Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)

The NAZ mission is to end multi-generational poverty in North Minneapolis by building a culture of achievement where all low-income children of color have the support they need to graduate high school and succeed in college, career, and life. This is How NAZ Works.

SUPER proud of our soon-to-be kindergarten royalty! Our Rising Kindergartener Celebration yesterday was a huge success, getting Northside scholars headed off to school this fall and their families ready for their next steps. It's a vital time to bring the village together, gear up, and celebrate. Here's to a successful and happy school year!

We extend our sincere congratulations to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on being selected by Kamala Harris as her Vice Presidential running mate! Governor Walz’s leadership has made a profound impact on Minnesota youth and families, especially in the areas of education and children's well-being. Proclaiming in 2023 that his administration would “make Minnesota the best state in the nation for kids to grow up in,” NAZ has consistently felt his support through ensuring universal school meals for children, expanding access to early childhood education, signing a Child Tax Credit that provides financial relief to working families and reduces poverty in the state, and increasing student mental health services in schools. Governor Walz’s dedication to those most vulnerable in our communities will undoubtedly continue to inspire as his national profile rises! While Governor Walz prepares for a potential new role in DC, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, who herself is a longtime advocate for children and families, stands ready to continue this vital work here at home. A Harris-Walz win in November would make Peggy Flanagan the first woman to govern Minnesota, as well as the first Native woman to serve as Governor in the United States.

Two of the things most mentioned when people talk about their love for north Minneapolis are the youth, and the powerful sense of community pride. Joel Luedtke, Program Director at The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota talks about both in this brief clip as part of our "Northside Bright Spots" series. At NAZ we celebrate the foundation's intentional decision to build an office in north Minneapolis, where they have renovated a beautiful building on West Broadway Avenue. Thank you Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation for your commitment to being in community!

Kristel Porter grew up in North Minneapolis and has been a champion of the community since childhood. Today, she continues that title as she leads and grows the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition - the Northside’s biggest advocate for local businesses along the West Broadway business corridor. Hear from her about the power of Open Streets West Broadway and the enormous sense of community North Minneapolis is known for.

Audre Lord was an American poet, essayist, and autobiographer who grew to international fame with her enormous talent for communicating the human experience - most especially the experience of Black and queer Americans. Lorde worked as a librarian and published her first book of poetry in 1968; she later went on to write several more volumes of poetry focused on queerness and racial equality to high acclaim. Lorde is also well-known for her book The Cancer Journals which detailed her 14-year battle with cancer. Toward the end of her life, Lorde co-founded a publishing house, Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press. Lorde said of the venture, “as feminist and lesbian of color writers, we knew that we had no options for getting published, except at the mercy or whim of others, whether in the context of alternative or commercial publishing, since both are white-dominated." Visit your local library or bookstore to check out her published works!

🚨 NEW JOB ALERT! 🚨 NAZ is #hiring for a brand new role: Events and Communications Manager! We're looking for an individual to plan, organize and execute events that showcase the work of NAZ and its partners, and highlight the achievements of Northside scholars and families. If you have a penchant for logistics and planning, can create an Instagram Reel to engage multiple audiences, and love to carry around a clipboard, this role is for you. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g5JeRcEm #nowhiring #newjob #Minneapolisjobs

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. This day symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States and honors the resilience, struggles, and contributions of African Americans throughout history. Hear what NAZ CEO and President Sondra Samuels says about why Juneteenth matters, and how celebrating the Black community - our scholars, partners, change makers and more - on the Northside and beyond, is crucial. https://lnkd.in/gNerGb-U

Thanks to Minnesota Sports and Events for welcoming students from NAZ anchor partner Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary for a fun day of gymnastics at RGC Gymnastics ahead of the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis. It was such a wonderful experience for our Northside scholars to try out the beams, bars, and other gymnastics skills. We greatly appreciate the University of Minnesota's Women's Gymnastics, Minnesota Sports and Events team, Circus Juventas, and So Connected Stacey Herman for making this event an unforgettable experience! https://lnkd.in/g_zxSYfK

Bayard Rustin was an American civil rights leader, best known for his role as a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. During that decade he met Martin Luther King Jr., and became a close adviser - teaching King about nonviolent resistance and the teachings of Gandhi and the Quaker Faith. Together they would go on to organize the boycotts inspired by Rosa Parks and the March on Washington where King would deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech. Rustin's legacy is profound not only for his activism but also for his courage as an openly gay man during a time when both his race and sexuality subjected him to severe discrimination. He was arrested multiple times on charges related to his homosexuality, which some leaders feared would be used to discredit the movement. Nevertheless, Rustin remained unapologetic about who he was, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights alongside his fight for racial equality. In 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom, acknowledging his indispensable role in the fight for civil rights and his bravery in living authentically. Then, ten years later, in 2023, Netflix created a biopic, “Rustin”, which covers the scope of his incredible life and invaluable contributions to the fight for equality in the United States.