Rochester - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story
2023-06-22 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester, MN, 55904, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance. Following, on February 3rd, 2023, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Minnesota. Although awareness has grown, many people are still unfamiliar with why we celebrate Juneteenth and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center and Sweet Potato Comfort Pie are proud to bring Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story to Rochester area communities in collaboration with the following local organizations: Mayo Clinic, Rochester Branch of the NAACP, and Rochester Public Schools.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story from iDream.tv on Vimeo.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story, written by Rose McGee, is a 90-minute fictitious, two-act play that addresses a factual and traumatic time in our history – when news was deliberately withheld that Black people were no longer to be kept as slaves in this country. Storytelling and music weave together mesmerizing scenes. Although tragedy is depicted, this play within a play is tremendously uplifting. The story begins with a Prologue set in the early 1800s in a small West African village where a young mother and her small son are being abducted from their home by slave catchers. Act One: Scene One is set in present time in a popular North Minneapolis soul-food restaurant where a group of youths and adults ultimately end up discussing what Juneteenth means. Before long they all agree to attend a play about Juneteenth. The story then shifts into 1863 on the Turner Plantation in Tyler, Texas with the character Frederick Douglass as Narrator.
Although interpretation is best suited for ages 8 and up, children of all ages are welcome to attend.
Registration
The evening performance is free to attend, but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Cloud - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story
2023-06-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Marcus Theatres, 1533 Frontage Road North, Waite Park, MN, 56387, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance. Following, on February 3rd, 2023, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Minnesota. Although awareness has grown, many people are still unfamiliar with why we celebrate Juneteenth and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center and Sweet Potato Comfort Pie are proud to bring Kumbayah the Juneteenth Story to St. Cloud area communities in collaboration with host partner United Way of Central Minnesota and local organizations.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story from iDream.tv on Vimeo.

Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story, written by Rose McGee, is a 90-minute fictitious, two-act play that addresses a factual and traumatic time in our history – when news was deliberately withheld that Black people were no longer to be kept as slaves in this country. Storytelling and music weave together mesmerizing scenes. Although tragedy is depicted, this play within a play is tremendously uplifting. The story begins with a Prologue set in the early 1800s in a small West African village where a young mother and her small son are being abducted from their home by slave catchers. Act One: Scene One is set in present time in a popular North Minneapolis soul-food restaurant where a group of youths and adults ultimately end up discussing what Juneteenth means. Before long they all agree to attend a play about Juneteenth. The story then shifts into 1863 on the Turner Plantation in Tyler, Texas with the character Frederick Douglass as Narrator.
Although interpretation is best suited for ages 8 and up, children of all ages are welcome to attend.
Registration
The evening performance is free to attend, but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Duluth - Minnesota Writers Series: The Sky Watched
2023-07-12 17:30 - 19:30 | American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO), 202 West 2nd Street, Duluth, MN, 55802, United States
Author and poet Linda LeGarde Grover will be joining the Minnesota Writers Series for a special event in Duluth. In addition to reading selections from her recently re-released collection, The Sky Watched: Poems of Ojibwe Lives (University of Minnesota Press, 2022), Grover will also join in conversation with Dr. Jill M. Doerfler, head of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota-Duluth, about the joys and complexities of leading a life devoted to writing and poetry, and the ways in which poetry has connected her further to her Native culture. In celebration of poets at all stages of their writing journey, during the second half of the event, members of the audience will be invited to share their own poetry as time allows. Co-sponsored by the American Indian Community Housing Organization, also the host site for this event.
About the book: The Sky Watched is a collective memoir in poetry of an Ojibwe family and tribal community, from creation myth to this day, updated with new poems. The collection gives poetic voice, in English and Ojibwe, those assembled here—voices of history, of memory and experience, of children and elders, Indian boarding school students, tribal storytellers, and the Manidoog, the unseen beings who surround our lives—come together to create a collective memoir in poetry as expansive and particular as the starry sky.
About the author: Linda LeGarde Grover is professor emerita of American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth and a member of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe. Her books The Road Back to Sweetgrass, Onigamiising: Seasons of an Ojibwe Year, In the Night of Memory, and Gichigami Hearts: Stories and Histories from Misaabekong, all from Minnesota, have earned numerous awards, including the Native Writers Circle of the Americas First Book Award; Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards for poetry, memoir, and fiction; and a Minnesota Book Award for memoir and creative nonfiction. Her book of stories The Dance Boots received the Flannery O’Connor Award and the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize.
About the moderator: Jill Doerfler is a professor and department head of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her primary area of scholarly interest is American Indian identity with a focus on Anishinaabe citizenship.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Roseau - We Are Water MN
2023-08-17 - 2023-10-09 | Roseau County Historical Society, 121 Center Street East, Roseau, MN, 56751, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Roseau County Historical Society
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
LEARN MORE

