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

She Supply Chains Podcast
Aug 24
2 min read

Updated: Nov 23

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, Mikisha 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 Mikisha, addressing the “talent supply chain” of education—bringing in passionate, diverse, and highly skilled educators—is just as critical as the curriculum itself.

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.