Way to Grow takes a holistic approach to promoting school readiness through parent education and support, including health education, childhood development, and early childhood education.  We also connect parents to community resources.

Way to Grow works with mothers and fathers of young children in their first five years, including expectant parents.  Way to Grow reaches out to low-income families, whose children are at risk for difficulties in school.  Beginning in 1989, Way to Grow has grown to support over 3000 parents and children each year.

Way to Grow's core philosophy is that parents are their children’s first, and most important, teachers and that we are here to support them in many ways.  Way to Grow helps parents gain the knowledge, skills, and access to resources necessary to foster the development of both children and parents.  By helping parents prepare their children for school, Way to Grow is preparing children for success in life.

"Way to Grow gives our families hope.  Hope creates small miracles everyday."

Carolyn  Smallwood - Executive Director

Our home visitors, we call them Family Educators, are the hearts and hands of Way to Grow.  They are the key to our success in working with families, partly because they mirror the families we serve in ethnicity and diversity of experiences. 

Way to Grow's eighteen Family Educators represent many cultures and speak many languages.  They are fluent in seven languages: Amharic, English, Hmong, Italian, Oromo, Somali, and Spanish.  For many of them, English is their second language as with the families we serve.

Carolyn Smallwood, Way to Grow's Executive Director, joined the organization in September 2004.  She came to Way To Grow from Twin Cities Rise! where she served as Vice President for Sales and Marketing.  She previously served as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council.  Prior to entering the nonprofit field, Carolyn held a variety of senior executive positions with ADC, The Broadband  Company, and US Bancorp.  She earned her B.A. in Marketing and Finance from the University of St. Thomas.  Carolyn has a passion for work in diverse communities, a solid background in marketing, strong executive experience, an inclusive leadership style, and a dynamic presence.  She is strategic and thoughtful and recognizes that the Way to Grow mission is top priority.