Danielle Grant Named New President and CEO

Grant has worked for Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) for the past nine years. She currently serves as Executive Director for MPS Educational & Cultural Services & Indian Education, where she has led systems-level change to help ensure that all students have the academic, cultural, social-emotional and basic needs support they require to be successful learners. She has led the development of a district-wide Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors Memorandum of Agreement, secured over $3 million in competitive grants, realigned programming to integrate cultural relevance with academic rigor, established professional best practices for working with Native students, and created culturally-specific programs to engage families and the whole community in the needs of Native students.

Grant has also worked as Director of Policy and Communications for the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, Training Manager for the Girl Scout Council of Greater Minneapolis, and Membership Development Director for the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley. She serves on the boards of American Indian OIC and the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, and sits on the Minnesota Historical Society Indian Advisory Committee. She holds a Master of Public Affairs in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English from Marquette University.

“Danielle Grant brings a strong commitment to the mission of AchieveMpls,” said AchieveMpls Board of Directors Chair Peter Lancaster. “She has spent her entire career focused on finding solutions to our city’s notorious opportunity gaps and engaging the widely diverse student, family and community populations in our schools and city. Her experience, energy and longstanding attention to the most challenged students in our community will help us further advance our goal of helping all Minneapolis students build a solid base for rewarding careers and post-secondary education.”

“I am beyond excited to be named CEO of AchieveMpls,” said Grant. “I have known and respected the work of AchieveMpls for many years, so I am honored to be selected to lead this fantastic organization. I look forward to working with the staff, the Board of Directors, and our school and community partners to ensure that all Minneapolis students are college and career ready.”

Retiring President and CEO Pam Costain has served at AchieveMpls since 2010. During her tenure, the organization has become a national model for public-private-nonprofit partnerships for education, and its long-time focus on addressing our region’s deep education and employment opportunity gaps has become a focal point of media and public policy. Costain has also grown the organization’s programs and staff, sharpened its focus on career and college readiness, and led community efforts to align and strengthen programs across the Twin Cities for student success.