About

For a generation, young Minnesotans from 8th to 12th grade have made Minnesota Alliance With Youth our state’s most powerful advocate for young people. By challenging existing systems to amplify the voice of youth, promoting equitable access to education, and fostering collaboration across generations, Alliance members are building a Minnesota where every single young person has what they need to succeed — today and for generations to come. 

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.

Minnesota Alliance With Youth is committed to ensuring safe places for youth and adults. The Alliance is prepared to make reasonable accommodations to meet the safety, well-being, and comfort needs of all individuals in any Alliance-sanctioned space. The Alliance Accessibility Checklist is a tool to help ensure that ALL individuals are welcomed, comfortable, and safe at Alliance events.

Alliance Annual Reports

2021-22 Annual Report 2020-21 Annual Report 2019-20 Annual Report 2018-19 Annual Report

Alliance Financials

Audited Financials 2020/21 990

Our Mission and Vision

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.  We envision a Minnesota that supports young people in building their own present and future.

Goals

• Challenge existing systems to integrate youth voice.
• Promote policies that support equitable access to education.
• Develop strong systems of engagement and collaboration.

What we do

• Through the Minnesota Youth Council, the official statewide voice of youth, 36 Alliance youth leaders amplify the power of their 325,000 peers to advocate for state policies that support the future of young people across Minnesota. 
• The Alliance’s AmeriCorps programs support exceptional Minnesotans in paid service to young people in schools and organizations statewide. AmeriCorps members make a difference in the lives of Minnesota young people, strengthen our communities, and cultivate lifelong leadership in work and life. 

The Problem

Despite a decades-old assumption that Minnesota is a national leader in education, the statistics show a very different reality. While White, middle and upper class students are largely seeing success in school and graduating on-time from high school (89% in 2020, according to the Minnesota Department of Education), students of color and low-income students are not experiencing similar levels of success.  4-year graduation rates for these student groups show the unacceptable disparities that persist in Minnesota.  (2020 4-year graduation rates; African American students- 69.2%, Hispanic/Latino- 70.4%, Native American- 55.7%, Free and Reduced Lunch- 71.6%).

High School graduation is a milestone that ALL students deserve to achieve, and is critical in setting young people up for successful futures.  We are failing our young people.  We know that all youth have promise and potential, and that a one-size-fits-all approach to education is not working.  We also know that the true experts on students’ experiences- youth themselves- are often left out of conversation when it comes to the issues facing young people and communities, such as education and the achievement gap. Even well-intended efforts to work for youth- by protecting them from perceived threats or by rescuing those who are in jeopardy- can prevent us from recognizing the importance of working with youth to identify positive solutions and build stronger communities.

Support Minnesota Alliance With Youth

Support our work by donating today and help improve the outcome for Minnesota’s youth!

Make a donation