Featured - Breakthrough Twin Cities

Roosevelt Yang

Sep 11, 2018

Hear what Roosevelt Yang, a 2018 Summer Session Teaching Fellow, has to say about Breakthrough!

1. How did you become aware of Breakthrough, and why did you decide to get involved as a Teaching Fellow?

I became aware of Breakthrough through another Teaching Fellow who was in the program for three years. She told me that Breakthrough was a great experience and that I should try it. Before I applied I was working at an elementary school as a Behavioral Intervention Specialist. I found that I enjoyed working with kids, so I thought that maybe becoming a teacher was an option for me. This was one of the major reasons that I applied to Breakthrough Twin Cities.

2. In what ways has your teaching experience at Breakthrough helped you develop and grow as an individual?

It has helped me to become more self-aware of the changing world around me. This job has made me realize that as I am getting older the world is changing and kids are not being taught like I was taught. They are learning information at a higher rate as well as in different manners, helping them to retain the information.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job as a Teaching Fellow?

The one thing that I liked most about my position at Breakthrough Twin Cities was that I got to make a bond with the students. We learned together, and the students came to see me differently than a “regular” teacher. To them I became more three-dimensional, and not just a teacher, but a person that has gone through many different experiences.

4. What advice or suggestions would you give for someone else who wants to get involved with Breakthrough or apply to be a Teaching Fellow?

This job/internship is not normal. You work super hard, for very little. This is not a job for you to get rich. This is a job to watch students grow and change. You will work super hard, and at times it may be a struggle, but the end product of seeing the students be happy and willing to learn is the goal of the job. The job here is to inspire the students to aspire to be better, strive to learn, and ultimately go to college.

Anthony Hansen

Sep 7, 2018

Read what Anthony Hansen, a 9th Grade BTC student at Highland Park High School, has to say about Breakthrough!

1. If someone had never heard of BTC, what is the one thing you would say to help them understand what BTC does?

We are learning new things, and learning here is really fun.

2. What motivated you to be a part of Breakthrough?

I thought it seemed cool so I signed up. I thought it would be a good chance for me to learn new things and get caught up for the new school year.

3. How has BTC impacted you?

Breakthrough has taught me a lot and it’s made me do better in school than I did previously.

4. Why have you stayed involved in BTC?

Because I like it and my friends are here so I really want to stay.

5. What is your favorite Breakthrough Code and why?

“Be Breakthrough,” because it means you’re showing the most responsibility and respect for people.

6. If you could give Breakthrough a shoutout, what would it be for?

For helping me improve and making me a more calm person, helping me focus. It has also taught me more responsibility. Breakthrough also helped me want to go to college more.

Olivia Gonzalez

Sep 7, 2018

Meet Olivia Gonzalez, a Breakthrough Twin Cities Summer 2018 Teaching Fellow!

1. How did you become aware of Breakthrough, and why did you decide to get involved as a Teaching Fellow?

I first heard about Breakthrough from my cousin who taught at Breakthrough Birmingham and a good friend of mine from high school who taught at Breakthrough Houston. Their stories of being in the classroom for a summer and the impact it made on them intrigued me. I decided to get involved this past year as I shifted my career goals and started to consider teaching. I have always loved working with kids and believe that access to a good education is extremely important; I saw Breakthrough as a way to actively make an impact in an area I care deeply about.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job as a Teaching Fellow?

Being able to interact with the amazing students at BTC was my favorite part of being a Teaching Fellow. Throughout the summer, I watched my students learn, grow, and become more comfortable with being at Breakthrough. Their transformations were so beautiful, and although I was technically teaching them, I felt as though I learned so much as I watched them grow!

3. What advice or suggestions would you give for someone else who wants to get involved with Breakthrough or apply to be a Teaching Fellow?

Anyone ready to get involved with Breakthrough should be ready to have their life changed. This program is such an incredible catalyst for growth, both for the students and the Teaching Fellows. For people considering becoming a Teaching Fellow but not sure if education is for them, I recommend to just go for it and apply. I believe this experience is invaluable regardless of what career one may end up in.

