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MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

Early childhood champion Carolyn Smallwood on nurturing young children

Coming up 9 a.m. on Tuesday

woman on bridge in white dress and jacket
Carolyn Smallwood has been the CEO of Way to Grow since 2004. After serving in the role for 20 years, she plans to retire in January, 2025.   
Courtesy photo

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What happens to us when we’re very young can set us up for life. 

Few people know this better than Carolyn Smallwood, the CEO of Way to Grow, a Minneapolis nonprofit organization that helps parents nurture their children so they’re ready to thrive and learn in the early years of school.

Last year the organization helped more than 800 parents and 1,200 children through home visits, parent education, school readiness programs and health and wellness support.

Way to Grow is marking its 35th anniversary with an event this week. And after twenty years leading the organization, Smallwood plans to retire in early 2025.

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Carolyn Smallwood about the impact of Way to Grow, its future and what we can do to encourage young children's healthy development.  

And we want to hear from you.

Are you a parent or do you take care of young children? Have you been supported by Way to Grow or another early childhood and family education program that helps adults learn how to nurture children? What are some of the most important things you’ve learned that help you with the stressful job of parenting?  

Call 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828 during the 9 a.m. hour.

Guest:

  • Carolyn Smallwood has been the CEO of the nonprofit organization Way to Grow since 2004. A former commercial loan banker, Smallwood previously served as vice president for sales and marketing at Twin Cities Rise! and as executive director of the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council. She serves on several boards, including the Ciresi and Walburn Foundation Board of Directors, the African American Leadership Forum Board of Directors and the Minnesota Comeback Board of Directors.

  • Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.