St. Cloud - Minnesota Writers Series: Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX
2023-09-28 17:00 - 19:00 | St. Cloud City Hall, 1201 7th Street South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
The Minnesota Writers Series welcomes Sheri Brenden, author of “Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX” in a conversation with her sister, Peg Brenden, one of the St. Cloud student athletes behind the groundbreaking 1972 federal court case that took on the unequal system of school athletics nationwide. The event will take place in the former high school gym, now converted into St. Cloud city council chambers. Mayor Dave Kleis will provide a welcome. Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership and the Stearns County Museum. Registration is required for this in-person event.
Can’t make it to the St. Cloud event for Break Point? Join the Brenden sisters in Red Wing in November in conjunction with the Anderson Center at Tower View’s Books in the Barn series.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Duluth - We Are Water MN
2024-02-29 - 2024-04-22 | Hartley Nature Center, 3001 Woodland Ave, Duluth, MN, 55803, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Hartley Nature Center
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

Rochester - Poetry Sparks! Lines, Lyrics, & Laureates
2024-04-13 11:00 - 13:00 | Historic Chateau Theater, 15 1st Street Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55902, United States
Celebrate National Poetry Month with us! Join Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Gwen Nell Westerman and City of Rochester Poet Laureate Jean Prokott for Poetry Sparks! Lines, Lyrics, & Laureates. At this family friendly event, Gwen and Jean will share some of their poetry, and then help you write your own. Contribute to community poetry, visit our creative writing stations, write a poem to give away on poem in your pocket day, and take a chance on mystery poems. Don’t miss this opportunity to create poetry with the Laureates, and have fun while diving into the joy of poetic expression!
This event is presented in partnership with Southeast MN Poets, supporting poets of all ages and stages in their careers. The Southeast MN Poets foster growth, experience, and understanding of the art of poetry through writing, reading, and discussion.
About the Laureates
Gwen Nell Westerman is Minnesota’s current Poet Laureate, and was appointed in 2021. An enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Oyate Nation, Gwen is the first Native poet to hold the role of Laureate for Minnesota. She teaches English and Humanities at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and in addition to her 2013 poetry collection “Follow the Blackbirds,” recently published the collection “Songs, Blood Deep”, which has been shortlisted for the 2024 MN Book Awards.
Jean Prokott’s poetry collection “The Second Longest Day of the Year” won the Howling Bird Press Book Prize (Howling Bird Press). She is the author of the chapbook “The Birthday Effect” (Black Sunflowers Press), is a recipient of the AWP Intro Journals Award, and of the John Calvin Rezmerski Memorial Grand Prize with the League of Minnesota Poets. She has poetry and nonfiction published in Verse Daily, Rattle, and Arts & Letters, among other journals. Prokott is the Poet Laureate of Rochester, Minnesota.
Registration
Registration is not required for this free event. Families, kids, all ages welcome. Poetry reading will begin at 11:00 a.m. Participants are invited to drop in any time between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Holdingford - We Are Water MN
2024-04-25 - 2024-06-17 | Art in Motion on the Lake Wobegon Trail, 1400 4th St, Holdingford, MN, 56340, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

