“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reflect on his enduring call to shared responsibility, dignity, and the belief that our collective future is bound together.
In Minneapolis, many families are experiencing heightened stress and uncertainty due to increased immigration actions. For our scholars, this uncertainty shows up in the classroom, at home, and in how safe they feel in the world around them. These conditions have real and measurable impacts on families, schools, and community stability—particularly in neighborhoods already navigating historic inequities.
At the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), we know this truth well: when families are supported, scholars learn better. When children feel safe, they thrive. Showing up for our Northside families during times like these is not optional—it is essential.
Dr. King called on us to choose love over fear, community over division, and courage over silence. Both today and beyond, we honor his legacy by standing with families, listening deeply, and reinforcing the networks of care that help our scholars stay focused on learning, and able to dream about their futures.
Our work at NAZ has always been rooted in partnership. We walk alongside parents and caregivers, and collaborate with schools and community partners to support scholars from cradle to career, and create stability, opportunity, and belonging. In challenging moments, that commitment becomes even more visible and more important.
Across North Minneapolis, I see strength every day. I see families investing in their scholars and themselves, neighbors supporting each other, and partners choosing to show up—with compassion, consistency, and hope. This is the work Dr. King believed in: ordinary people doing extraordinary things for one another.
On this MLK Day, let us recommit to courage over fear, action over silence, and love over division. Let us show up for each other, for our babies, and for the future Dr. King envisioned. When we do, we not only honor his legacy—we make it real.
On behalf of NAZ,
Sondra Samuels
President & CEO