The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) generously donated copies of the book “Travels of Igal Shidad” to Minnesota Hands & Voices for an event hosted for families with children who are deaf or are hard of hearing (DHH). “Travels of Igal Shidad” is one of four traditional Somali folktales in MHC’s…
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August has been unusually hot this year, to the point that the impact of “corn sweat” on humidity levels in Minnesota has been discussed on the porch and backyard on more than one occasion. The heat has given me the opportunity to catch up on good conversations, experiment with making…
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I can’t believe it’s been five years. When asked to reflect on my experience writing the first iteration of “Peggy Flanagan: Lieutenant Governor,” and my thoughts about its newest form, I realized it had been a half decade since this creation took life. Time seems to go by a lot faster the older you get.
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Summer has arrived in Minnesota and like most of you, we are attempting to make the most of the warm weather by keeping ourselves busy.
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Since 1993, the small town of New York Mills has held “The Great American Think-off” (GATO). It is an annual philosophy essay contest and debate. I have been aware of it’s existence since thestart. I was amused that one of the early finalists thought they’d won a trip to New…
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2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Southeast Asian settling in Minnesota, making it home. It also marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Wars in Southeast Asia. The 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War or the American War in Vietnam. It’s also the Year of The Snake—a year of transformation.
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I want to extend a sincere thank you to all who have reached out to ask me how things are going at the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC), considering the recent decision of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to terminate the contract between MHC and NEH.
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Is the work of NEH unimportant? In looking at the enabling legislation of NEH and thinking about the pressing issues in our society, I think the work of NEH envisioned by Congress has never been more important to the people of America.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and spotlights the consciousness needed on mental health and diagnosable conditions and disorders, while promoting support for anyone and everyone. We all deserve good mental health, so it’s also a reminder to embrace the importance of caring for ourselves and one another no matter what challenges we face.
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If someone asks why write? my answer is: it’s the poet’s job to discover the metaphors with which the universe speaks to us. It’s her job to make life, and the heaviness that comes with it, accessible. A bonus is that sometimes this discovery is therapy. To work through a…
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