Photography by Bo Carlock / Spacecrafting
Adrienne Diercks
For the past 32 years, Adrienne Diercks has made it her mission to help students connect to their purpose. The Minneapolis-based nonprofit she founded, Project Success, provides experiential learning and enrichment programs for middle- and high-school students. Diercks’ commitment and passion come from her history not only as a Minneapolis native, a public-school graduate and an educator, but also from a profound understanding that every student already has what they need inside of them — and when given ongoing opportunities for excellence, they can realize their dreams.
A student recently shared that despite current hurdles, she “still wants to work on her bright future.” This stuck with Diercks as a reminder of just how important Project Success’ wide-ranging program offerings are, including college tours, cooking classes, musical theater productions and outdoor adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, just to name a few.
“It’s not only about students connecting to who they are in this world, but connecting with and supporting each other as well,” says Diercks. The organization spends time guiding kids in a way that helps them develop a life full of potential and possibility — beyond just helping them identify what they want their career to be.
Project Success wouldn’t be what it is without deep community partnerships, including with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins. Diercks also says that her relationship with Bridgewater Bank has allowed her to continue to build programs and partnerships without ever sacrificing on the organization’s values or quality.
“Our partnership with Bridgewater has continued to deepen,” she explains. “They believe in our mission, and when we need them, they’re there.”
That sense of belonging boomerangs back to the kids at Project Success. “Many of them say, ‘I feel like I belong here,’” Diercks says. “What we see students accomplish is incredible. It’s a privilege and an honor, because every young person deserves to have as many opportunities as possible to create the life and future they want. And there’s no better work than that.”
