Minnesota Humanities Center

Golden Valley - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story (Morning Performance)
2022-06-17 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Breck School, 123 Ottawa Avenue North, Golden Valley, MN, 55422, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance, yet many people are unfamiliar with its meaning and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center is honored to collaborate with Sweet Potato Comfort Pie and community to bring the significance of this day to life.
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.
Performances are free to attend, but registration is required.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Golden Valley – Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story (Reception and Evening Performance)
2022-06-17 17:30 - 21:00 | Breck School, 123 Ottawa Avenue North, Golden Valley, MN, 55422, United States
In 2021, Juneteenth was written into law as a national day of observance, yet many people are unfamiliar with its meaning and the insight it offers in addressing current social injustice. Minnesota Humanities Center is honored to collaborate with Sweet Potato Comfort Pie and community to bring the significance of this day to life.
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. A special reception with light refreshments and emphasis on the significance of voting precedes the 7:00 p.m. show from 5:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.
Performances are free to attend, but registration is required.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul – Educator Workshop: Black Freedom Struggles
2022-08-10 09:00 - 15:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Black Freedom Struggles, with Adam Bledsoe and Lauretta Dawolo-Towns
This workshop will explore Black struggle as a global phenomenon with particular emphasis on historical and current movements led by Black communities. During this interactive workshop we will investigate Black freedom struggles from around the world, paying special attention to these Black forms of struggle as expressions of Black agency and self-definition. The workshop will help broaden our understanding of Black freedom struggles beyond well-known moments like the emancipation of slavery and Juneteenth, as we delve into topics like maroon communities, work stoppages, and self-defense from locations including the U.S., Brazil, Cuba, and Angola. We will also emphasize how historical struggles continue to influence present-day politics. Through large and small group projects and hands-on activities we will think through how to best incorporate these often-unknown struggles into classroom curriculum. Participants will have access to new resources, materials, and tools to help improve student learning in the classroom.

Scholar Adam Bledsoe is an assistant professor in the Geography, Environment & Society Department at the University of Minnesota. Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Adam’s intellectual and political commitments revolve around the ways in which Afro-Diasporic communities analyze and critique dominant forms of politics, while also conceiving of, and enacting, their own political formations. His work has taken him around the United States, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, where he has learned from, and exchanged ideas with, a variety of Black communities.

Lead Teacher Lauretta Dawolo Towns earned her B.A. in English and American & Racial Multicultural Studies with a Media Studies minor at St. Olaf College in 2004. Her professional background is in community and ethnic media, specializing in coverage of underrepresented and underserved populations. In 2016, she received a Master of Arts in Education from Augsburg University after earning a teaching license in Communication Arts and Literature. She currently teaches 8th grade English Language Arts at Roseville Middle School, and also teaches in the Adult Basic Education program in the same district. Lauretta lives in Inver Grove Heights with her husband and two sons.

For the full Learning Journey experience, we recommend signing up for these Learning in Community offerings: Kumbayah: The Juneteenth Story.

Registration
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering.
K-12 educators will receive 6 clock hours.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Golden Valley - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story (Morning Performance)
2023-06-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Breck School, 123 Ottawa Avenue North, Golden Valley, MN, 55422, 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 the Twin Cities in collaboration with local organizations to include: Breck School, League of Women Voters, Metropolitan State University, Upper Room Community, and the City of Golden Valley.

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
ASL interpretation will be available for the morning performance
The morning performance is free to attend, but registration is highly recommended.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Golden Valley - Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story (Evening Performance)
2023-06-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Breck School, 123 Ottawa Avenue North, Golden Valley, MN, 55422, 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 the Twin Cities in collaboration with local organizations to include: Breck School, League of Women Voters, Metropolitan State University, Upper Room Community, and the City of Golden Valley.

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 highly recommended.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED
