Achieve Twin Cities

As one of our region's top career and college readiness organizations, Achieve Twin Cities rallies community support and delivers best-in-class programs to inspire and equip young people for careers, college and life. Since our founding in 2002, we've supported over 85,000 Twin Cities students in discovering, exploring and making a plan for life after high school. 

Your gift supports: 

• Career and college readiness centers: Through physical centers embedded in 28 Minneapolis Public Schools and Saint Paul Public Schools high schools and additional virtual services, we create a supportive landing space for students and families to connect with expert advising, resources and opportunities on their path to self-discovery. As a universal service provider for both districts, over 18,000 students can access our services each year as they plan for life after high school. 95% of students who utilize our school services graduate with a career pathway plan, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and low-income youth use our services enroll in postsecondary programs at 69% and 79% higher rates respectively than those who do not. 
• The Step Up Youth Employment Program: Step Up connects Minneapolis youth (age 14-21) with paid internships, career exploration, professional mentors and training that can help build careers and lead to a more diverse, skilled and equitable workforce. In collaboration with over 200 employers in 15 industries, Step Up has created over 34,000 high-quality career opportunities since 2003. Step Up interns are more likely to be graduation ready, with 95% reporting that their internships provided valuable learning experiences. Step Up is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, Achieve Twin Cities, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Project for Pride in Living. 
• Achieve College Internships: Our new college internships program connects talented, diverse college students with high-quality paid summer internships, professional training, mentors and career networks at 60+ global businesses, local companies and community-based organizations. The program is designed to help young professionals launch their careers in the Twin Cities and provide opportunities for employers to discover and support new talent. In our first four years, we’ve provided professional internships for over 150 students from 20 colleges and universities. Participants include Step Up alums, Minneapolis and Saint Paul public schools graduates and Black Men’s Success Initiative scholars. 
• Career exploration events: Achieve school-year career events inspire and inform students about a wide range of career opportunities as they plan for life after graduation. Professionals from the trades, business, healthcare, the arts, STEM, government and other sectors share their personal career journeys and insights with young people. Local employers provide information on internships, jobs and training opportunities. 
• Minneapolis Public Schools resource support: Achieve Twin Cities also serves as the foundation for Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), assisting the district in securing major grants for district priorities. We manage over $5 million in private donations to MPS schools and departments, administer college scholarships and award mini-grants for staff development and classroom projects. 
• EDTalks and other public education events: Our EDTalks, Principal Partner Day, Lunchbreak with Achieve and other public engagement events inform and spark conversations and connect our community with great opportunities to support and advocate for our students and schools. 

 We know what works: 

• 95% of students who utilize our career and college readiness centers graduate with a career pathway plan.
• BIPOC and low income students who utilize our centers enroll in postsecondary education at 69% and 79% higher rates than those who do not. 
• Step Up interns are more likely to be graduation ready, with 95% reporting that their internship was a valuable learning experience.

Thanks in advance for your generous support, which helps ensure that ALL students have full access to the support, resources and connections they need to attain purposeful, life-sustaining careers and financial independence!