The Promise Is You!

Who We Are

The Promise Is You has a direct and invaluable mission.

Through intentional conversation, we create communities and campuses that challenge violence and discrimination. 

Our goal is to make a difference and help change organizations one conversation at a time.

We are making a difference through education, leadership, and character building. 

We are here to educate people to be part of the solution for diversity and inclusion. 

What We Do

Our goal is to open up conversations and facilitate real change in your organization together.

 We do this by identifying the areas of training that best fits your needs by diving in and understanding your organization. We want to identify the areas most beneficial to you. We do this by developing a comprehensive and interactive training plan that meets your organization’s needs.

Meet Us

Keith and Carl have worked together for nearly 30 years in the Duluth, MN area, and beyond. They both have a knack for making people feel comfortable and heard, even while discussing difficult issues. While they are serious and passionate about the work they do, they are also wholly relatable and can inspire a room with their contagiously positive attitudes.

Keith Turner

Has a graduate degree in education and has worked in higher education student support services for over 25 years. He has received his active shooter training and is a Clery Act and Title IX compliance officer. He has been an experienced collegiate-level coach for over 25 years and has a number of conference titles and several All-Conference and All American participants. As a coach, he believes one should only ask from their staff what one is willing to do themselves. A team is a family and will not always agree, but it’s critical to keep the best interest of the team and college first at all times. 

Crawford Carl photo vertical lo res

Carl Crawford

Carl Crawford has worked in higher education for 9 years. He is a presenter for the nationally acclaimed Men As Peacemakers. He was the head boys and girls basketball coach at Marshall High School in Duluth for many years. He has had the opportunity to play with many top programs such as Verbum Dei High in Los Angeles, CA, and on the elite Watts Magicians AAU basketball team. These experiences exposed him to many great coaches and players. He has seen players with more talent and ability fall short of reaching their dreams because of mistakes made on and off the court. He is passionate about empowering students and organizations to be better leaders and to make better lives for themselves and those around them. Carl was selected by Mayor Emily Larson as Duluth’s Human Rights Officer in July 2016 after serving as Lake Superior College’s Intercultural Center Coordinator since 2007. As the Human Rights Officer, Crawford is charged with enforcing City and state human rights laws and works to ensure City services are accessible to all people without discrimination. In addition, the Human Rights Officer also serves as the Equal Opportunity Representative for the City of Duluth and the ADA Coordinator, responsible for enforcement of policies against discrimination and harassment, diversifying the workforce and promoting accessibility for all residents. Crawford brings a deep history of community involvement and human rights work to the position, including helping to draft the original Human Rights Ordinance, serving as past chair of the Human Rights Commission and was a founding board member of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial. In addition, Crawford has served on numerous Board of Directors, including Community Action Duluth, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, Woodland Hills, Men as Peacemakers, the Ordean Foundation, SOAR, NAACP, and American Cancer Society. He is the recipient of the 2012 MLK Jr. Drum Major for Peace Award, is active with the Family Freedom School of Duluth and is a longtime youth and high school basketball coach.

Success Stories

Working with Keith and Carl from “The Promise Is You” has been a very positive experience for our teachers. The presenters facilitate a great deal of discussion along with a non-judgmental environment that promotes the sharing of perspectives.

Through “The Promise Is You,” our teaching staff has gained more confidence working with our diverse student population.

If your school is looking for training that focuses on positivity without making your staff feel overwhelmed, I highly recommend “The Promise Is You.” <br/>

John 

K-12 Principal

 I came to fond du lac tribal to better myself as a young man and get that degree for my mom also to better the team in anyway I could.
2.) I came through many barriers as far as losing my scholarships because of test scores but I told myself if I really want it go get it and I kept that chip on my shoulder ever since
3.) the love from the school kept me at fond du lac it wasn’t not one person who wouldn’t help me if I needed them so I grinded in my books then I took it to the field and tried to demolish anything that came my way
 – Jamaall

Coming to Vermilion from Cleveland, Ohio was exciting for me because I grew up in the projects around drugs and violence throughout my childhood.  Both of my parents were on crack cocaine and I was desperately seeking a way out.  For me, football was my outlet.  Offers from several Division I universities were presented, but I didn’t have the grades.  At the time, Prop 48 was my only option. Vermilion called and I jumped at the opportunity.  Eager to leave Cleveland, I was tired of hearing the gun shots at night and seeing the domestic violence in my home.

When I arrived at Vermilion, it was a culture shock for me.  I enjoyed the peace and quiet, although I didn’t see many faces that looked like me.  The first week was really hard for me; however going home was not an option for me.  Commitment made me stay no matter what.  My coaches made me feel comfortable when times got hard for me.  It really helped me to have a coach on staff that not only looked like me, but came from the same place as me. 

While attending Vermilion, there weren’t many barriers on the football field unlike the stereotypes sometimes felt in the community towards African-American athletes.  In our collegiate classes, it was noticed that most of the professors were uneducated in multiculturalism teaching and relations. In the future, it would be a great asset to small colleges like Vermilion to have more minority counselors on staff.

– Terrance
Now an Athletic Director/Head Football

 Q.1  I needed rescue from the projects, I was desperate to leave my upbringing even if it was going to a foreign place where I knew I would stand out.

Q.2 The same thing that allowed me be successful was be desire to want something different (Education) and getting another opportunity to play football motivated me. I will also credit my success to being a little older and knowing that I wanted to major in business. Finally, I would have to say the support and vote of confidence from coach Gubauer and of course you. You would  be surprise what a vote of confidence can do for a person with little self worth.

Q.3 Of course I had barriers and one of many was the culture shock but most of all my poor academic skills was my biggest barrier.

 

Currently I work in higher education as a relationship expert/recruiter/ consultant and what I do is present academic information to students, Business partners and military divisions.  But most rewarding important thing that I do is inspire students to take a chance on themselves by helping them gain a stronger vision of themselves with their degree.

 

I have bless to be in the field now going on twelve years and the most rewarding thing is watching people grown and manifest their greatness. It’s the ultimate compliment, hence by the grace of God he is instructing me step out on faith and become a independent education consultant. I will be preparing and coaching students and their parents on properly selecting the right school. My target market are 8th-12th graders, adults learners and contracting with middle and high schools to support their educational goals. I will have a specialty where I’m doing 2 day work shops with (school athletes, at risk students and teen parents)

Richard

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