Winona - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-05-21 17:30 - 20:00 | Peter’s Biergarten, 54 East 3rd Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
This event is one of the first seven tour stops. A culminating performance will take place later in 2024, sharing stories from around the state. Visit host partner and/or venue site for details and registration specific to this event.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Host Partner: Winona State University
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Register Now

Duluth - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-07-09 17:00 - 20:00, 2024-07-10 17:00 - 20:00 | Zeitgeist Center for Arts, 222 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN, 55802, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
This event is one of the first seven tour stops. A culminating performance will take place later in 2024, sharing stories from around the state. Visit host partner and/or venue site for details and registration specific to this event.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Host Partner: Zeitgeist Center for Arts
Registration
This event is free but registration is required. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. If you would like to attend the show only, please select the 7:30pm time slot. If you would like to attend a free pre-show dinner at Zeitgeist Restaurant + Bar, please select your desired time slot from 5:00pm-6:15pm. Approximate show runtime is 60-75 min, including Q&A.
Registration Questions: jessica@zeitgeistarts.com
Register Now

Glencoe - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-07-16 17:30 - 20:00 | Glencoe City Center, 1107 11th Street East, Glencoe, 55336, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
This event is one of the first seven tour stops. A culminating performance will take place later in 2024, sharing stories from around the state. Visit host partner and/or venue site for details and registration specific to this event.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Host Partner: McLeod for Tomorrow
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Onamia - American Indian Education in Minnesota 101
2024-07-23 08:00 - 2024-07-24 16:00 | Grand Casino Mille Lacs, 777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, MN, 56359, United States
In April 2019 Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan performed a ceremonial signing of Executive Order 19-24 (which came into law in 2023) with several Tribal leaders and officials. Photo by Melanie Franks
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to announce a significant training opportunity designed in collaboration with Tribal Nations and the urban American Indian community in Minnesota. This training program is specifically tailored for school district administrators, staff, school board members, and educators to enhance their understanding and engagement with Native learners and families.
The primary goal of this training is to equip K-12 educators, staff, and administrators with the knowledge and tools necessary to serve American Indian students and foster positive relationships effectively. Participants will gain insights that they can apply directly in their teaching practices and community interactions.
This training has been developed in partnership with MDE, University of Minnesota Duluth – Tribal Sovereignty Institute, the Minnesota Department of Transportation – Tribal State Relations Training, and the Minnesota Humanities Center.
We look forward to welcoming you to this important initiative aimed at strengthening our collective commitment to Native education and community engagement.
Visit the MDE Tribal Relations Training web page to learn more and to access the two free pre-requisite online courses.
Lodging
Lodging is recommended at Grand Casino Mille Lacs (777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, MN 56359 – same location of the two-day training). Rooms are $99.00 – 109.00 per night plus taxes and fees until July 8, 2024. Call Grand Casino Mille Lacs at 800-626-5825 and mention code TDE722M for the training block (or enter the code when you register online).
District Reimbursement
District Reimbursement Application – MDE Tribal Relations Training – District Reimbursement Application (office.com)
This form must be completed if a district would like to receive the reimbursement of $500 per participant. The payments will be processed by MDE after the training.
Registration
This event is free but registration is required. Please complete the registration form for each individual attending.
K-12 educators, staff, and administrators will receive 13.5 clock hours upon completion of the training.
Registration Questions: Contact Melanie Franks — MDE Tribal Liaison at melanie.franks@state.mn.us.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Waite Park - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-07-25 17:30 - 20:00 | GREAT Theatre, 710 Sundial Drive, Waite Park, MN, 56387, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
This event is one of the first seven tour stops. A culminating performance will take place later in 2024, sharing stories from around the state. Visit host partner and/or venue site for details and registration specific to this event.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Host Partner: Paramount Center for the Arts and GREAT Theatre
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Register Now

