But what can I do?

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Getting more young people on the path to college is good for them and for our state. "But what can I do," you ask? Just about everyone can do something. Here are some examples from the inspirations section of the LearnmoreMN Web site of what individuals, companies and communities are doing.

A group of Deloitte employees take out time from their corporate days to work with Wellstone International High School students as a part of the Achieve! Career and College Initiative. At 17 to 21 years old and with limited English language skills, the Wellstone students welcome the chance to learn about colleges, interviewing, resume writing, and job searching from Deloitte’s experienced professionals. A Deloitte policy of allocating 40 hours a year to volunteer projects bolsters their efforts. Read this story

The City of St. Paul’s Circulator bus provides a simple, but highly effective solution to the problem of connecting children to learning opportunities throughout the neighborhood. Circulator buses provide free rides for young people to libraries, recreation centers, community centers and non-profits. The buses are part of the city's Second Shift initiative. Read this story

Bengo Mrema has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) since 2001. It took him a while to earn the trust of his little brother, but his positive, consistent presence made a difference. Mrema found creative ways to include academics in their meetings and introduced ideas about college and other post-secondary education options. Mrema says his unconditional commitment has paid off. Read the story

What do you do, or what can you imagine doing? We welcome your stories and ideas.