TMCnet News
Community-led digital equity solutions reach more Minnesota studentsMINNEAPOLIS, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For students to succeed in school today, access to digital tools, reliable internet and support services is crucial. Almost a year after the COVID-19 pandemic made glaringly obvious the long-standing digital inequities that affect many Minnesota students, community-led solutions continue to be most successful in addressing these disparities. Today, 29 Minnesota non-profits' digital equity work will advance as a result of $2.35 million in grants delivered from a partnership between the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity (MBCRE) and Partnership for a ConnectedMN (ConnectedMN). 30,000 Feet, an organization that empowers Black students in St. Paul through culture, art, technology and social justice, will use their grant to expand their distance learning support program. The program ensures that at least 100 students will have access to a laptop computer, small group tutoring sessions and holistic services that support mental and physical well-being. "We're fortunate to have deep connections on the East side of St. Paul. We've been around a long time, with a rich reserve of families that we've been successful with — and those families trust us," said Kevin Robinson, Executive Director of 30,000 Feet. "This pandemic has shown we need to move with urgency to deal with the digital divide, and the easiest way to do so is with organizations like ours that can deepen existing relationships. Relationship-focused solutions will have the best long-term ramifications for our community's growth." The grants awarded support a variety of strategies to enhance digital learning for Minnesota students, focusing on organizations serving students who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color in kindergarten through grade 12. These strategies include:
"These partnerships are evidence philanthropy can come together in Minnesota and make an impact even in isolated, remote parts of the state that are often forgotten. This pandemic created a different landscape of understanding what access means in Minnesota's rural, isolated and sparse populations, from the inability to connect to reliable and affordable internet to the immense toxic stress added by the financial crisis of lay-offs and the State shutdown," said Tuleah Palmer, CEO of Blandin Foundation, which serves as one of the founding partners of ConnectedMN. "This effort to collectively advance issues that improve the quality of life for folks shows we don't have to breakdown — we can breakthrough. We are not going back to normal; we are going to bounce forward into a whole new level of well-being and I am excited to see what we get done next." A Joint Approach Says Dave MacLennan, chairman and CEO at Cargill, "As a global company, based in Minnesota, we know that a strong K-12 education system is how we prepare a strong future workforce and keep our headquarters' community competitive. Systemic inequality persists in education, and digital access is one of the greatest divides. Minnesota students deserve more. The Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity connects Cargill with other Twin Cities companies, allowing us to combine our resources and deliver much-needed impact." About Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity Contributors to MBCRE's Digital Learning Fund include: 3M, Best Buy, Boston Scientific, Bush Foundation, Carlson Family Foundation, Cargill Foundation, Delta Dental of Minnesota, General Mills Foundation, Mortenson, nVent, Opus Foundation, Target, Thrivent Financial, Travelers and US Bank Foundation. About Partnership for a ConnectedMN Contributors to ConnectedMN include: Alerus Financial, Allianz Life Insurance Company, Andersen Corporation, Best Buy, Blandin Foundation, Boston Scientific, Bush Foundation, Comcast, Ecolab Foundation, Ernst & Young, F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, GHR Foundation, Mardag Foundation, Minnesota Business Partnership, Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Protolabs Foundation, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Securian Financial, SPS Commerce Foundation, The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Vantage Financial and Xcel Energy. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/community-led-digital-equity-solutions-reach-more-minnesota-students-301239841.html SOURCE Cargill, Inc. and Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity |