Mission Statement
The Alliance works in partnership with youth to ensure that ALL young people have equitable
educational opportunities that foster their individual assets, honor their voices, and prepare them to reach their goals.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
2,798 students across the state received support from our cohort of 137 AmeriCorps Promise
Fellows during the 19/20 program year. Data analysis showed an increase in school attendance from before the pandemic compared to the timeframe after the Governor's school shutdown, showing that the program helped students be more engaged during a time of great stress and uncertainty. Six AmeriCorps Alliance VISTAs provided capacity-building and
support to over 100 Minnesota nonprofits, schools and organizations, driving critical work
around poverty reduction, youth leadership and education equity.
In February 2020, the MN Youth Council met with Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy
Flanagan to discuss youth issues as a part of Youth Day at the Capitol, where over 250 young people came together at the State Capitol to become engaged in youth policy and advocacy work. This summer, in response to the unprecedented impact COVID-19 had on teacher/student relationships, Council Representatives sought to provide space for educators to hear directly from young people regarding their experiences. Representatives partnered with the MN Department of Education and spoke to over 500 educators over two days, offering insight and ideas.
Current Goals
The following goals aim to guide the Alliance towards achieving a Minnesota that supports young people in building their own present and future:
• Challenge existing systems to integrate youth voice
• Promote policies that support equitable access to education
• Develop strong systems of engagement and collaboration
Community or Constituency Served
Founded in 1997, Minnesota Alliance With Youth works with and for youth, engaging them as equal partners in finding the most effective and equitable solutions to our state’s graduation crisis. The Alliance’s work is driven by three core values; Equity, Quality and Collaboration. We work with and for youth to ensure that all young people have access to the fundamental resources proven to ensure that youth succeed– the “Five Promises“– Caring Adults, Safe Places, a Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others. The Alliance is a proud AmeriCorps partner.
The Alliance’s AmeriCorps Promise Fellow and VISTA members specialize in creative approaches to multi-sector work, bringing new perspectives to the issues of educational equity, poverty and the achievement gap.
The Minnesota Youth Council is a collaboration of young people from across the state of Minnesota working together to empower and mobilize the 325,000+ middle and high school aged people to work towards a Minnesota where no decision is made about them without them!
Geographic Area Served
Statewide, Minnesota
