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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260722T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260722T183000
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CREATED:20260702T203803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T135209Z
UID:10000700-1784739600-1784745000@www.mnhum.org
SUMMARY:Online - What We Carry Forward: From Memory Collage to Tanka with Tarik Dobbs
DESCRIPTION:In this generative online workshop\, youth poets (ages 13-19) will write from memory\, Minnesota\, and the objects or images that carry personal and/or collective history. Students will begin by drafting a short memory-collage poem\, then revise part of that material into a tanka\, a short Japanese poetic form rooted in image and correspondence. Together\, we will read Matsuo Basho’s “Kasane Tanka\,” Paul Violi’s “Tanka\,” and George Abraham’s “Tanka as Firework” while exploring how short poems can move from private memory into public voice. Students will leave with two connected drafts\, a revision plan\, and possibilities for future sharing through mentorship. \nPlease bring one small object\, image\, phrase\, or remembered detail connected to home\, family\, movement\, place\, or Minnesota — examples could include a family photograph\, a favorite song\, or a newspaper clipping\, among other things! Shared prompts will be available for anyone who does not bring something. \nTarik Dobbs is a writer and artist. Dobbs runs poetry.onl and is assistant professor of English in creative writing (poetry) at Southwest Minnesota State University. Dobbs’s poems have appeared in American Poetry Review\, Poem-a-Day\, and Poetry Magazine\, among others. Dobbs is the author of Nazar Boy (2024)\, winner of the 2026 GLCA New Writers Award in Poetry\, and Dearbornistan (forthcoming)\, both from Haymarket Books. \nThis workshop is part of Voices Forward\, a poetry and public humanities initiative for emerging youth poets (ages 13-19) from across Minnesota. Poets will explore the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s themes: Remembering Together\, Harmonizing Together\, Moving Together\, and Building Together. \nBy the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. \nRegistration\nThis event is free\, however registration is required. \nRegistration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org  \nRegister Now
URL:https://www.mnhum.org/event/online-what-we-carry-forward-from-memory-collage-to-tanka-with-tarik-dobbs/
CATEGORIES:America 250,Books, Poetry, & Literature,Civic Renewal,Free,Voices Forward
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ORGANIZER;CN="Civic Renewal":MAILTO:civics@mnhum.org
LOCATION:https://www.mnhum.org/event/online-what-we-carry-forward-from-memory-collage-to-tanka-with-tarik-dobbs/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260728T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260728T183000
DTSTAMP:20260728T135109Z
CREATED:20260702T203758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T135109Z
UID:10000701-1785258000-1785263400@www.mnhum.org
SUMMARY:Online - The Poetics of Freedom Dreaming with Amanda Rosas
DESCRIPTION:In this online workshop for youth poets (ages 13-19)\, students will practice Freedom Dreaming. Freedom Dreaming brings us to a place where we can imagine the world we want to live in\, where our identities thrive\, where poetry can meet pain\, sacrifice\, joy and hope and always feel surrounded by courage and belonging. Where our words paint our portrait which in turn becomes a reflection of our world. \nThrough understanding and embracing Freedom Dreaming\, youth poets write into existence the worlds they wish to inhabit\, a world that believes in the fullness of story and the extravagant power of our individual and collective identities. Additionally\, we will explore poetic translanguaging as a unique and empowering technique to capture the magnitude of expression that exists in the many languages and cultures within us. \nPoets and poems we will study include: \n\nJake Skeets\, “America”\nRichard Blanco\, “One Today” (excerpts)\nJosé Olivarez “i loved the world so i married it”\nElizabeth Acevedo\, “Hair”\n\nAmanda Rosas is a mother\, veteran educator and Pushcart Prize Nominated poet. She draws spirit\, beauty\, strength and creativity from the Latina women in her family and from her husband and three young daughters. Originally from San Antonio\, TX\, Amanda writes to preserve and honor the memories and stories of her Mexican ancestors. Her poems have been published by the Latino Book Review\, CALYX\, among others\, and her personal narratives as an educator can be read online at Edsurge. Amanda lives in Golden Valley\, MN\, and loves running\, reading and watching Gilmore Girls with her three “Rorys.” \nThis workshop is part of Voices Forward\, a poetry and public humanities initiative for emerging youth poets (ages 13-19) from across Minnesota. Poets will explore the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s themes: Remembering Together\, Harmonizing Together\, Moving Together\, and Building Together. \nBy the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. \nRegistration\nThis event is free\, however registration is required. \nRegistration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org  \nRegister Now
