Mark Murphy to receive 2018 Leadership Award

Mark received our 2018 Leadership Award at our Evening of Excellence dinner on October 4.

Mark Murphy is a tireless advocate for Minneapolis youth, public education, equity and sustainability. As the parent of Southwest High School graduates, a dedicated member of the AchieveMpls board of directors from 2010-18, and through his continued service as a volunteer on our board development committee, Mark has played a pivotal role in our leadership, resource development and management. 
 
Now executive director of the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, which provides environmental stewardship opportunities for young people, Mark was a senior leader at Cargill for over two decades. His many roles included assistant vice president for corporate affairs – global head for corporate responsibility, in which he directed philanthropy and community engagement, and executive director of the Cargill Foundation. 
 
“Addressing the achievement gap is a task that’s bigger than any one organization can solve,” says Mark. “As a parent, a product of public education and a former corporate funder, I know it takes a long-term view, sustained commitment and strong community-wide partnerships to build strong public schools and ensure student success.”
 
Mark was instrumental in securing over $16 million in Cargill grants for AchieveMpls and Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) key priorities, including career and college readiness programs, STEM, AVID and leadership development. To date, Cargill is the largest single funder for AchieveMpls and MPS.
 
Mark personifies the best qualities of a program champion – kindness, authenticity, organizational savvy, creative problem-solving and tenacity. We are thankful for his ongoing service and advocacy on behalf of our work and our young people.