Emily - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-07-26 17:30 - 20:00 | Emily City Hall, 44483 State Hwy 6, Emily, 56447, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
This event is one of the first seven tour stops. A culminating performance will take place later in 2024, sharing stories from around the state. Visit host partner and/or venue site for details and registration specific to this event.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Host Partner: GoNorth MN
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Register Now

Morris - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-08-08 17:30 - 20:00 | University of Minnesota Morris, 600 East 4th Street, Morris, MN, 56267, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
This event is one of the first seven tour stops. A culminating performance will take place later in 2024, sharing stories from around the state. Visit host partner and/or venue site for details and registration specific to this event.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Host Partner: West Central Initiative Foundation and University of Minnesota Morris
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Register Now

Little Falls - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-08-13 17:30 - 20:00 | Great River Arts, 122 1st Street SE, Little Falls, MN, 56345, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
This event is one of the first seven tour stops. A culminating performance will take place later in 2024, sharing stories from around the state. Visit host partner and/or venue site for details and registration specific to this event.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Host Partner: Great River Arts
Registration
Register Now

Cass Lake - We Are Water MN
2024-08-15 - 2024-10-07 | Leech Lake Tribal College, 6945 Little Wolf Rd NW, Cass Lake, MN, 56633, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Leech Lake Tribal College
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

Austin - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-09-16 17:30 - 20:00 | Hormel Historic Home, 208 4th Ave NW, Austin, MN, 55912, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
Host Partner: Discover Austin
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Register Now

Mankato - Minnesota Writers Series: It Took Courage
2024-09-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Blue Earth County Historical Society, 424 Warren Street, Mankato, MN, 56001, United States
Join us at the Blue Earth County Historical Society in Mankato as we welcome acclaimed scholar Dr. Christopher P. Lehman, author of the recently published “It Took Courage: Eliza Winston’s Quest for Freedom” (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2024). Dr. Lehman will discuss the moving and impactful life of Eliza Winston with the event moderator, Stacy Wells.
Dr. Lehman will be available for book signing and conversation after the event. Be sure to show up early for the event – the first 25 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of “It Took Courage” or “Slavery’s Reach: Southern Slaveholders in the North Star State,” also by Dr. Lehman and the winner of the 2020 Minnesota Book Award for Minnesota Nonfiction.
About the book:
“It Took Courage” examines the life of Eliza Winston, an enslaved woman from Mississippi who, in 1860, appealed for her freedom before a judge in Minnesota and won. Previous research and considerations of Winston have examined her life and the impact of her case from other perspectives, including the abolitionists who helped Winston petition for her freedom and then claimed more credit than they were due, as well as white Minnesotans who reacted violently after learning the decision of the case. While these accounts have centered on the effect of Winston’s freedom on Minnesota politics, “It Took Courage” uncovers the life of Eliza Winston, her resilience, and her powerful self-advocacy. Dr. Lehman’s book offers us a new account of Eliza Winston, from the tragedies of her youth to her enslavement by the family of President Andrew Jackson, to her journey from the American South to Minnesota and the aftermath of the trial.
About the author:
Christopher P. Lehman is a professor of ethnic studies at St. Cloud State University, where he has been a faculty member since 2002. An historian, Dr. Lehman’s research focuses on American popular culture, representation of African Americans throughout U.S. history, and the struggle of African American equality. He is the author of seven historical nonfiction books and his most recent works, “It Took Courage” and “Slavery’s Reach” investigate the profound impact that slavery had in Minnesota and across the United States.
About the moderator:
Stacy Wells is a dedicated educator and equity thought leader with experience as a leader in the public and private sectors, K-12 teacher and administrator, higher education faculty member, and consultant. She is the co-founder of Love & Struggle, LLC, which consults with organizations to embed equity and create racially just environments, and co-author of “WRITE on RACE to Be RIGHT on RACE Resource Journaling Guide.” Stacy is the Chief Health Equity Director-Direct Care & Treatment at the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