URL:https://www.mnhum.org/event/online-the-poetics-of-freedom-dreaming-with-amanda-rosas/
CATEGORIES:America 250,Books, Poetry, & Literature,Civic Renewal,Free,Voices Forward
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.mnhum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/event_voices_forward_amanda_rosas.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Civic Renewal":MAILTO:civics@mnhum.org
LOCATION:https://www.mnhum.org/event/online-the-poetics-of-freedom-dreaming-with-amanda-rosas/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260804T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260804T160000
DTSTAMP:20260728T203516Z
CREATED:20260728T203516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T203516Z
UID:10000715-1785848400-1785859200@www.mnhum.org
SUMMARY:St. Paul - First Annual Oromo Literature Festival
DESCRIPTION:African Light Book and Coffee Shop and author Teferi Tafa are pleased to announce the first annual Oromo Literature Festival\, a community-centered literary event dedicated to celebrating Oromo literature\, language\, storytelling\, and intellectual achievement. \nThe Oromo Literature Festival seeks to promote Oromo books and authors to the wider public\, connect writers directly with readers and community members\, create opportunities for literary dialogue and intellectual exchange\, encourage reading and creative writing among youth and adults\, celebrate excellence in Oromo literature through awards and recognition\, strengthen the Oromo literary community and support local publishers\, and to reserve and promote Oromo language\, culture\, and storytelling traditions. \nThe festival will include talks and presentations by authors\, a live original poetry competition\, recognition of the most outstanding Oromo book of 2025\, a community book fair\, and a networking opportunity for collaboration among writers\, publishers\, educators\, students\, researchers\, and cultural organizations working to advance Oromo literature. \nRegistration\nThis event is free. All are welcome. Registration not required.
URL:https://www.mnhum.org/event/st-paul-first-annual-oromo-literature-festival/
LOCATION:Minnesota Humanities Event Center\, 987 Ivy Avenue East\, Saint Paul\, MN\, 55106\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books, Poetry, & Literature,Free,Twin Cities Metro
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.mnhum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/event_oromo_literature_festival_2026_2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T200000
DTSTAMP:20260803T215421Z
CREATED:20260803T215421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T215421Z
UID:10000717-1787248800-1787256000@www.mnhum.org
SUMMARY:St. Paul - Voices Forward: Teen Poets Imagine the Future
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an evening of teen poetry with Voices Forward at the Bell Museum. Voices Forward is a poetry and public humanities project for emerging poets (ages 13-19) from across Minnesota. Through mentorship and workshops with acclaimed Minnesota poets\, teen poets spent the summer crafting poetry that explores the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s themes around the 250th anniversary of the country: Remembering Together\, Harmonizing Together\, Moving Together\, and Building Together. \nAt this showcase\, students will read their poetry that imagines futures for themselves\, their communities\, and the nation—in their own words! The evening will also include reflections from the poetry mentors: Michael Bazzett\, Lester Batiste\, Tarik Dobbs\, and Amanda Rosas. The reading and reflections will be set against the backdrop of the Imagine the Future gallery\, grounding us in a space that invites us to work together\, uphold community\, think big\, wonder\, and boldly ask — what futures can we imagine? When you join us early\, you can explore this gallery and dive into writing and reflect prompts to try some writing of your own. \nSchedule\n6:00 p.m. – Doors open.\n6:00–7:00 p.m. – Participants can explore the gallery Imagine the Future\, with writing and reflection prompts. The Bell’s Curiosity Shop will be open.\n7:00 p.m. –  Program participants will read their work.