Confidence in Numbers: Building a Community that Lifts Up Every Student

A heartfelt thank you to Achieve Twin Cities Board Chair Shamayne Braman for her inspiring words and powerful call to action at our October 9 Annual Celebration, Confidence in Numbers. Her message reminds us what’s possible when our community comes together to support students.

On behalf of the Achieve Twin Cities Board of Directors, it’s my pleasure to welcome you tonight. Seeing this room filled with friends, partners, and supporters reminds us of the powerful village behind our young people—holding them as they shape what’s next.

My deep thanks to our sponsors, whose generosity anchors this evening; to my fellow board members, who share their time and talent; and to our incredible staff, not only for tonight’s celebration but for all you do to help our students realize their college and career dreams.

This year’s theme—Confidence in Numbers—is a powerful one. To me, confidence means two things: trust in the outcome and trust in oneself to create it. Together, that’s what we build for our students: a community they can trust to support their goals all the way to the outcome.

To date, Achieve has helped more than 95,000 students plan for life after high school, partnering with over 100 organizations, and through Step Up, provided more than 34,000 internships for Minneapolis youth.

We live in a world where it isn’t always easy to trust the outcome or to trust yourself.  As I was reflecting on this theme, I was brought back to my first week of my freshman year, at my dream school, meeting with my academic advisor, sitting across from him, bright eyed, pen perched, ready to soak up his wisdom on my recent paper as he said “I cannot believe I wrote so well for a Black student.” I deflated. 

Afterwards, I called my large tribe of Guyanese Aunties who explained that his comment reflected a gap in his own experience and exposure, not in my capabilities or that of any other black student. And then they proceeded to not so subtly remind me “his expectations might be low, but our bar is high. Keep your grades up.” 

That story isn’t unique. I share it because in the Twin Cities, many of our young people are students of color, many of them immigrants, some disabled, many living in low-income circumstance. These identities mean they are often the very last people that the world invites to be confident. 

That’s why it matters that for seniors, with the help of Achieve Twin Cities challenging those narratives, 81% of seniors working with Achieve, report confidence in their future by graduation—up from 60% from the start of the year. 

Finally, confidence is not passive. It is not just belief, it is action. Through our career and college centers, young people are taking action to pursue their postsecondary plans. Through Step Up internships, they are taking action to gain early exposure and skills for professional success. 

So this evening, whether you’re a longtime supporter of Achieve or are joining us for the first time, I hope our students inspire both belief and action—through your generous giving, volunteering or deeper employer engagement.

Thank you for being here tonight and being part of the village that gives our young people the confidence to pursue their dreams. Let’s have a wonderful evening.