International Falls - Sketches of Minnesota
2024-10-23 17:30 - 20:00 | Minnesota North College – Rainy River Campus, 1501 Highway 71, International Falls, MN, 56649, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and local host partners for the inaugural Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events will use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.
Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings will invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe will listen in on the conversations, taking everything they heard from residents and bringing it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
If you have questions about accessibility or childcare for this event, please email Kristi Huffaker at kristi.huffaker@minnesotanorth.edu.
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Register Now

Winona - Examining Military Service From the Margins
2024-11-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Winona County Historical Society, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Session 1: Introduction/What motivates people to serve?
Veterans, active service members, and civilians are invited to contribute to the “Examining Military Service From the Margins” discussion series. Facilitated by pairs of Discussion Leaders, each session will use guiding questions, and a set of core-shared resources like oral histories and films, to better understand how race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, and other factors have caused the military service of some individuals to be devalued or limited in some capacity. All Discussion Leaders are either active service members or Veterans.
Consideration of central topics and themes, and discussion of key moments from military history, such as self-emancipation among the U.S. Colored Troops members in the Civil War, or the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell more recently, will spark greater conversations about service, democracy, citizenship, equality and more. Additional resources will be offered for those with extra time wanting to explore even further.
Session One of “Examining Military Service From the Margins” will introduce participants to core concepts of the discussion series and consider the guiding questions, “What do we mean by ‘Examining Military Service From the Margins?’” and “What motivates people to serve?”
What you can expect from this series:

Discussion Leaders, Veterans, active service members, and civilians will share information on military service, as well as talk about their personal experiences and perspectives.
Each session will have a resource list of articles, books, and organizations to help you gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.
Engage in small and large group discussions.

Registration
Registration is required. There is no cost to attend; sign up for one or two sessions.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Duluth - Reckoning With Slavery: MN African American History Film Screening & “Where Do We Go From Here?” Community Talk
2024-11-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Marcus Duluth Cinema, 300 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN, 55802, United States
Award-Winning MN African American History Film Announces Fall 2024 Tour
“Best Short Documentary” (Santa Barbara International Movie Awards) and “Best Producer” (Hollywood Discovery Awards) film, Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery: MN African American History, announces a 5-city tour happening this Fall.
About the Film
This documentary challenges our understanding of slavery, its impact on Minnesota, and how we reconcile our past by taking viewers on a present-day journey to Ghana, to the quarters of Harriet and Dred Scott at Fort Snelling, and into conversations with current and future scholars about where we go from here.
Co-produced by: OMG Studios and Minnesota Humanities Center Featuring: King Odeneho Kwafo Akoto, III & Queen Mother Nana Afrakoma, II (Akwamu Traditional Area, Ghana, AF); Melvin Carter, III (Mayor, St. Paul); Kevin Lindsey (CEO, Minnesota Humanities Center); Dr. Christopher Lehman (Ethnic Studies Chair, Ethnic, Gender, and Women’s Studies, St. Cloud State University); T. Mychael Rambo; Thomasina Petrus; and Voices from Black Youth Healing Arts Center
About OMG Studios
OMG Studios is a multidisciplinary media and production studio located in the Raymond-University district of Saint Paul. Our mission is to build cultural sustainability and community, where music and art are essential to human survival and development. We are driven by love for humanity and a desire to empower, nurture, and improve the health and wellness of youth and families in under-invested communities.
About Minnesota Humanities Center
The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) collaborates with individuals, organizations, and communities to bring transformational humanities programming into the lives of Minnesotans throughout the state.
Registration
Admission is free. This screening features a post-screening discussion with appearances by those featured in the film.
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Winona - Examining Military Service From the Margins
2024-11-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Winona County Historical Society, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Session 2: How has the military service of certain populations been hidden devalued, limited, or discriminated against?
Veterans, active service members, and civilians are invited to contribute to the “Examining Military Service From the Margins” discussion series. Facilitated by pairs of Discussion Leaders, each session will use guiding questions, and a set of core-shared resources like oral histories and films, to better understand how race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, and other factors have caused the military service of some individuals to be devalued or limited in some capacity. All Discussion Leaders are either active service members or Veterans.
Consideration of central topics and themes, and discussion of key moments from military history, such as self-emancipation among the U.S. Colored Troops members in the Civil War, or the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell more recently, will spark greater conversations about service, democracy, citizenship, equality and more. Additional resources will be offered for those with extra time wanting to explore even further.
Session One of “Examining Military Service From the Margins” will introduce participants to core concepts of the discussion series and consider the guiding questions, “What do we mean by ‘Examining Military Service From the Margins?’” and “What motivates people to serve?”
What you can expect from this series:

