Before joining AchieveMpls in 2011, Marika worked in the Youth Work Institute at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Youth Development. There she was responsible for leading a statewide association of youth development professionals, developing a community faculty teaching cohort, and expanding the use of technology and social media as a strategy to engage youth development professionals. Marika also completed a two-year emerging scholars program, supported the development and implementation of the Children and Youth Legislative Caucus at the Capitol, and was a member of the Supporting Youth Success Planning Team. Earlier in her career Marika worked for the St. Paul Public Schools as a family and community involvement/business partnerships/Title 1 coordinator, choir director, and literacy specialist. She has a B.A. from Macalester College and is enrolled in a nonprofit management and adult development training program at Metropolitan State.