UpLiFT Movement

“Seeing yourself in your mentor shapes who you become in your classroom — in turn, students become what they see.”

Problem

Seeing yourself in your mentor shapes who you become in your classroom — in turn, students become what they see. This is why having mentors who share your culture and background is so important. Many teachers of color leave teaching in Minnesota because they don’t get enough support, feel isolated, or face unfair treatment—not because they aren’t capable. Culturally sustaining mentorship—where mentors honor and support a teacher’s culture—helps teachers feel strong and ready to stay. When teachers feel supported, their students can see someone like them and believe in what they can do.

Mr. Angelo

Mr. Angelo’s story helps us understand this problem. He is a Black male  educator who felt very alone at school because he was sometimes the only Black staff member. He even felt like he wanted to “shut down.” Without someone to guide him, teachers like Mr. Angelo might stop teaching. He says, “Sometimes being the only Black staff makes me feel alone or not sure if I can speak up. Having a mentor helps me feel more confident.”

The Gap

To help teachers like Mr. Angelo, we need to raise $5,000 this Give to the Max Day. Thanks to the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, they will match what we raise up to $2,500! That means your donation will go twice as far.

How Your Gift Helps - Your gift could be used for:

• Paying mentee for their time
• Giving coaching & leadership support to mentees and mentors.
• Helping mentors get training that uplifts their culture

These gifts help keep mentorship programs strong and help teachers succeed.

Closing

When teachers get support, their students do better. Mr. Angelo’s story—from foster care to Morehouse College to being a Black male educator and leader—shows how mentorship changes lives. Supporting more BIPOC teachers means more students see teachers who look like them. Your gift helps students stay in school and grow into leaders like Mr. Angelo.

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Why UpLiFT?

UpLiFT is run by and for BIPOC educators. We help BIPOC teachers start their careers and keep growing. Mr. Angelo knows how powerful mentoring is. When he was in foster care, a high school teacher helped him with college applications and getting into Morehouse College. “He walked me through it all, even financial aid. Because of him, I graduated college and got my master’s degree.”

Mentoring has helped Mr. Angelo grow working in mental health to teaching. It helped him feel proud of who he is and build better connections with students and families. Now, mentorship helps him grow both as a person and a leader.

Our Results Last Year

• We saved $60K by keeping 3 teacher from leaving
• We helped students gain nearly $1 million in benefits by getting them to go to college.
• Between 66 - 84 students felt they belonged more because their teachers had support.

Our special program works because we offer:

• Mentor pairings with experienced teachers
• Paired training that respects BIPOC cultures
• Safe places for honest talk and support
• Leadership pathways
• A double benefit where teachers see themselves in mentors & students see themselves in teachers

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Culturally Sustaining Mentorship means helping teachers by understanding and respecting their background and culture. It supports teachers in a way that makes them feel proud of who they are and helps them grow their skills. This kind of mentorship creates a safe space where teachers can be themselves and get the right kind of help to succeed.

A leading educator, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, said it best “Culturally sustaining mentorship is about honoring the histories, values, and languages of all communities so that those who have been marginalized can thrive.”

This means mentors don’t just guide teachers—they help keep their culture alive and strong while they learn and lead. 

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