Removing barriers and providing support lives at the center of everything we do at Minnesota Transitions Charter School. And our students and families helped us find new and better ways to create the support they need with a Resource Fair.
One MTS Secondary (an MTCS school) parent of two high school students helped take the lead in the recent school resource fair sponsored by MTS Secondary. Numerous local organizations took part offering a variety of support for families and students.
“MTS is part of our lives. The relationships here with people really matter. I wanted to get involved and interact with other families to make a real difference.” Nataisia said.
From helping families set up dental appointments, housing arrangements, even rent support, to things like getting needed supplies, food and clothing in our free stores—our temporary Mall of America location school became a haven for families.
Along with services and support, there was also a beautiful library set up in one of the rooms where children could select books—so many of them featuring students of color. A special thank you to Hachette Children’s Group for their generous donation to MTS Secondary following the destruction of the school in the civil unrest, and also to local independent bookstores Moon Palace and Magers and Quinn for their generosity in donating and discounting books. The new MTS Secondary school being rebuilt right now will have books everywhere.
MTCS tries to be a real partner in the lives of our students and families and sometimes that means support outside of school. It’s one of the many reasons MTCS is different from other schools.
“There are so many barriers,” Nataisia shared. Nataisia is not only an MTS parent, she is also a diversity and inclusion expert and works with numerous area organizations and brings her passion, wisdom and direction to MTCS. “Community outreach is my passion.”
Dozens of people benefited from the day’s activities which was a wonderful preparation for bringing students back to in-person learning at the end of March, if they choose.
Mary Wattley, MTCS District Advocate for African American Scholars & Family Success said, “We make school work for families. I want our students and families to feel loved and valued.”
