Our Partners - Black Men Teach

Wallin Education Partners and Black Men Teach Join Forces
​Shared commitment to support underrepresented students

Minneapolis, MN (November 9, 2020) --- Black Men Teach (BMT) and Wallin Education Partners announced a new partnership to increase the number of Black men who become teachers in our community. The organizations share a common commitment to expand educational opportunities for underrepresented students. Specifically, this partnership will allow each organization to leverage their expertise to support Black men who pursue a degree in Education and serve as teachers in our community.

BMT creates the environment necessary for Black male teachers to thrive and, through their presence, deliver improved educational success for all students, especially Black male students. BMT brings a network of partners including community-based organizations, teacher training programs, K-12 schools and supporters committed to its mission to recruit, prepare, place and retain Black male teachers in elementary schools. Through the execution of a six-year demonstration project, BMT will achieve a 20 percent threshold of Black male teachers within eight schools.

“Investing in Black male teachers makes a significant impact that extends beyond the classroom into our communities, said Rhoda Mhirpiri-Reed, chair, board of director, Black Men Teach and superintendent, Hopkins Public Schools. “We are grateful for the contributions Wallin Education Partners is making to help put more Black men in the classroom, and we look forward to the windows of opportunity this will open for the students they teach.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Black Men Teach and their innovative program to help identify and assist Black men to become teachers. For years research has indicated the positive benefit of teachers from diverse backgrounds represented in the classroom. Black Men Teach is one of the few organizations that I know of that is singularly committed to this effort,” said Susan Basil King, Executive Director, Wallin Education Partners.

BMT approached Wallin Education Partners to work collaboratively to help them achieve their goal. Both organizations recognize the urgent need in the Twin Cities community for more Black teachers, and both are committed to joining forces as they develop a successful new partnership.

​Wallin Education Partners supports nearly 1,200 low-income Minnesota residents who are enrolled in college in the upper Midwest and at HBCUs across the country. Each scholar receives four years of financial aid, individualized advising, a robust program to increase success and a network of professional and social connections. Wallin scholars, who are recruited through 56 high schools, have a six-year graduation rate over 90 percent.

Posted on November 9, 2020