Last month’s March Saturday Sessions included presentations by the group Street Law, part of the Minnesota Justice Foundation. Lawyers and law students spoke to BTC students about legal rights and interactions with law enforcement and immigration enforcement officers.
High school students applying for the summer Program Intern position received an orientation from Breakthrough staff on the upcoming interview process. 11th graders attended a college essay workshop where they spoke with coaches about their personal story and the messages they want to convey in their applications to college.
BTC parents and guardians can plug into Saturday session by:
– asking your 7th – 10th graders some ways to safely and positively interact with law enforcement – asking 11th graders what they want their college essay to convey about themsleves – asking 12th graders if they have RSVPd for senior celebration in May with their advisor.
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.”
From Teaching Fellow to Higher Ed
Annie’s BTC journey didn’t end with her Teaching Fellow summers. She went on to serve as an Instructional Coach and later as a Dean of Instruction. Alongside earning her graduate degrees in education, these roles laid the groundwork for her work as a teacher educator at both the University of Minnesota and St. Catherine University.
In fact, her first solo research study was a Master’s thesis exploring what makes Breakthrough so successful!
If Annie had to describe Breakthrough in just one word, she says it’s simple: “Incredible!” She explains, “Breakthrough does an incredible job providing helpful supports for highly motivated students including prompts for every aspect of the college application process… I have seen Breakthrough successfully uplift intelligent, thoughtful, wonderful students, faculty, and staff year after year.”
Life Today
Today, Annie lives in the Twin Cities with her partner, their baby daughter born in August 2024, and their dog. She is currently on a break from academia to stay home with her daughter, but looks forward to returning to the classroom and continuing her research on educational equity.
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.”
Where She is Today
Beyond her career, Karen’s greatest joy comes from her family. She is a proud new mom to her son, Maximiliano, and a beloved wife to her high school sweetheart, Buki. Her journey continues as she balances life as a pharmacist, a mother, and a lifelong learner ready for the next adventure.
BTC is a “Beginning”
If she had to describe Breakthrough in one word, Karen would choose “Beginning.” As she explains, “BTC was the beginning of my journey, and I can say probably for others too. So enjoy it while it lasts and dream big when it comes to your future because anything is possible.”
Karen’s story is just one of many that illustrate the transformative impact of Breakthrough Twin Cities. As we celebrate 20 years, we honor the past, present, and future of all our incredible students and alumni. Stay connected, share your story, and continue to be part of this remarkable community!
Five middle schoolers from BTC’s site in Eastern Carver County share advice on applying to Breakthrough and what they like most about being in the program. Students featured in order: Dylan, Zagal, Mykayla, Melva, and Nyarai.
If you watched KARE 11 at all on Monday, February 21, you may have seen some familiar faces… that’s right: Breakthrough Twin Cities was featured in the station’s Communities that KARE series!
Staff members Josh and Hallie had the opportunity to sit down and share the BTC story with producers, resulting in a wonderful spotlight of our organization that you can watch by clicking the link below. Thank you to KARE 11 for helping us spread the word of our mission with the greater Twin Cities, helping us build excitement for our quickly approaching Booyah Bash gala.
For 18-year old Max, Breakthrough Twin Cities came around at just the right time. After receiving a scholarship in first grade, he was able to attend a private school from elementary up until the end of middle school. Though he was grateful for the academic opportunity, there was still something missing in his social life.
“I felt really lonely,” Max said. “I had friends, and people knew me, but I felt really isolated being the only Hmong kid [in my grade], and at that point, only one of two Asian boys. I was really self-conscious.”
But then, after a recommendation from one of his teachers, he found out about Breakthrough Twin Cities. Once he applied, he was accepted into the program.
“For the first time, I was able to talk and hang out with kids like me,” Max said. “Being able to connect with people in that way, and to connect with myself, it was like a burst of life.”
And there’s no more accurate way to describe the high-energy pace of a Breakthrough summer. Though academically rigorous, the summer program regularly incorporates games, creative arts, outdoor activities, and even things like dance courses. Apart from preparing students for the next year of school and beyond, the program is built to provide an enthusiastically supportive community to students like Max. His introduction to BTC, he notes, opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
“At first, I was taken aback by the enthusiasm of everyone,” said Max. “I tend to be a low-energy person, and I’m fairly introverted — at least I thought so until I went to Breakthrough. At the time, it felt like I was acting like someone else, but I was really just coming into myself. BTC helped me mature.”
Now a senior at Central High School, Max continues to realize the value of his participation in BTC, and how its impact has extended from his life as a seventh grader to his life now. Although Max had always planned to go to college, BTC provided necessary guidance on how to start planning for it.
“I didn’t know what college was like, I didn’t understand the idea or the concept,” he said. “Breakthrough helped me flesh out that idea, and made the dream that much brighter.”
Max loves English, and he plans to study the discipline when he heads off to college next fall. He’s prepared his applications and eagerly awaits the decision that will determine his next step in life. He’s always been drawn to storytelling, and hopes this passion will develop into a career in the humanities, in social work, or even as a defense attorney.
The one sure thing is that Max won’t forget the student peers and Teaching Fellows who supported him along the way. Even today, he marvels at how much everyone cried at the end of each Breakthrough summer, feeling moved to think that he’d be missed that much by teachers he’d only known for a few weeks. Beyond being an excellent source of academic enrichment, the program became something he was emotionally invested in, too. He can still feel the support of his BTC community today.
“Breakthrough has prepared me to become who I am today and who I will be tomorrow. For me, it was so foundational,” Max said. “Even if it is just a step, it’s a critical step. If I didn’t have BTC, the Max you’re talking to today would be a completely different person with a very different set of experiences.”
