Educator Richard D. Terrell recaps “Let Them Rise,” a community conversation on what happens to Black boys when they are removed from the classroom, and shares plans for RISE Prep Academy, a no-suspension program opening in fall 2027.
Education
A space for local and national stories about issues surrounding education, especially as they relate to African Americans.
Posted inEducation
Parent’s analysis challenges Minneapolis school closure plan as board weighs pause
A Minneapolis Public Schools parent with a corporate finance background says the district could fund the staffing and supports in its School Transformation plan without closing schools, for about $20.9 million a year. MSR has not verified her calculations. The school board considers a resolution to pause the plan.
Posted inFirst Educator
How Jim West turned curiosity into invention
Author Ainissa Ramirez tells columnist Dr. Artika R. Tyner why she wrote “Spark,” a picture book about Black inventor Jim West, who created the microphone, and how parents and caregivers can turn it into curiosity-building literacy time at home.
Posted inEducation
Continuance of “Let them rise: A blueprint for educating Black boys”
The ‘Let Them Rise’ series continues with a focus on educating Black boys through lived experiences, discipline reform, mental health, and community dialogue.
Posted inFirst Educator
Balancing screen time and literacy development
Minnesota kids spend up to six hours daily on screens while reading scores decline. Discover how parents can balance device use and foster a lifelong love of reading.
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Dreams can become possibilities, and possibilities can become reality
Mary K. Boyd turned a birthday celebration into a lasting scholarship fund for Walker West Music Academy, honoring her father, the “singing mailman,” and a Rondo upbringing rooted in community. This piece from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation traces her family’s legacy of possibility.
Posted inEducation
The Star of Africa: Ghana’s road to March 6, 1957
Ghana’s 1957 independence wasn’t won by one man alone. It began with three slain WWII veterans, six arrested leaders, and a movement that pulled in ordinary workers and market women. Contributing writer Christabel Annor traces the path to the Gold Coast becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to break free from colonial rule.
Posted inParent Power
Now that the options are here, Black families need to be heard
As Minneapolis Public Schools releases three concrete Transformation options that could shift school boundaries for 14% of students, columnist Khulia F. Pringle urges Black families to engage now, before the Oct. 16 feedback window closes.
Posted inEducation
As MPS weighs school changes, North Side board member presses for proof of equity
As Minneapolis Public Schools weighs three school closure and merger options, District 2 board member Sharon El-Amin demands proof that North Minneapolis, hit hardest by past closures, will come out ahead this time. Teachers’ union MFE Local 59 has rejected all three options outright.
Posted inEducation
Dr. Artika R. Tyner inspires the next generation at the National WWII Museum
An all-Black battalion of women cleared millions of delayed wartime letters to keep American troops connected. Now, St. Paul historian Dr. Artika R. Tyner is ensuring their courage is never forgotten.
Posted inEducation
The unforgettable impact of Ruby Hurley
Before she investigated racial terrorism in the Deep South or built a youth movement of 25,000 NAACP members, Ruby Hurley stepped up in 1939 to give world-renowned singer Marian Anderson a stage at the Lincoln Memorial. Discover the history of the unsung civil rights giant.
Posted inEducation
James Weldon Johnson: The man behind six careers and a civil rights anthem
Before “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became known as the Black National Anthem, its author was breaking barriers in law rooms, foreign consulates, and Broadway stages. Here is how James Weldon Johnson proved that Black excellence knows no limits.
Posted inFirst Educator
Robert S. Abbott: Defender of justice
Robert S. Abbott launched The Chicago Defender to combat Jim Crow and champion equality. Dr. Artika R. Tyner explores how parents and caregivers can use his legacy of unrelenting tenacity to inspire young changemakers today.
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High School for Recording Arts
High School for Recording Arts, Minnesota’s only media arts-themed public charter high school, is enrolling now, offering both a fully online, self-paced program and a five-day-a-week on-campus experience built on hands-on learning.
Posted inEducation
Support the push for an African Diaspora kids’ library in St. Paul
A transformative trip to Ghana has sparked a local movement in St. Paul to build a children’s library filled with stories centered on characters from the African Diaspora.
Posted inEducation
How one teacher’s locs changed her classroom
Eghosa Hamilton straightened her hair for years to look like a teacher. Then she grew her locs, and her whole approach to teaching Black students changed.
Posted inEducation
Young Hearts Open Minds names Arielle Handevidt as CEO, plans to expand early childhood equity work
Former NAZ leader Arielle Handevidt is stepping into the CEO role at Young Hearts Open Minds to expand early childhood equity work, helping educators use “windows and mirrors” to combat bias before age five.
Posted inEducation
How you can help preserve Minnesota Black history
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery is calling on the community to help document and preserve the rich history of Black settlements, businesses, and leaders across Minnesota.
Posted inEducation
V3 Sports preps youth for 6-Week triathlon challenge
V3 Sports will work with youth for a six-week triathlon program designed to build water confidence, physical endurance, and mental resilience.
Posted inEducation
Prepare to vote by learning how to research candidates at commuity workshop
With the Minnesota primary elections just around the corner, Ayada Leads is holding a free candidate research workshop to equip local voters with the tools to spot misinformation, research ballot options, and show up informed at the polls.