Education

Dr. Satasha Green-Stephen, Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Dr. Jacqueline Bailey, Vice Chancellor of Information Technology & CIO, MinnState Information Technology Services

Dr. Stanley Brown, Coordinator of Equity &  Inclusion, Hopkins Public  Schools

Kim Ellison, Chair, Minneapolis Board of  Education

Jeremy Rupp, Community Education Coordinator, Duluth Public Schools

Dr. Darrell Stolle, Chair, Education Department, Concordia College

Roshandra Brown, Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) – Director of Development and Scholarship Programs

Mission & Vision

MnEEP transforms systems, structures, and public narratives to advance race equity and excellence in education.

We envision a racially just society in which each student achieves their full potential.

Led by People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) thought leaders and experts, MnEEP uses a race equity lens to develop and advance networks, practices, research, and policies to dismantle racism in education and build a more just, equitable Minnesota.

We work to make an impact by advancing and transforming:

  • Policies
  • Practices
  • Resource Flows & Research
  • Networks, Relationships, Connections & Convening
  • Power Dynamics
  • Mental Models & Narrative Change
  • Critical Response

Join us to build equitable education spaces that uplift and empower Minnesota’s POCI students and advance racial equity and excellence in education.

Our Values

Equity Matters.

Every child deserves to achieve their full potential for success and excellence regardless of race, creed, nationality, or class.

Justice Matters.

Every child deserves to achieve their full potential for success and excellence regardless of race, creed, nationality, or class.

History Matters.

It is vital to address systems, structures and public narrative change by honoring the histories of communities of color and American Indian communities.

Relationships Matter.

Cross-cultural dynamics and collaborative relationships are key to changing systems, structures, and public narratives.

Self-Actualization Matters.

The ability of students to be engaged learners—to understand themselves, their histories, their identities, and the world—is necessary to build critical thinking skills to release their power in shaping themselves and the world.

Big Bold Goals

Teacher Helping Pupils Study In The Classroom

Big Bold Goal 1: Race Equity Planning

Minnesota educational leaders and cultural communities create equitable education systems, structures and public narratives.
Multi-ethnic Elementary School Children Writing In Classroom. Focus On African American Boy (8-9 Years).

Big Bold Goal 2: School Climate

Minnesota educational systems are designed to bring BIPOC students into relationships with schools and teachers that promote their human dignity.
Three (3) Kids Who Are Friends Are Laying On The Floor In Between Bookshelves In The Library. They Are Reading A Book Together. They Are All Smiling And Enjoying Their Afternoon.

Big Bold Goal 3: Teachers of Color

Minnesota educational systems advance racially and culturally responsive teaching and learning environments for teachers and students.
Portrait Of Cute Little Schoolgirl Leaning On Stacked Books In Classroom. Happy Young Latin Girl In Casual Keeping Chin On Notebooks. Closeup Face Of Smiling Girl At Elementary School.

Big Bold Goal 4: Emerging Multilingualism (EML)

Minnesota educational systems advance racially and culturally responsive teaching and learning environments for teachers and students.
Six Multi-ethnic Friend Graduates Excitedly Wait For Their Name To Be Called During Graduation Ceremony. Mixed-race Girl Looks Back At Camera. School Building Background.

Big Bold Goal 5: Higher Ed Access and Equity

Minnesota higher education systems are transformed to be racially just, responsive, and accessible for students of color and American Indian students.

Our Work

How we’re transforming practices, policies, and public narratives to build an education system in Minnesota where each child can thrive.

Policy

Working alongside education leaders and race equity advocates to inform, shape, and advocate for core policies that support the success of Minnesota’s students of color, English Learners, and Indigenous students.

