A Brief History of We Go High
Origins (2020 – 2022)
The idea for We Go High germinated in the wake of Minnesota’s racial-justice uprisings and the global pandemic. Community organizer, chemist, and mediator Sharon Sund—long active in politics and restorative-justice circles—saw both a widening education gap and a surge of Black women ready to lead. Informal “kitchen‑table” conversations clarified two truths:- Structural harms must be named and healed, not merely patched.
- When Black women organize, whole communities rise.
Founding Year (2023)
In spring 2023 Sharon convened twenty allies to draft a simple charter: build Black women’s political leadership and power to create structural change that heals past harms. The group chose the name We Go High—a nod to both moral altitude and collective ascent—and joined the campaign that won groundbreaking legislation in 2023.Early Wins (2023 – 2024)
- Resolution Wave: More than forty members introduced platform planks on housing, public health, and family preservation at precinct caucuses across the state.
- Leadership Academy Pilot: Trained thirty emerging leaders in campaign basics, storytelling, and restorative practice.
- Coalition Building: Formed partnerships with Isaiah/Faith in MN, the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Governor’s Office of Equity, Opportunity, and Accountability, and others, linking spiritual‑rooted justice work with STEM equity.
Strategic Pivot to Education & STEM (2024 – 2025)
Member surveys revealed a unifying passion: closing Minnesota’s education gap and cultivating Black STEM brilliance. We Go High adopted a two‑part Sankofo goal:- End the K‑12 education gap for Black students.
- Make Minnesota the nation’s top state for developing Black STEM talent.
Current Moment (2025)
Key initiatives:- Black Women Power Hub: A digital organizing platform to support communication and recruitment of 1,000 Black women statewide.
- Research Visits: Delegations meet superintendents, school boards, and tech employers to map systemic barriers and actionable solutions.
- Innovation for Liberation Project: A Juneteenth‑inspired movement and film showcasing untapped Black youth genius, produced in collaboration with Westbone Productions and the Science Museum.
- Grassroots house meetings surfacing local solutions, policy needs, and building grassroots influence
- An August/September convening will bring lawmakers, educators, and youth together to preview the documentary and co‑create a statewide STEM action plan.