The 2026 SOARNORTH Gala was a powerful celebration of purpose and the extraordinary promise of North Minneapolis.
On October 24, nearly 1,800 supporters, community leaders, partners, parents, and friends gathered at The Armory in Minneapolis for an inspiring evening in support of the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) under the theme “Roots and Wings”. With the incredible John Legend as our special guest, the night was filled with meaningful connections and a shared commitment to brighter futures for Northside scholars and families.
For five years, SOARNORTH has brought our community together around a shared belief: every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and every family deserves the support and resources to build a brighter future. As NAZ celebrated 15 years as a federally designated Promise Neighborhood, we were reminded of what's possible when a community comes together with purpose.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible co-chairs, Best Buy’s Amelia Hardy and U.S. Bank’s Greg Cunningham; our generous sponsors and donors, especially Platinum Presenting Sponsor Cargill; our Gala Committee; our NAZ Board, staff, and partners; and, most importantly, the scholars and families who inspire this work every day.
A very special thank you to John Legend for sharing his talent, time, and belief in the promise of North Minneapolis scholars.
Because of you, NAZ can continue building pathways to academic achievement and economic mobility for thousands more Northside scholars and families.
“The greatest legacy we leave our children is not simply what we give them today. It's what we make possible for their tomorrow. So let's give our babies ROOTS strong enough to remind them who they are! And WINGS powerful enough that no neighborhood, no circumstance, and no setback can determine how far they go!” - Sondra Samuels, NAZ President and CEO
The energy from SOARNORTH will carry us forward. The future is bright, the Northside is full of promise, and we're just getting started.
Thank you for helping us SOARNORTH! Want to see photos from the event? Click here!