Talent Dividend

The Talent Dividend is a calculation of how much economic impact college grads have on a city. By increasing the number of college graduates in the Twin Cities by one percentage point of our population, $2.4 billion would be generated in personal incomes, or revenue. That's like attracting a billion-dollar-plus company to this region. The best way to measure the economic success of a city is per capita income and the simple most direct connection of per capita income is college attainment, says CEOs for Cities, the group that created the Talent Dividend initiative.

Talent Dividend Features

Black students in Minnesota schools are doing better than you think

Caroline Hooper Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The achievement gap between white and black students in Minnesota is real, and a cause for concern. But a Minneapolis schoolteacher adds nuance to the debate by pointing out that black students in Minnesota public schools are doing better than black students nationally.

Meet the new face of STEM: Shefali Mehta

Julie Kendrick Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A proud "geek girl" from childhood, this globe-trotting scientist-businesswoman founded a local STEM-education program for elementary-school kids, moved away, then returned to find it still going strong. Now she's more committed than ever to strengthening science-and-technology training in our towns.

The Building Sustainable Communities Program: Art for Everybody's Neighborhood

Jay Walljasper Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Art lives in the Twin Cities--and not just in the tonier parts of town. Thanks to initiatives like Twin Cities LISC's Building Sustainable Communities program, art and artists are taking major roles in helping some of our most challenged inner-city communities thrive.

A Place at the Podium: Debate Drives Success in Inner-City Schools

Julie Kendrick Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Once the exclusive province of privileged young white men heading for law degrees, debate is flourishing in inner-city schools here, thanks to the Minnesota Urban Debate League. The disciplined, demanding, and fun "mind sport" is helping kids of color and of lower income develop study and thinking skills--and get into college.

The New (Older) Face of Higher Ed

John Van Hecke Wednesday, February 20, 2013

About a third of college students today, writes John Van Hecke, are 25 or older, and they have very different issues from 18-to-22-year old "standard" college kids, including family responsibilities, time constraints, and special financial needs. Dealing with these concerns, he argues, is crucial for developing Minnesota's 21st-century workforce.

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