The Gold Star Gala

The Gold Star Gala highlights the accomplishments of Black Men Teach Classroom and Pre-Certification Teachers and raises awareness of the important mission of Black Men Teach.

Proceeds from the event will support our efforts to recruit, prepare, place, and retain Black male teachers in Twin Cities classrooms, including financial support like scholarships and loan forgiveness.

ONLINE AUCTION OPENS     Friday, June 11, 2022

THE GOLD STAR GALA EVENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

The Nicollet Island Pavilion

40 Power Street

Minneapolis 55401

6:00 PM    Doors Open

Cocktails, games, prizes, and music

7:00 PM    Program, Dinner, Live Auction

Keynote Speaker, RODNEY ROBINSON

9:00 PM    Gold Star Gala After Party

Music, dancing and cocktails

Evening Attire

Cocktail Attire

Keynote Speaker

Rodney Robinson
2019 National Teacher of the Year

After teaching for over a decade in middle and high schools in Richmond, Virginia, Mr. Robinson became a social studies and history teacher for grades 6 through 12 at the Virgie Binford Education Center, located inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center. Rodney was named Virginia Teacher of the Year in 2018 and National teacher of the Year in 2019. He is a Senior Policy Advisor with Richmond Public Schools and director of the RVA Men Teach Program to recruit and retain male teachers of color with Richmond Public Schools.
 

Gold Star Gala Co-Chairs

James Burroughs II, JD
Vice President, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, Children's Minnesota

Mr. Burroughs has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of non-profit management, diversity and inclusion and employment law. He has helped both for- and non-profit organizations develop workplace diversity and inclusion training, policies and procedures that promote hiring and retention of employees of color, and partnerships with communities of color and other diverse communities.  James has a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., and completed his bachelor of arts degree in political science at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Tru Pettigrew
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Minnesota Timberwolves/Lynx

Mr. Pettigrew is a celebrated author, an engaging speaker, a committed community leader, and an award-winning marketing executive with over 20 years of experience at the nation’s top advertising and marketing agencies.

As a Diversity and Inclusion advocate and committed Community Bridge Builder, Tru has established a strong reputation for building bridges across racial, cultural, social, and relational lines. 

Together We Can Make A Difference - Join Us!

Black Men Teach seeks to address the student opportunity gap by closing the “teaching gap” — the lack of teachers of color, and more specifically, the near absence of Black men in elementary classrooms.  Our goal is simple: Each of our 8 partner elementary schools will have teaching staffs of 20% Black men by 2024.

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor                                 

 

                  

 

Guide Sponsor