Celebrating 20 Years of Breakthrough: Alum Spotlight on Aunrika Tucker-Shabazz

As Breakthrough Twin Cities celebrates 20 years of empowering students and educators, we are honored to highlight the voices of alumni whose stories reflect both our mission and the transformative power of education. One of those voices belongs to Aunrika Tucker-Shabazz, a 2013 BTC alum whose journey from student to educator and advocate exemplifies resilience, reflection, and a fierce commitment to justice.

Aunrika’s introduction to Breakthrough Twin Cities began in sixth grade at Farnsworth Aerospace Magnet School in Saint Paul. She recalls, “Some of the Breakthrough staff at the time came and recruited in Mrs. Schreiber’s classroom. I took home the folder and after several rounds of deliberations, completed my application and was successfully enrolled in the program.“

Her early experiences at BTC were foundational. “I was one of the first cohorts that were foundational to the identity and representation of Breakthrough Twin Cities,” Aunrika said. Despite the joy and opportunity BTC brought, she also navigated significant personal challenges: “I was also experiencing significant housing instability and homelessness that took a great deal of backstage labor to conceal from my classmates.“

Even as her family moved out of state, BTC remained a lifeline. “The Breakthrough staff at the time helped me by sending me a laptop and helping me as one of the first remote students the program ever had.“

BTC’s impact continued through high school. From college campus visits to ACT prep, essay coaching, and financial aid guidance, Aunrika credits the program with preparing her for college and beyond. She fondly remembers her essay coach, Chris Porter, who connected her with her host family at Williams College: “With the sponsorship of 3M and Target, and General Mills, the interconnected networks of the nonprofit really helped subsidize the cost of living as a low-income student at a private college.“

Returning as a BTC staff member was a full-circle moment: “It was my first opportunity to develop an identity as an educator and establish relationships with middle school students who were extremely marginalized.” Aunrika began to understand systemic barriers through a collective lens: “I was able to understand how gender pay gaps, racial segregation and discrimination, housing affordability and accessibility were important barriers to success.“

Throughout her BTC journey, one message stuck with her: “Director Reimnitz and the team made sure I understood the danger of a single story by giving me the permission to integrate the two versions of myself. BTC support looked like maintaining connection through lowering the stakes for making mistakes. A safe space to fail, as much as it had been a safe place to succeed.“

Looking back on her BTC experience, she reflects: “My experience with the organization helped me come to understand the meaning of upward mobility, and how the experience of poverty during childhood can affect the returns on investment for urban, working-class Black girls achieving one slice of the American dream.“

When asked to describe BTC in one word, Aunrika doesn’t hesitate: “BOOYAH! This word really helped reframe my understanding of homework and my own relationship to language. Decades later, I still yell it out randomly throughout the day.“

Now 30, Aunrika is a community organizing and research development project manager for two anti-sexual violence, anti-incest organizations. She is also an aunt, a sister, a mental health advocate, and a storyteller.

Aunrika Tucker-Shabazz’s journey reminds us that Breakthrough is not just about academic success—it’s about transformation, growth, and the freedom to be your whole self.  

Celebrating 20 Years of Breakthrough: Alum Spotlight on Julie Xiong

As Breakthrough Twin Cities marks its 20th anniversary, we’re proud to highlight the voices and journeys of those who have grown through the program. Today, we’re thrilled to share the story of Julie Xiong, a student and Teaching Fellow alum whose Breakthrough journey began with a simple spark: sibling stories filled with fun and laughter.

From Stories to Summers of Joy

Julie joined Breakthrough the summer after sixth grade, inspired by the excitement her siblings brought home. “The summers were filled with lots of learning (academically and socially) and full of laughter,” she said.

That early joy inspired her to return as a Teaching Fellow, where she discovered even deeper layers of growth and connection.

As Breakthrough Twin Cities celebrates 20 years of student success and community impact, we’re spotlighting alumni whose stories reflect the power of this work.

Meet LaLee Lo, a 2015 Teaching Fellow alum whose journey through Breakthrough helped reconnect him with his identity and encouraged a career rooted in purpose and data-driven impact.

LaLee discovered Breakthrough Twin Cities at a pivotal point in his life. College had taken him away from the Hmong community he grew up in, leading to a deeper reflection on identity, heritage, and access to education. “College was the first time I had been away from Hmong people. It made me spend time with my culture and identity in a way I hadn’t before,” LaLee said.

