From Momentum to Impact: Project Success in Mankato
What began as a dream to expand programming to have more impact for more students and families became reality in January 2024 when Project Success launched programming in Mankato Area Public Schools middle schools – Dakota Meadows and Prairie Winds. Project Success has always encouraged students to dream big, plan for their futures, and pursue opportunities of excellence. In just over a year in Mankato, students, families, educators, and partners are connecting with Project Success in ways that are building student futures, supporting strong schools, and helping the community to connect in new ways. Mankato students are now experiencing all four of our program components – Workshops, Arts, Expeditions, and Institute – helping them dream, ignite, and grow through these new opportunities.
Starting with Workshops in Mankato, Marc Bromaghim-Oropeza, Senior Program Manager – Mankato, has been forging connections and building rapport with students and staff at both middle schools. Now, more than a year in, he says that not only do the students know when it’s a “Project Success” day, but there is a palpable buzz throughout the school when he, or the second Project Success Facilitator in Mankato, Kristin Fox, enter the building. “It’s cool because even in the classes where the partner teachers are new to Project Success, the students know what to expect when we are there. It’s become part of their vocabulary and the culture in the schools. They know that when Project Success is in the classroom, it’s going to be a fun day” says Marc. Project Success is now hosting monthly workshops for all of the almost 1,900 students in Dakota Meadows and Prairie Winds middle schools.
Project Success’ Arts programs have always been a foundational aspect of connecting students to their purpose and are a driving force in Mankato just like in Minneapolis. Performance experiences in Mankato are gaining momentum with more than double the opportunities being offered than last school year. As these opportunities have grown, so has student and family participation – deepening connections with schools, families, and arts organizations. Students and their families have had a chance to attend shows including Miracle on 34th Street (with Merely Players), Sleeping Beauty (with Mankato Ballet), Cinderella (with Minnesota State University – Mankato), and more – all at no cost to them. The growth in our Arts offerings in Mankato is due in large part to our fantastic partners in the area. The community has come together to welcome Project Success and provide high quality experiences for the students.
One such partner is Minnesota State University – Mankato (MNSU). When MNSU Director of Athletic Bands, Michael Thursby, came to Project Success with an idea for expanding their program called “Maverick for a Day”, we were thrilled to explore what this opportunity might look like for our students. The Project Success version of Maverick for a Day consisted of Mankato middle school students joining the MNSU marching band for a Saturday to tour the campus, learn the school fight song, practice college marching techniques, and culminated with them joining the pep band to play for a MNSU Men’s Basketball game in the evening.
This day wasn’t just about the music: “Our goal is that students are able to plan for and dream about their futures. What better way to do that than not just go on a college tour, but play music with college students and their music director at a live college basketball game. For students to realize ‘I actually held my own at this event with college students’ allows them to really see a future that is possible and exciting,” says Marc about the event. Being in a new community has created space for unique opportunities like this to take shape and grow.
Another partner who has been exploring what is possible in Mankato with us is Collide Theatrical Dance Company. They are a strong partner of Project Success in Minneapolis and when asked if they would be up for a Dance Residency program in Mankato, they jumped at the opportunity. This was a unique experience in Mankato for many reasons, but most notably because of the opportunity to partner directly with the health and gym classes in the middle schools – a first for Project Success! Gym teachers integrated the movement and dance into their curriculum in a way that resonated with students. Dancing alongside their gym teachers for two days of the residency created a new level of connection to the performance for students. Additionally, in a student survey, approximately 40% of responders who saw the Collide Dance Residency stated that this was their first experience with a live performance – opening a door to new ways of learning and self-expression.
Project Success had its very first Expeditions offering this school year with Mankato’s first Winter Adventure Day on February 8th. In partnership with multiple troops from Scouting America’s Twin Valley Council, Project Success invited students and their families to participate in activities including an obstacle course, fire building, kite making, and a s’mores station. Expeditions are core to our programming as students get out of day-to-day comfort zones, opening up their worldviews and ways to thrive. It is exciting to see them gaining momentum with students in Mankato.
The Project Success Institute is a space where students can gain potable skills for careers and life beyond high school. In Mankato, this is taking shape both in their college tours and the upcoming 8th grade career fair. Providing students with opportunities to explore their passions and interests and learn about different paths they can take in high school and beyond is a core component of the Project Success Institute. Project Success has also been facilitating a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Career Pathway for high school students at Central High School, which is an opportunity unique to our Mankato students. This pathway started in January and provides a cohort of 10 students with hands-on skills and training for a career as a CNA. Participating students are not only earning high school credits, but college credits as well. At the end of this program, students will have foundational skills in providing person-centered care to patients, residents, and clients in various healthcare facilities. “Giving students real-world access to career-connected learning in fields such as healthcare, empowers them to develop hands-on-skills, build confidence, and step into their future with experience and purpose,” remarks program lead, Dr. Elia Dimayuga-Bruggeman. When asked about the program, Central High School Principal, Marti Sievek says, “These students now, because they’re in this program, see a possible future. And right now, because they’re in the program and pursuing a livable wage, they are the most functional, successful people in their family. That’s the reality.” These programs continue to be a life changing opportunity with our Mankato students as they dream big about what their futures could look like.
Looking back at more than a full year of Project Success programs in Mankato schools, it is exciting to see how the program has grown and evolved. Project Success continues to use our 30+ years of history and knowledge to facilitate experiences for students and their families, alongside new partners joining and supporting our mission. As Principal Sievek says, “Project Success is in it for the sake of the students, the community, and the population it’s working for.” We continue to learn and adapt to what the community wants with the goal that through these program offerings, everyone grows stronger. Our students and schools grow stronger through Workshops and facilitated learning experiences, our partner organizations in Mankato grow stronger through collaborating on these events and reaching new audiences, and the community of Mankato gets stronger through shared experiences and increased community connectedness. As partnerships deepen in the community, we continue to look for ways to keep saying “yes!” to opportunities for our students and their families.