\n7:45 p.m. – Program ends. \nAbout Voices Forward\nVoices Forward is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250\, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States\, its territories\, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together\, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. \nRegistration\nThis experience is free and open to all\, however registration is required. \nAccessibility Note: The Bell Museum is fully committed to creating an inclusive environment. We are proud to offer multiple services or resources. For additional information or to request an accommodation\, please contact the accessibility office at 612-625-4511 or bellaccess@umn.edu. \nRegistration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org  \nRegister Now
URL:https://www.mnhum.org/event/st-paul-voices-forward-teen-poets-imagine-the-future/
LOCATION:Bell Museum\, 2088 Larpenteur Ave W\, St. Paul\, 55113\, United States
CATEGORIES:America 250,Books, Poetry, & Literature,Civic Renewal,Free,Kid Friendly,Twin Cities Metro,Voices Forward
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.mnhum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/event_voices_forward_showcase_2026.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Civic Renewal":MAILTO:civics@mnhum.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260822T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260822T170000
DTSTAMP:20260727T224811Z
CREATED:20260727T224811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T224811Z
UID:10000714-1787400000-1787418000@www.mnhum.org
SUMMARY:Minneapolis - Midwest Black Book Fair
DESCRIPTION:The inaugural Midwest Black Book Fair\, which honors stories of the resistance and uplifting intersectional narratives of Blackness\, is a community-engaged event that honors Black stories and invites people from across the Midwest to participate. \nThis family friendly event will feature Black book vendors\, Black authors\, book signings/readings\, panel conversations\, writing and publishing workshops\, Black food vendors\, and more! Held during Black August\, the fair contributes to this month-long commemoration dedicated to honoring Black abolitionists\, freedom fighters\, and political prisoners. We are the stewards of these stories. \nBlack Garnet Books is leading this initiative\, partnering with local Black literary partners to advise on event production including: Strive Publishing & Bookstore\, Babycake’s Book Stack\, In Black Ink\, Griot Arts\, The Givens Collection\, More Than a Single Story\, Saint Paul Almanac\, Planting People Growing Justice\, Mind’s Eye Comics\, Uhuru Bookstore\, Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD)\, and the MN Black Authors Expo. \nRegistration\nThis event is free\, however registration with Black Garnet Books is required. \nRegistration Questions: Contact Black Garnet Books  \nRegister Now
URL:https://www.mnhum.org/event/minneapolis-midwest-black-book-fair/
LOCATION:Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC)\, 2001 Plymouth Avenue\, Minneapolis\, MN\, 55411\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books, Poetry, & Literature,Free,Twin Cities Metro
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.mnhum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/event_midwest_black_book_fair_2026.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Public Programming":MAILTO:programs@mnhum.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260917T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260917T193000
DTSTAMP:20260916T200544Z
CREATED:20260810T195826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T200544Z
UID:10000725-1789668000-1789673400@www.mnhum.org
SUMMARY:Lanesboro - Minnesota Writers Off the Page: Thomas Maltman
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an engaging evening with Thomas Maltman and his newest novel\, Ashes to Ashes\, winner of the 2026 Minnesota Book Award for Novel/Short Story. Unfolding over the course of Lent\, and against a background of rural ministry and ancient mythology\, the novel tells the story of three teenagers in small town Minnesota\, each dealing with their own personal trials. Maltman will be joined in conversation by fellow writer and Minnesota Book Award winner Mubanga Kalimamukwento\, on what about Minnesota inspires authors\, and in particular how Vikings\, magical realism\, and mysticism make for gripping storytelling. Following the discussion\, audience members are invited to participate in a Q&A session and have further informal conversation with the featured speakers. Light refreshments will be provided\, copies of Ashes to Ashes will be available for purchase\, and the evening will finish with a book signing. \nThomas