42: Equity in Action: Mikisha Nation on Reimagining the Education Supply Chain

She Supply Chains Podcast
Aug 25
2 min read

Updated: Sep 15

What would it take to ensure that every child—no matter their zip code—has access to an excellent education?

In this episode, we sit down with Mikisha Nation, Executive Director of Teach for America Twin Cities, to explore her journey in education and the urgent need to close Minnesota’s persistent opportunity gaps. As someone who has navigated both personal and professional challenges to become a leader in education, Makisha brings a perspective that blends lived experience, community insight, and bold vision. She speaks openly about how inequities in the system show up in real time for students of color, and why the work of transforming education cannot be left to schools alone. It takes community partnerships, advocacy, and a willingness to innovate in order to create real, lasting change.

Throughout the conversation, Mikisha highlights the transformational role of early childhood education, diverse teaching representation, and community engagement in shaping student outcomes. She explains how disparities in Minnesota often begin before kindergarten, where resources and access to high-quality learning opportunities are unevenly distributed. By the time students reach later grades, these gaps are already significant, affecting everything from graduation rates to career readiness. For Makisha, addressing the “talent supply chain” of education—bringing in passionate, diverse, and highly skilled educators—is just as critical as the curriculum itself.

What makes Mikisha perspective especially powerful is her belief that relationships are the true engine of change. Beyond policy, funding, or structure, she emphasizes the impact of mentorship, networking, and career guidance not only for teachers but also for students as they navigate their own paths. She reflects on how her own leadership style has been shaped by diverse experiences and underscores why every leader, no matter the field, should engage with local schools. By showing up, listening, and investing in students, we can begin to shift what equity in education looks like in practice.

Her story is both deeply personal and broadly impactful—a call to action for leaders, educators, and community members to rethink their role in education and to recognize the collective responsibility we all share in supporting the next generation. From the classroom to the boardroom, from early childhood to higher education, the message is clear: equity isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of a future where every child has the chance to thrive.