  • Through the Emerging Multilingual Learners (EML) Statewide Network and state and national partnerships, MnEEP successfully influenced policy decision-makers through multiple legislative proposals to positively have an impact on ELs and EMLs in Minnesota K-12 Education including: EL funding, ESL teacher licensure; administrative relicensure; EL family engagement/advocacy, and more.
  • MnEEP continues to be a state leader in the area of policy advocacy as it relates to much-needed EML and EL policy shifts leading to transformative change in K-12 Education, aligned to the LEAPS Act of 2014-15, and recognizes the critical importance of community, families, students, and statewide partners and institutions in making positive changes for EMLs and ELs across the state.
  • MnEEP advocated for essential policy reform to the state grant formula and program as well as targeting critically important resources to better support People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) students on college and university campuses across Minnesota, including leading the statewide movement on developmental education reform in higher education.
  • Thanks to the research and insights of MnEEP’s College Race Equity Advocacy Advisory Council (CREAAC) Chairs and Members, and many state and national higher-ed partners, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill that would ensure the State Grant will cover the costs of developmental education courses without counting towards a student’s grant term limits.

Although the Minnesota Legislature was unable to pass a Higher Education Omnibus Bill in the Spring of 2022, MnEEP’s policy advocacy efforts and ongoing analysis of systemic changes needed in higher education continue to powerfully influence racially equitable policy shifts in Minnesota’s Higher Education systems and institutions through partnerships centered on generating transformative policy proposals and higher education bills.

  • During the 2022 legislative session, Minnesota House lawmakers passed a bill that would allow for multiple measures to determine student placement in developmental education courses in Minnesota’s higher ed institutions.
  • This essential bill was celebrated for removing one of the many systemic barriers to postsecondary education for Minnesota’s students of color and Indigenous students. It had been informed by critical Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP) research and two years of expert analysis and input from MnEEP’s multiracial College Race Equity Advocacy Advisory Council (CREEAC).
  • MnEEP also informed and advocated for a policy proposal mandating that higher education institutions notify high school students of their exemption from having to take the Accuplacer test if their Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) college-ready benchmark scores met the standard for being ready for college, thus removing another barrier for People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) and students generally in higher education systems.
  • The bill currently sits in the hands of the Minnesota Senate, for passage in 2023.

Research

Using a race equity lens to guide essential research, policy recommendations, and best practices for building meaningful systems change.

  • Utilized a solutions-based approach through building 5 case studies addressing the benefits of Culturally Validating Pedagogy and Leadership (CVP/L) for POCI students.
  • Implemented the CLEAR Solutions Framework as a mixed-methods research meta-frame for advancing and supporting MnEEP’s Five Big Bold Goals.
  • Designing future research connected to the LEAPS Act to support English Learning standards for PELSB and MDE.
  • Supported and informed standards for effective practice, Cultural Competency, and intersectional identities for MDE. 

2023 State of Students of Color & American Indian Students Report

Advocacy

Supporting families, communities, students, districts, educators, and higher-ed staff and faculty in building a movement for racial equity.

Working alongside CREAAC to develop tools for building racially diverse and supportive higher-ed systems after ending of Affirmative Action.

Continued to design communications strategies using blogs and toolkits to deepen knowledge, shift perspectives, and build grassroots advocacy and collaboration for systems change.

Networks & Convenings

Deepening relationships, sharing insights, and building best practices and advocacy for advancing race equity in education in Minnesota.

  • Held monthly collaborative meetings with RCT researchers to incorporate a CLEAR Solutions Framework and mixed-methods research principles which provided the foundation for the original research that is producing the MnEEP’s upcoming case studies.
  • Expanded our College Race Equity Advocacy Council (CREAAC) to maintain a state-wide, multi-racial advocacy group to plan out, promote and direct our policy agenda.
  • Conducted three on-campus multi-racial symposia on College Race Equity with more than 125 students, faculty, administrators, and local community members.
  • Events were held at: a) Macalester College (St Paul) in October 2022, b) U of M, Mpls in January 2023, and Concordia College/Moorhead State in Moorhead, MN in March 2023.
  • Held a state-wide higher-ed convening on Connecting for Advancing Race Equity in Higher Education with nearly 200 staff, faculty, policymakers, higher-ed leaders, students, advocates, and researchers gathered to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices for advancing race equity in excellence for students of color and Indigenous students.  
  • Structured engagements convening post-secondary institutional system representatives to exchange ideas for targeted services and commitments to support POCI students.  
  • Engaged with national race equity leaders also working to reform higher education systems. 

