Mayor Chris Coleman today will be receiving a special award from the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota (CDF-MN) for his leadership in supporting Minnesota’s youth, including his many education initiatives.
“It is an incredible honor to receive this award today from an organization that has done so much for the youth in our community,” said Mayor Coleman. “I am humbled, and continue to be committed to building a better future for our kids here in Minnesota. Making sure every child has the resources and education they need to succeed is the most important thing we can do to ensure strong communities.”
During his tenure, Mayor Coleman led the creation of the Sprockets Network, which connects Saint Paul families to free after school and summer programming. Also under his leadership was the creation of Right Track, a program that connects low-income students with internships at local businesses. Since the program began in 2014, more than 2,000 students have received internships, earning nearly $2.5 million in wages.
The award will be presented tonight at CDF-MN’s 25th annual Beat the Odds awards celebration at the University of St. Thomas Anderson Student Center.