Mark Gilson 🌱

School District: Richfield Public Schools (@Richfield280) When: April 6th 2026 Who: Dr. Steven Unowsky, Superintendent ⚖️I still don't understand how this is legal. In this clip, Superintendent Unowsky states that he asked a colleague, based on the color of their skin, to go recruit (staff) based on the color of their skin. "We not only do what you saw me do with Claire asking her to go out and recruit colleagues because it's one thing, frankly, for a 55-year-old middle-aged white man to come in, recruit teachers of color. But when, you know, at the time, Dr. Daniels, Dr. Roby, when leaders of color, you saw Principal Garcia here, when leaders of color out there recruiting, it shows that it's a location that is safe."

Huh, I guess I missed this one, Shannon Andreson, current Hopkins school board member, is running for SD 49. hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/fre… Here's a couple past clips related to her: x.com/markwgilson/st… x.com/markwgilson/st…

School Board: Rochester Public Schools (@RPS535) When: April 7, 2026 Who: Superintendent Kent Pekel Why is Rochester public schools playing word games to sneak failed DEI frameworks back in after they cost kids millions? 1:29 - “The term DEI was about to become radioactive… I had a strong personal instinct to fight against and resist.” 1:18 - They renamed the role from Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion → Executive Director of Family Engagement and Youth Empowerment 1:41 “The title isn’t the work, and the work can go on without the specific title.” Translation: They knew DEI had become toxic and cost them a multimillion-dollar grant for mental health staff, so they rebranded the exact same position to keep doing the exact same work, just without the label that triggered funding cuts and public backlash. Now, after pushback on possibly eliminating the role, Pekel says he’s “concerned about the absence of that term” and wants to bring back an “explicit emphasis on equity” in a new proposal.

An excellent and comprehensive breakdown from Catrin and @MNThinkTank . Worth the time to read.

I don't expect perfection from grant recipients, but are we all aware that Hashi Yasin Shafe, recipient of a $11,200 Minnesota Promise Act Grant, was arrested for domestic assault? Minnesota Promise Act: mn.gov/deed/assets/fy… Hennepin County Booking Number: 2026001089 @CrimeWatchMpls

So what Minnesota counties gain/lose adjusted gross income (AGI) to other states? Here's the top 10 for each. If nothing else, go to the end of the clip (2022-2023) and look at the #1 for each. Huge difference. Minnesota is bleeding people/income.

And again, but individuals.

Same data, but showing households.

Minnesota Out-of-State Migration: Where do Minnesotans go when they leave the state, and where are new arrivals coming from? 🔴 = Top 10 counties where Minnesotan's go 🟢 = Top 10 counties where new arrivals come from Lower left corner has State, County, AGI amount.

@BobbyNSteve1 😂 yeah that's true. Sometimes this is just me experimenting with new python libraries and seeing what's possible.

@markwgilson tbh i love visualizing data as well but i'm not sure 3d really helps this, ends up looking like a firework display and the elevation really adds nothing / means nothing.

Here's a 2 minute clip that shows this animation, 2011 to present. Hennepin County slowly lost taxable household income (pre-2016), right up until it rapidly lost taxable household income (post 2016). Post George Floyd, Hennepin County has lost ≈ $500M per year in AGI.

@BobbyNSteve1 Yes! That's next.

@markwgilson Ok what about people who moved out of state?

@RikkiBitters pydeck, TripsLayer. deckgl.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

@markwgilson Ooo which software?

I love data visualizations📊 I wanted to see IRS Migration data, this is for Hennepin County in 2020-2021. Hennepin County lost ≈ $650M in adjusted gross income (one year) to other counties in Minnesota. 🔴Red Arc = Net negative 🟢Green Arc = Net positive

@nutsgoboom Yes: irs.gov/statistics/soi…

@markwgilson IRS migration data?

@turntbjorn That should be an easy switch, I'll keep that in mind, thank you.

@markwgilson This is cool but a regular ass map with color gradient would convey the info so much easier

Gender-neutral single-user restroom grants? Fine. $925,000 in 2027? That’s a lot, but okay. But 15 points for pledging alignment with “anti-racism,” “anti-oppression,” and LGBTQ programming, including establishing a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)? How is this not the state blatantly funding gender activism? Document: education.mn.gov/mdeprod/idcplg…

I could't find much on the vendor, but Agate Social Works LLC, established back in 2017, had 2 compensation amounts listed in charter school IRS filings: Swan River Montessori Charter School - $135,765 Beacon Academy - $114,232

"We need to name what we know to be true. What we're experiencing collectively is bigger than this moment. Many of us, many of our students have experienced either personally or in their DNA expression, historical or racialized trauma. So that transgenerational harm, rooted in oppression or white supremacy." - Mandy Weinkauf from Agate Social Works, LLC A new MDE video released from the EDI (Equity Diversity & Inclusion) Center titled, "Supporting Students During Collective Crisis", link below: Video link: education.mn.gov/mdeprod/idcplg…

All MN school districts must offer an ethnic studies course starting fall 2026 and it could be this one! @mnachievement is proud to partner with @fairforall_org to elevate this outstanding new offering. Find or request a preview event near you! minnesotaachievement.org/events/