Hena Vadher, Student Support Coordinator

Sep 4, 2018

Hena Vadher is one of the Student Support Coordinators at Breakthrough Twin Cities! Check out what she has to say about her experience at Breakthrough!

Q1. Tell us a little about your background! Where did you grow up, where did you attend high school and college, what did you major in, etc. And how did you first find out about Breakthrough?

A1. I grew up in St. Paul and attended Mounds Park Academy before heading off to college at Washington University in St. Louis. There, I studied International Development, with a particular interest in human rights. I first heard about Breakthrough as a student at MPA. After graduating in May of 2017, I was reconnected with Breakthrough when Wade Peterson (Breakthrough’s college counselor and fellow MPA alum) reached out regarding an open position at Breakthrough that was too good to pass up! I’ve been at Breakthrough in some capacity for a year now. I started in September of 2017 as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, serving at Breakthrough as my host site. In early April of 2018, I transitioned into my new role as the Student Support Coordinator for the MPA site.

Q2. How has Breakthrough helped you to grow as a person, and what new skills have you developed through your work?

A2. It’s difficult to articulate just how much Breakthrough has influenced my perspective. While at Breakthrough, I have learned so much about the value of long-term vision, living the growth mindset, and being patient with myself and others. In my work, I’ve had the opportunity to practice conflict management and navigate across different conflict styles, develop a sense of value for work-life balance, and work on creating program design frameworks that can be implemented (and improved!) for years to come.

Q3. What is one other thing you would like to tell people either about yourself, Breakthrough, or both?

A3. I subscribe to the philosophy that two of the most precious resources to one’s individual experience are people and time. I am so deeply grateful to work for an organization that shares those values. I am humbled to continue Breakthrough’s legacy by creating communities that support each other in challenging norms and breaking down barriers so that individuals can make their dreams their reality.

Welcome, Jess Cantu!

Aug 28, 2018

Jess Cantu is one of the newest members of our Board of Directors, and we’d like to give her a warm welcome to our Breakthrough family!

Jess is a Human Resources leader with 12 years of experience in a variety of roles focused on compliance, workforce planning, talent development, and engagement. She is currently the Associate Vice President for Workplace Diversity & Inclusion at U.S. Bank. Simply put, people are the center of her work and she is most passionate about closing the gap that exists in workplaces and communities which holds people back from representing and celebrating their authentic selves. She has also enjoyed building and managing internship programs for college students, allowing the business to learn and grow from the students directly.

In her role at BTC, Jess is excited to empower the next generation of students and educators throughout the Twin Cities community. Jess holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts from Concordia University.

Jess appreciates spending time with her family, learning, and enjoying the outdoors. She also adores the opportunity to mentor and share her knowledge of and passion for HR.

Thank you, Patrick!

Aug 22, 2018

Patrick is a Belgium native who was relocated to the U.S. by 3M Company in 2001. He became a U.S. citizen in 2010. He is married to Marie-Andree. Together they raised their son Laurent, who is married to Linda. Patrick’s two grandchildren, Andrea and Mike, are now a sunshine in Patrick’s retirement life.

Patrick is a retired 3M Executive who led 3M’s largest division and who was also the President for 3M’s operations in West Europe. During his 40 year career, he built up a broad-based expertise in strategic planning, finance, innovation, team development, supply chain management, negotiating, and integrating mergers & acquisitions. He had oversight over large P&L’s and Balance Sheets. He has always been dedicated to building effective relationships, delivering shareholder value, and providing support to investors and executive teams. Coaching and mentoring people has always been his first priority.

Patrick has served on several Boards, including the Board of Second Harvest Heartland here in the Twin Cities. He became aware of Breakthrough Twin Cities through a friend, and the program’s mission immediately appealed to him. He has served on the Breakthrough Twin Cities Board since 2016 and has been Board Chair since June 2017. Thank you for your leadership, Patrick!