Marquita Stephens
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA., Marquita has been in the Twin Cities since 1999, working on behalf of children and families. The former President and CEO of the African American Adoption Agency, and Community Engagement lead for the Roseville Area School district’s 21st Century grant, she is now President/CEO of the Urban League Twin Cities. During her tenure at the ULTC she has developed the Center for the Advancement of the Black Family, a Summer STEAM program, and deepened the local version of the National Urban League’s Project Ready as Black Gems. She co-authored with Dept of Education and Minneapolis Public Schools, an Equity Framework advocating the balance of power within stakeholders to bring forth the best possible system of education for k-12 students. These programs address micro and macro level change to benefit and advance equity considerations on behalf of Black people. While at the Roseville School District, she held the first “Intentional Social Intervention” with district personnel, students, parents, and community members to address multicultural issues. She also helped develop and served as the facilitator for the Community Conversations of the City of Roseville arising after the shooting of Philando Castile, tackling such subjects as police/community relations and immigration reform. A visionary leader, an IDI Administrator and trained coach, her volunteer work helps facilitate personal and organizational change. She earned a B.A. from Case Western Reserve University and M.P.A. from the University of Pgh.