Discussion Leaders, Veterans, active service members, and civilians will share information on military service, as well as talk about their personal experiences and perspectives.
Each session will have a resource list of articles, books, and organizations to help you gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.
Engage in small and large group discussions.

Registration
Registration is required. There is no cost to attend; sign up for one or two sessions.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
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Marshall - National History Day: Honoring Histories with Care
2024-12-04 10:00 - 15:00 | Southwest West Central Service Cooperative, 1420 East College Drive, Marshall, MN, 56258, United States
Curious about National History Day and how to present historical content in ways that honor and respect diverse communities? Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, for a workshop designed for 6-12th grade educators. This session will spotlight Minnesota’s Indigenous communities, featuring an update from the Minnesota Department of Education on the recently passed Indigenous Education for All legislation, a presentation from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition on the history and legacy of residential boarding schools, an introduction to National History Day by the Minnesota Historical Society, and a curated overview of high-quality educator resources. Educators will gain practical strategies and resources to guide students in creating projects with honor, respect, and cultural sensitivity.
Educators will receive a $75 stipend and 4.5 clock hours following their participation in the workshop.
Registration
Registration Questions: Dawn Christensen, dawn.christensen@swsc.org
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Bemidji - Winter Rural Indian Education Gathering
2025-02-12 10:00 - 14:00 | Beltrami Electric Cooperative Inc., 4111 Technology Dr NW, Bemidji, MN, 56601, United States
Join us for the American Indian Education Networking Winter Gathering hosted by Bemidji Area Schools. District leadership teams, Site leadership teams, School leadership teams, and leaders regarding American Indian and Indigenous Education are encouraged to attend. Lunch will be served onsite. Please register by Wednesday, January 29, 2025, so we can plan accordingly for space and meals.
If you have questions, please contact Sonia Wadena at sonia_wadena@isd31.net.
About the American Indian Education Networking Group
Purpose: Bringing American Indian and Indigenous Education school leaders together to provide opportunities for collaboration and support.
The American Indian Education Networking group is made up of rural statewide and regional American Indian Directors, School Leaders and Educators that come together on a monthly basis to share ideas and discuss challenges while celebrating successes. We create a space for networking and access to practitioners in the field who can help navigate district roles and responsibilities with Tribal partnerships governing American Indian Education programs.
We are also seeking your feedback on the types of professional development and community of practice opportunities you’d like to see from the AIE Networking Group in the future. Please fill out our survey to inform our future programming.
CEUs will be provided.
Registration
Registration is now closed and event is full.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org

St. Cloud - Minnesota Civics Summit: Civics Organizations and Civics Education Professionals
2025-02-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud University, 720 4th Ave. South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Come join us to showcase your civics program or offering, with a goal to provide a comprehensive directory of civics resources for teachers to engage 11th -12th grade students in their learning. Can’t attend? Email information about your civics offering for our statewide directory of civics resources to civics@lwvmn.org.

