Founding Story
Leon Tazel, created The Tazel Institute after a visit to the Minneapolis Juvenile Center in 2013. His daughter, Maya was subpoenaed as a witness to a fight between two classmates. What Mr. Tazel saw in that juvenile center forever changed him and put him on a path that led to the creation of this organization.
To educate and expose diverse students, specifically young African American men to the inner workings of professional business in the many industries that make up our economy, Leon launched The Tazel Institute in 2015.
2015
The Tazel Institute launched with a short pilot program of four companies and two High Schools in 2015. The program consisted of about 20 students between Rosemount and Park high school.
The students heard from a black prosecutor and judge, the honorable George Stephenson at The Washington County Attorney’s Office, H2bid Owner Glen Oliver, who was TCF Bank’s guest speaker, who talked about writing code and nerds always winning! The AVPD hosted students and the topic of police activity in the news was broached. Lastly in May 2015 we visited Bolander Construction and heard from the Director of the then MN Sports Facilities Association, and got to ride backhoes on the construction grounds.
2016-17
The focus of the Institute was growing its student population in the districts served:
2016 - 20 students to 85 students 2017 - 85 students to 158 students
2018
The Tazel Institute added new exposure opportunities for the 2018-19 school year (Winona State University/The University of St. Thomas). Financial Literacy becomes a key component in the evolution of our student population. Financial Literacy is offered through Everfi.
2019
The Tazel Institute offered its first internships with Hennepin County Medical Center. The future is bright and the institute is poised for growth.