Carolyn Smallwood, Executive Director of Way to Grow, described its work. In 1989 Way to Grow began as a program of the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board. Its founders envisioned an organization that would strive to eliminate the daily barriers affecting families so parents could prepare their children for success in kindergarten and life.
The agency is approaching its 20th anniversary, continuing its mission to prepare children for academic success by supporting families with culturally appropriate, community-based services for school readiness. Currently visiting 1,400 Minneapolis families, its Family Educators build trusting relationships with parents and their children and focus on ensuring that young children are physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively ready to start kindergarten.