“I learned how disparate college attainment numbers were for Hmong people—my people. I had always known that Hmong people were lacking in resources, but it had never sat with me like it had when I looked at the data.”

Motivated by the desire to make a difference, LaLee returned home and found Breakthrough, a space where he could help close the gaps he saw and make an impact in his community.

BTC Memories

One of LaLee’s favorite memories from Breakthrough is dancing in the hallways! That simple, joyful tradition captures what Breakthrough meant to him. “The summer experience is a lot of things, but it is all rooted in joy,” he said. “From the little things like the corny jokes teachers would make to each other, to the joy and satisfaction I would get from a successfully executed lesson.”

One mentor still stands out: Daniel Bernal. “Even a decade later, I still hold Daniel Bernal in high regard as one of the best leaders I have been around,” LaLee said. “He has an innate ability to create a loving culture where students are excited to learn and teachers are eager to hone their craft.”

As we continue to celebrate 20 years of Breakthrough Twin Cities, we highlight the incredible stories of our alumni who have shaped and been shaped by the BTC community.

Meet Annie Jenkin LaVanway, a Teaching Fellow alum whose passion for education, mentorship, and equity was ignited during her summers with Breakthrough and continues to this day.

Beginning of the Journey

Annie first joined Breakthrough Twin Cities as a Teaching Fellow in 2014, teaching literature at the Saint Paul site. “My summers (2014 and 2015) as a Teaching Fellow were some of the most powerful I have ever had,” she said. “Building relationships with faculty and students, growing my teaching practice, and being introduced to the magic of the Twin Cities, which I have now called home for ten years.”

What started as a summer opportunity quickly grew into something more. It was a stepping stone into a lifelong commitment to education and equity.

BTC Memories

Annie’s favorite BTC memory was the joy of dancing in the hallways. “Especially that first summer at Saint Paul City School, we were a tiny but mighty site with amazing students and a tight-knit faculty. I wish all schools used passing and dismissal times to share some joy!” That energy and sense of community made an impact and created memories that still bring a smile to her face!

For Annie, BTC stood out for its unwavering commitment to a growth mindset. “I really valued verbal kudos given in faculty meetings, the plus/delta model of feedback, and written kudos cards (which I still have!).” These small but powerful practices helped create an uplifting and supportive environment. “I have found few other spaces that were this positive and uplifting in my adult life, and these are practices I have brought into my own teaching, evaluating, and collegial relationships.”

As Breakthrough Twin Cities celebrates 20 years of empowering students, we’re reflecting on the incredible journeys of our alumni.

Today, we highlight Karen Alderete Herrera, a proud 2013 Breakthrough student alum who continues to embody the values of perseverance, learning, and community.

Discovering Breakthrough

Karen’s journey with Breakthrough began with her love for learning. “I loved being in school, so when I first heard about a program that was offered during the summer, I naturally gravitated towards applying for it.”

Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, she saw Breakthrough as an opportunity to grow academically and personally. What she found was more than just a summer program. BTC was a community that cheered her on at every step. “All my teachers always greeted us with a smile and were never short on being our biggest cheerleaders.” She was able to learn new material in a safe, inclusive environment, while also exploring her creative side!

Among her fondest memories were the vibrant, high-energy activities that brought students together.  “My favorite memory had to be every time we came together as a whole group and watched the plays the teachers performed,” she shared. Another highlight was the friendly college-themed competitions where her group cheered so loudly, they even managed to blow out the microphone on the recording camera! One particularly unforgettable moment was a chemistry-based remix of Pocket Full of Sunshine performed at the end of the summer session. “We were EPIC!” Karen recalls.

Karen credits many teachers and mentors for shaping her experience, but one who left a lasting impact was Daniel, her choir teacher. “He never told me I could not sing—though that’s a fact—but instead encouraged me to find my voice,” she said. This encouragement to step outside her comfort zone and embrace new challenges has stayed with her ever since. 

A Journey into Pharmacy

Karen’s experience at Breakthrough ignited a passion for learning that carried her through college and beyond. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Catherine University, where she graduated with honors. She was also selected for a prestigious summer research program at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, leading to published work and a national conference presentation.

Inspired by this experience, she pursued a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Minnesota, graduating with honors in 2023. Today, she is a licensed pharmacist in two states, specializing in Medication Therapy Management (MTM), where she helps patients manage their medications through one-on-one clinical care. “BTC was more than just a summer program; it was the start of my academic journey, career path, and lifelong learning process.”