Maltman’s first novel\, The Night Birds\, won an Alex Award\, a Spur Award\, and the Friends of American Writers Literary Award. In 2009\, the American Library Association chose The Night Birds as an “Outstanding Book for the College Bound.” Little Wolves\, his second novel\, won the All Iowa Reads selection in 2014. His third novel\, The Land\, was published in 2020. In July of 2025\, Soho Press published his fourth novel\, Ashes to Ashes\, which was the winner of the 2026 MN Book Awards for Novel/Short Story. He teaches at Normandale Community College and lives in the Twin Cities area with his wife\, a Lutheran pastor\, and his three daughters. \nMubanga Kalimamukwento was born in Lusaka\, Zambia. Her creative work has appeared or is forthcoming in adda\, Aster(ix)\, Contemporary Verse 2\, Kweli\, Overland\, The Ex-Puritan\, Menelique\, on Netflix\, and elsewhere\, and her editorial work can be found or is forthcoming in Shenandoah\, the Water~Stone Review\, Doek! Literary Magazine\, and Safundi. Her book\, Obligations to the Wounded\, was the winner of the 2025 Minnesota Book Awards for Novel/Short Story\, amongst other honors. She founded Ubwali Literary Magazine and co-founded the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop. When she’s not writing or editing\, Mubanga serves as a Mentor at the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop. She is a PhD student in the Department of Gender\, Women & Sexuality Studies at the University of Minnesota (Twin-Cities)\, where she is also an Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) Scholar. Mubanga lives in Minnesota with her husband and their two children. \nThis event is presented in partnership with Garden Party Books\, an independent bookstore in Rochester\, Minnesota\, that celebrates reading\, books\, and the community. \nThis event is part of the Minnesota Writers Off the Page series\, bringing the inspirational voices of Minnesota’s authors directly to readers. \nRegistration\nThis event has been postponed.
URL:https://www.mnhum.org/event/lanesboro-minnesota-writers-off-the-page-thomas-maltman/
LOCATION:Sons of Norway – Heimbygda Lodge\, 200 Parkway Ave S\, Lanesboro\, 55949\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books, Poetry, & Literature,Free,Greater Minnesota,Minnesota Writers Off the Page,Public Programming
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.mnhum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/event_mn_writers_thomas_maltman-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Public Programming":MAILTO:programs@mnhum.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260919T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260919T160000
DTSTAMP:20260904T182300Z
CREATED:20260904T182300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T182300Z
UID:10000762-1789815600-1789833600@www.mnhum.org
SUMMARY:Red Wing – Minnesota Children’s Book Festival
DESCRIPTION:The 27th annual Minnesota Children’s Book Festival will be held on Saturday\, September 19\, 2026 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This beloved event features presentations of new books by award-winning authors and illustrators writing for young readers through middle grade. Taking place at the Anderson Center’s beautiful\, historic Tower View campus\, the Children’s Book Festival is an ideal opportunity for families to connect\, learn and play. \nThroughout the afternoon\, each author or illustrator presents their work\, reads from their book\, and participates in a meet & greet and book signing booth. Taking place outdoors\, the event also features hands-on activities that engage the mind\, body\, and imagination. With balloons\, facepainting\, art-making\, kid-friendly food trucks\, and more\, there’s something to delight the inner child in all of us.  \nThis event is FREE and all ages are welcome! \nThe Minnesota Humanities Center will be tabling throughout the day — stop by to say hello\, learn more about our book projects\, and let us know you saw the event on our website to win a prize! \nFor a complete schedule of events\, please visit the Anderson Center website. \nSchedule of Events
URL:https://www.mnhum.org/event/red-wing-minnesota-childrens-book-festival-2026/
LOCATION:Anderson Center at Tower View\, 163 Tower View Drive\, Red Wing\, MN\, 55066\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books, Poetry, & Literature,Free,Greater Minnesota,Kid Friendly,Public Programming
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mnhum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/event_mn_childrens_book_festival_2025.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Public Programming":MAILTO:programs@mnhum.org
END:VEVENT
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