Oct 10, 2018

My Very Strong Endorsement of Sharon El-Amin for one of two At-Large Seats on the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education, Election of 6 November 2018


I firmly support the candidacy of Sharon El-Amin for one of the two At-Large seats on the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education up for election on 6 November 2018. 


 


El-Amin is the longtime owner of El-Amin’s Fish House, which she managed so astutely as to earn numerous awards and recognitions, including the Start Up Business of the Year 2002, 2010 Small Business of the Year, 2010 Longevity & Sustained Impact Award, and the 2010 Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained Nominee at Women Venture.  Located for many years on West Broadway near Penn Avenue North, the business continues as a catering enterprise run along with El-Amin’s many philanthropic endeavors as Social Coordinator in behalf of Masjid An’Nur.  El-Amin’s husband of 26 years, Makram El-Amin, is imam of this important community of faith, at the mosque located on Lyndale Avenue North just across from Cub Foods.

 

El-Amin is a towering presence in North Minneapolis, well-known to those who, like her, are ever endeavoring to make the Northside as economically and academically successful as it is culturally vibrant.  On the second and fourth Saturday of every month, El-Amin cooks and prepares 100 hot meals for families in need.   El-Amin is currently the President of Minneapolis North Polar Parent organization and a member of North High School Site Council, positions similar to those in which she has served at other school attended by her three children.  Two of her children are graduates of Minneapolis Public Schools;  the other currently attends North High School .

 

El-Amin has lived in Minneapolis for 27 years;  for a quarter of a century she has dedicated her life in that city to the pursuits of small business ownership, keenly focused and loving parenthood, involvement in the public schools, and active participation in the quest for community betterment.  The social service agency Emerge is a salient example of her many associations for the good of the Northside community and all Minneapolis.

 

Having known of Sharon El-Amin’s multiple community commitments, I sat with her on the evening of Sunday, 7 October, to discuss an array of issues pertinent to the Minneapolis Pubic Schools.  We found resonance on a multitude of issues, including my own passions for knowledge-intensive curriculum, training and support for teachers capable of imparting such a curriculum, highly intentional tutoring for students languishing below grade level, and expanded outreach to families struggling with dilemmas of poverty and functionality.  As a candidate and future member of the MPS Board of Education, El-Amin emphasizes advocacy for greater accountability on the part of Minneapolis Public Schools officials and board members for the success of all students;  greatly expanded community engagement;  and absolute transparency in all aspects pertinent to administration, finances, and programming in the district.

 

I am not easy to convince.  I have seen many personages come and go, make big promises, then move on with much work left to be done.  Sharon El-Amin has stayed and committed her considerable energies for the betterment of all people in Minneapolis for a quarter of a century.  She has convinced me that her priority will be the precious young people for whom she and I have worked for a comparably extended period of time, which in association with the Minneapolis Public Schools means the provision of an academic program of excellence.

 

Sharon El-Amin is a loving, caring person, with a heart that wishes the best for all people and a vision for the unity of humanity in our cultural diversity.  She will be what an At-Large member of the MPS Board of Education should be:  a representative for the entire city’s students and their families.

 

With great enthusiasm, I urge you to vote on Tuesday, 6 November 2018, for Sharon El-Amin as candidate for one of the two At-Large seats on the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education.

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