Posts by Minds Matter

Over the past year, Minds Matter continued building toward a stronger, more connected national network focused on long-term student success. Across 14 chapters, Minds Matter served 1,100 students, supported by nearly 2,000 volunteers nationwide. Our Class of 2025 achieved a 100% four-year college acceptance rate, with 344 graduates admitted to colleges and universities across the…

We’re thrilled to share the Minds Matter 2024–2025 College Report! This report celebrates our students’ hard work, our volunteers’ dedication, and our donors’ investment in potential that transforms into achievement. 100% of our 344 graduates earned admission to four-year colleges. The Class of 2025 stands out with a 3.9 average GPA, SAT scores 100 points…

Minds Matter National CEO Erika Halstead recently joined host Todd Zipper on the An Educated Guest podcast for a wide-ranging, deeply personal conversation about mentorship, economic mobility, and the future of education for high-achieving, low-income students. Erika shared her journey from starting her career as a bilingual teacher to leading Minds Matter — an organization…

Ashley McGrath is the new Executive Director at Minds Matter Philadelphia! Ashley McGrath is an education and operations leader with over 15 years of experience driving impact within the K-12 and NonProfit Sectors. As Deputy Director at Education Plus Health, Ashley led and supported the creation and execution of systems and strong school based partnerships…

Johnna Loreen is the new Executive Director at Minds Matter Portland! Johnna comes to Minds Matter Portland with a strong background in fundraising, nonprofit leadership, and college access, along with a special talent for motivating and coordinating both students and volunteers. After graduating from Macalester College in 2014, Johnna worked at College Possible Portland where…

Cynthia Suttle is the Executive Director for Minds Matter Houston! Growing up in Detroit, MI, as the daughter of a medical school professor, higher education wasn’t just encouraged, it was a non-negotiable cornerstone of her upbringing. This early foundation instilled in her a deep appreciation for its transformative power, a value that clearly aligns with…

Whitney Flores is the new Executive Director at Minds Matter Bay Area! Whitney served as the Site Director for Year Up Bay Area’s Diablo Valley College campus, where she leads a dedicated team of 18 staff members in supporting 160 talented young adults each year. In this role, she ensured the seamless execution of programs,…

Jason joins Minds Matter Chicago as its inaugural Executive Director, bringing with him not only a wealth of experience but a heart for the city that raised him. A proud son of Chicago’s Englewood community, Jason has spent over 15 years walking alongside students whose stories mirror his own. Students with dreams bigger than their…

Minds Matter DC is thrilled to announce L’Toya Jones as its new Executive Director. L’Toya brings over a decade of experience and passion for educational equity to her role as Executive Director of Minds Matter Washington D.C. L’Toya was most recently the Director of Programs at Minds Matter New York City, where she played a pivotal role…

Minds Matter Colorado is thrilled to announce Brad Reubendale as its new Executive Director. With a proven track record of leading impactful programs and championing under-resourced communities, Brad brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for Minds Matter’s mission of empowering students to achieve their college dreams. “We are beyond excited to welcome Brad Reubendale…