 

Educator Leadership Services

Providing training, educator support, and race equity planning for districts and institutions across the state.

Continued to partner with Minnesota State University Mankato in facilitating the MnEEP Superintendent Race Equity Leadership Network to inspire, equip, and connect Minnesota superintendents as they strive to apply race equity practices and policies in their school districts that center local communities, families and students.

Superintendents across Minnesota & North Dakota completed their two-year cohort and a new group from Minnesota & North Dakota began participation in a two-year cohort.

Narrative Shift

MnEEP works to shift public perceptions and narratives to build meaningful connections, deepen understanding, and increase advocacy for building a racially just education system in Minnesota.

  • Re-launched the School Climate Toolkit to provide educators, students, and parents with the insights, tools, and supports they need to challenge discriminatory practices in school discipline practices and special ed placement.
  • Held multiple convenings with educators, district leaders, cohorts, and higher-ed leaders to gain insights into their needs as race equity leaders and advocates.
  • Launched new video highlighting the collaborative, transformative work of MnEEP and what we continue to build together.

Working alongside CREAAC members to define and develop key plans, actions, and practices for advancing racial equity in colleges and universities across Minnesota in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to end Affirmative Action.

Our Members & Partners

Our Members, Partners & Funders are critical to sustaining the work of MnEEP

As formal partners, these organizations generously support our efforts to promote systems level change through funding, invaluable expertise, and strategic resources and commitment.

 

  • Brooklyn Center Independent Schools
  • Hopkins Public Schools
  • Macalester College
  • Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Minnesota Office of Higher Education
  • Minnesota Private College Council
  • Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
  • Northwest Suburban Integration School District
  • Robbinsdale Area Schools
  • Saint Paul Public Schools
  • University of Minnesota
    • Macalester College
    • MN Board of School Administrators (BOSA)
    • MN Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
    • Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)
    • Planting People Growing Justice
    • Propel
    • Rebuilding the Village
    • Univ. of MN – College of Education/Human Development
    • Minnesota State University – Mankato
    • LatinoLEAD
    • Ed Allies
    • Project MOMENTUM
    • St Thomas University

Foundation and Corporate grants are the lifeblood of our nonprofit. Their investments in Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP) and our work are essential and we are humbled and thankful for their ongoing support of this work.

We continue to be immeasurably grateful to our all of our those who provide financial support and thought leadership to MnEEP, and graciously acknowledge their contributions to this work.

    • 3M Foundation
    • Bush Foundation
    • Otto Bremer Foundation
    • ECMC Foundation
    • Enterprise Holdings Foundation
    • Greater Twin Cities United Way
    • Joyce Foundation 
    • Lumina Foundation
    • Mardag Foundation
    • Minneapolis Foundation
    • Minnesota Office of Higher Education
    • Mortenson Foundation
    • CBI Propel 
    • St. Paul Foundation
    • Greater Twin Cities United Way
    • Securian Foundation

MnEEP’s College Race Equity Advocacy Advisory Council (CREAAC), a state-wide, multi-racial advocacy group working to direct and advocate for new polices to advance race equity in Minnesota’s higher education systems.

We are grateful for their work!

