"Minnesota needs to follow the lead of our Governor and bipartisan legislators who championed early learning scholarships. We need to continue investing in this proven education tool because it delivers the right amount of help, for the right length of time, to the right children-- the children who are most at-risk. Indeed, investing in early learning scholarships is the best public investment we can make."
Art Rolnick
Board member, Close Gaps by 5
Leaders
Close Gaps By 5 is a lean nonprofit organization led by Minnesota business and community leaders championing the use of early education to narrow Minnesota’s worst-in-the-nation achievement gaps.
It is made up of respected leaders from Minnesota’s business, nonprofit and academic sectors who are committed to early education approaches that are proven to be effective and efficient.
Board
- Michael V. Ciresi, Founding Partner, Ciresi Conlin L.L.P. (Chair)
- Ken Powell, Retired Chairman and CEO, General Mills (Vice Chair)
- Jan Kruchoski, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen L.L.P. (Treasurer)
- Tim Penny, President, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (Secretary)
- Terri Barreiro, Co-founder, Impact Hub MSP
- Kathy Cooney, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, HealthPartners
- Brett Edelson, Senior Vice President, UnitedHealthcare Community & State
- Lucinda Jesson, Minnesota Court of Appeals
- Robbin Johnson, Former President, Cargill Foundation
- Arthur J. Rolnick, Senior Fellow, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
- Fred Senn, Founding Partner, Fallon Worldwide
- Lisa L. Saul, MD, President, Mother Baby Clinical Service Line, Allina Health
- Margie Soran, Executive Director, Soran Foundation