Richard Mammen believes in social justice, public education and service. A life long resident of Minneapolis, he has “walked his talk” for decades. He now seeks election to the Minneapolis Board of Education (at-large) because he believes our community urgently needs to refocus on building successful students and schools, support healthy families and strengthen our diverse communities. Richard Mammen knows that Minneapolis can – and must - do better!

For the past 38 years Mammen has been a tireless advocate for our city’s children, youth and families. Beginning his professional career as an outreach worker with the YMCA Detached Worker program in North Minneapolis and then as the founder and director of Katahdin (a contract alternative school serving juvenile offenders), he knows the challenges and costs of academic failure and poverty. He also knows kids can achieve success despite great odds. As the developer and director of numerous programs and organizations that serve children and youth in our city, he knows the power of actually engaging young people and families in setting and accomplishing the goals they want to achieve. As the first director of the Youth Coordinating Board, currently as the director for citywide recreation with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and as a member of dozens of community boards and commissions, he has demonstrated that social change is most durable when we work collaboratively across bureaucratic and sector lines. He and his programs have won numerous awards and recognition for innovation and effectiveness. Richard Mammen has broad, inclusive vision; he knows the power of honest relationships; and he has built an incredible network of allies.

This quest is also personal. As a life-long resident of Minneapolis - and graduate of Burroughs Elementary, Ramsey Jr. High, Washburn High School (68) and the University of Minnesota (72) - Mammen respects the great advantages public education has provided for him and his family. He is the proud parent of 2 South High School graduates and a current 8th grade student at Seward Montessori.  An involved parent, he has served as a PTSO member and chair of the Seward Leadership Council. He knows the Minneapolis Public Schools - its teachers, its students, its parents, its staff and the neighborhoods that surround them and he knows the realities that they confront everyday. Richard Mammen embraces this obligation to help our schools succeed for all of our children and for our collective future. He knows that we can achieve greater success for our kids – if we work together.