CREAAC Members List:

 

Ambar Hanson

Mortenson Family Foundation – Executive Director 

Alison Kadlec 

SOVA – Senior Partner 

Carlos Mariani Rosa

MnEEP – Executive Director 

Jon Peterson

MnEEP -Program Consultant 

Sandy Pulles 

ServeMN – Vice President of Equity & Inclusion 

Fernando Rodriquez 

U of M – Director of Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence 

Megan Rozowski 

MN Private College Council – Director of Research & Policy

Jenny Xiong 

Century College – Academic Advisor 

Lara Couturier 

Couturier Consulting LLC – Founder

Nekey Oliver 

MN Office of Higher Education – Director of Grants & Government Relations 

Molly Priesmeyer 

Good Work Group – Principal, Strategist, Communications Consultant 

Robbie Burnett

MN State – Director of Innovation & Collaboration 

Bruce Corrie 

Concordia St.Paul – Associate VP for Government & Community Relations Professor of Economics

Roshandra Brown

ConnextMSP – Network Manager 

Nicola A. Alexander

U of M – Professor Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Diversity, and International Initiatives 

Billie Annette 

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe – JOM Coordinator 

bannette@mnchippewatribe.org

Kim Hildahl 

Carleton College – Trio/Student Support Services –  Director 

Tricia Wilkinson – Board of MnEEP – At Large/Treasure 

Trio Upward Bound, College of Ed & Human Development, U of M – Director 

Josefina Landrieu – Board of MnEEP – Vice Chair

Metropolitan State University – Vice President of Equity and Inclusion

Jesse Mason (In place of Satasha Green-Stephen @MinnState) 

Minnesota State Colleges & University System – Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs 

Pa Dao Yang – Board of MnEEP – Treasure 

City of Bloomington – Equity & Inclusion Program Specialist 

  • Dr. Michelle Benegas, Hamline University
  • Dr. Ashley Karlsson, Southeast Service Cooperative
  • Ahmed Keynan, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Leah Soderland, Mounds View Schools and MinneTESOL
  • Dr. Amy Stolpestad, Hamline University
  • Dr. Karla Stone, University of Minnesota
  • Yee Yang, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Dr. Amy Young, Minnesota Department of Education
  • Heidi Bernal, Community Member and Hamline University
  • Dr. Jill Watson, St. Olaf College
  • Rep. Carlos Mariani, MnEEP
  • Leiataua Dr. Robert Jon Peterson, MnEEP and TE2 Consulting
  • Michelle Chang, CAAL
  • Sam Ouk, Prior Lake-Savage Schools
  • Michael Bowlus, Minnesota Department of Education
  • Leigh Schleicher, Minnesota Department of Education
  • Dr. Rev Hillstrom, MnEEP
  • Leticia Guadarrama, Community Member
  • Molly Priesmeyer, MnEEP and Good Work Group
  • Michelle Vaught, Minnesota PELSB
  • Said Garad, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Andrew Feigen, Student at the University of Minnesota
  • Michelle Sandler, Minnesota PELSB
  • Paulina Jacobsson, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Leiataua Dr. Robert Jon Peterson
  • Dr. David Heistad
  • Dr. Julio Ceaser
  • Dr. Michael Rodriguez
  • Dr. Nicloa Alexander
  • Elizabeth Fontaine
  • Jamie Wright
  • Dr. Priyank Shah
  • Nicole Tommerdahl Whelan
  • Dr. Stacey Gray-Akeya
  • Ethan Nererdahl
  • Suzan Samaha
  • Audra Stevenson
  • Megan Rozowski
  • Nanette Yureko
  • Dr. Rose Chu
  • Rola Cao
  • Dr. Constance Robinson
  • Jason Knighton-Johnson
  • Ikram Mohamud
  • Molly Priesmeyer
  • Carlos Mariani Rosa
  • Jeannette Lutter-Gardella

Moving Forward Together

Minnesota Education Equity Partnership wishes to recognize the individuals and organizations whose annual investments as Members, Partners, and Funders support education equity in Minnesota. What we do is made possible and strengthened by the community we have around us. The generosity of our Members, Partners, and Funders is a cornerstone of our work and a testament to the ways in which we can all lift each other as we continue to move forward as a state.

Membership also entitles you to vote for Board members and officers, and on other governance matters that sustain and help us manage the life of the organization.

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