Andrea was born and raised in Wisconsin, but Minnesota quickly stole her heart when she moved to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for college. While studying at the University of Minnesota, she developed a passion for social justice, majoring in sociology and devoting her free time to grassroots causes both on and off campus. Convinced that we all have a role to play in improving the world around us, Andrea joined the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, where she managed a training and reflection program for students involved in service learning.
Andrea went on to receive her master's in public policy from the Johns Hopkins University, where she studied social policy and nonprofit management. She also served as a research assistant with the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, focusing on state and national workforce policy, and as a mayoral fellow with the City of Baltimore.
Most recently, Andrea worked as a senior policy analyst for the Job Opportunities Task Force—a Maryland nonprofit that advances policy and programs to remove the barriers facing low-wage workers. For eight years, she developed a wide range of campaigns, focused on everything from post-secondary access and success to unemployment insurance. She saw that effective programs and well-designed systems can give workers the tools they need to succeed.
She also saw that the root of many barriers facing adults begin long before they enter the workforce. That’s what drew Andrea to MinnCAN to work on education policy. She’s eager to put her policy background to work to build a stronger Minnesota where schools deliver the promise of opportunity to all kids.
I aspire to be like Alan Khazei. Here's why:
Alan Khazei co-founded City Year—the community service program that ultimately inspired AmeriCorps—and continues to spearhead national service through Be the Change, Inc. Khazei embodies the notion of pragmatic idealism—the ability to think big and aim high, while keeping your feet on the ground to get things done. Khazei's work is inspiring because it demonstrates how a committed nonprofit leader, with a little expertise and a lot of persistence, can take a dream and turn it into a movement.
I love my job because it’s both challenging and rewarding. I love digging into complicated issues, identifying avenues for change and developing strategies to get it done. There is nothing better than knowing you contributed to something that will have a positive impact on the world around you. On top of all that, I get to work with an incredible team who impress me and make me laugh just about every day.
I am a proud product of the public school system. From elementary through high school, I attended public schools in a suburb just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I received a top-notch education from dedicated teachers who held me to high standards. This solid foundation set me up for a successful future. Every young person should be able to tell a similar story.
Mornings. On the flip side, I am great at staying up late into the night for no good reason.
I'm a wonk at heart, and these numbers are too stark too ignore. We need to be bold and creative, and take swift action to make sure all kids succeed, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or family income.
Photo credit