11:30am – Lunch & Networking
9:00am – Coffee, Bagels, and Networking
9:30am – Welcome – MN Representative Dean Urdahl (Ret) and Senator Steve Cwodsinski Introduction to MN Civics Summit Civics and Program Sharing by All
11:00am – Wrap-Up and break before lunch

Register for this morning session to gather and help get our directory of civics resources started!
Sponsored by: MINNESOTA CIVICS SUMMIT – A new, collaborative effort to jumpstart the new civics standards for 11th and 12th graders in Minnesota, to support teachers in their engagement of students in civics and voting. Organizing partners include the Minnesota Humanities Center, MN Department of Education, League of Women Voters of MN, YMCA Center for Youth Voice, Federal Bar Association, MN Council on the Social Studies, TeachingCivics.org, and other interested teachers, community members and civics organizations. More information at lwvmn.org/civics.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required. Please register by Friday, February 14, 2025.
Register Now

St. Cloud - Minnesota Civics Summit: Pre-Conference Professional Development
2025-02-22 11:30 - 15:00 | Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud University, 720 4th Ave. South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
What does it look like to build a classroom where students have productive discussions on challenging topics? A key evidence-based practice in civics education is the discussion of current events and controversial issues, but in today’s polarized political climate, many students are experiencing fewer opportunities to engage in these kinds of essential discussions in their classrooms. Spend the first half of the session exploring a method for building student capacity for civic discussion in ways that allow them to cultivate empathy and develop their own voice. Then, share your thoughts and needs about the resources and support you need to teach the new Academic Standards in Social Studies, and meet the new legislative requirement that students take a course for credit in citizenship and government in 11th or 12th grade.

11:30am – Lunch & Networking
12:00pm – Welcome & Introduction to MN Civics Summit
12:15pm – Professional Development Workshopon Respectful Conversations in Schools™ A highly interactive workshop where educators will learn about and practice a strategy for having challenging, respectful conversations in class about important, sometimes divisive, issues. Led by Amy Anderson, YMCA Center for Youth Voice.
1:45pm – Short Break
2:00pm – Listening & Sharing Session to Support Teachers in Implementing Anchor Standards Small and large group discussions on current tools being used, existing gaps, needed supports, and new efforts to help teachers. Led by Brittany Rawson-Haeg, MN Department of Education.
2:45pm – Large group report out, wrap-up, summary and adjourn by 3:00pm

Sponsored by: MINNESOTA CIVICS SUMMIT – A new, collaborative effort to jumpstart the new civics standards for 11th and 12th graders in Minnesota, to support teachers in their engagement of students in civics and voting. Organizing partners include the Minnesota Humanities Center, MN Department of Education, League of Women Voters of MN, YMCA Center for Youth Voice, Federal Bar Association, MN Council on the Social Studies, TeachingCivics.org, and other interested teachers, community members and civics organizations. More information at lwvmn.org/civics.
CEUs will be provided.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required. Please register by Friday, February 14, 2025.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Rochester - Headscarf Story Circle Gathering
2025-03-08 11:00 - 14:00 | Griot Arts, 115 N Broadway Ave, Rochester, MN, 55906, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center often hosts Headscarf Story Circles – a series of offerings that recognize the strength and resiliency of women. Our community of Rochester is pleased to announce that on Saturday March 8, 2025, we will gather through shared connections of the headscarf and its complexity. Guests are encouraged to wear a headscarf or head dress that is symbolic of anything from a fashion statement, cultural identity, health related, or memories, and beliefs.
The community event host is Tawonda Burks, Founder and Executive Director of ELOCINA.
Learn More About Headscarf Story Circles
Learn more about Headscarf Story Circles program in this video produced by the Minnesota Humanities Center.

Registration
Registration for this event is closed. To be added to the waitlist, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org.

Ortonville - We Are Water MN
2025-03-15 - 2025-04-21 | Ortonville High School, 200 Trojan Dr, Ortonville, MN, 56278, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Big Stone Arts Council
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More
