Achieve in the media: WCCO radio interview with CCR manager Lisa Beckham

St. Paul College Fair caters to students and their families

This WCCO story by Sheletta Brundidge was first published by WCCO on February 14, 2024. 

JoAnn Clark remembers the time her oldest son attended a college fair and came home without any pamphlets or information. That’s why she set out to create a fair that catered to students and their families. Clark, a former PTSA president, knows parents are more likely to ask college reps important questions--“What kind of GPA do they need to have? Do you offer scholarships? How much does it cost to go to this school? Stuff that parents need to know.”

Clark initially started a college fair promoting Historically Black colleges and universities in the basement of her church, Progressive Baptist on the East Side of St. Paul. That event was a victim of its own success. “It was so jammed that we had run out of room,” recalls Clark. “St. Paul Public Schools was having a college fair, and nobody was coming.”

That’s when Clark proposed a merger to a friend who worked for then-Superintendent Pat Harvey. “I said, ‘You got the space, and I can bring the community.’”

More than 20 years later, the Thinking Career and College Early Fair is going strong. It will take place Saturday at Harding High School in St. Paul from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

“Typically when you see a college fair, it’s mostly with what I call PWIs, which are Predominantly White Institutions,” said Lisa Beckham with Achieve Twin Cities, one of the event sponsors. “This is a little different, because we have essentially everyone in the building.” By “everyone,” Beckham means HBCUs, PWIs, two-year colleges, trades, military, and other community resources.

Among the HBCUs taking part in the career fair are Howard University, Hampton University, Morehouse University and Florida A&M University. University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas and University of Iowa are a few of the PMIs who’ve signed up for the fair.

Another thing that sets the Thinking Career and College Early Fair apart is the community focus. Students are encouraged to come with the adults in their lives. If they want to bring their younger siblings, there is childcare available.

Beckham urges parents and other supportive adults to attend the events with their students. “It’s so important to have a trusted family member or someone older, support system with you at these types of events,” said Beckham. “Because you really don’t know what you don’t know.”

Clark echoed that sentiment, “If education is important to them [parents], that’s why they need to come.”

The fair is sponsored by PROCEED (Progressive Center for Education and Economic Development), St. Paul Public Schools and Achieve Twin Cities. More than 75 organizations will have representatives on hand. “They are seeing our children as an asset,” said Beckham. “They want to engage with families, they want to answer your questions.”

Beckham, a career and college readiness program manager with Achieve Twin Cities, says her organization will have a booth set up for families and students who have questions about college applications and the financial aid process.

It’s worth noting Saturday’s fair is required for any students interested in going on the HBCU College Tour put on by PROCEED and Progressive Baptist Church. The tour, led by Clark, takes place during MEA break in October.

The Thinking Career and College Early Fair is open to students from grades 6 through 12 and their families. Interpreters will be on hand to help non-English speakers.

Not from St. Paul?  No worries. “If you’re in Minneapolis or any of the surrounding area  communities, you can certainly come to this event,” said Beckham. “Everyone is welcome.” More information on the fair can be found here.

Learn more from the Achieve staff about the 2024 Thinking Career and College Early Fair.