Byron - We Are Water MN
2026-02-24 - 2026-04-20 | Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, 5731 County Rd 105 NW, Byron, MN, 55920, 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: Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo
We Are Water MN is thrilled to make its 2026 debut at our very first zoo host site! Please visit the exhibit at the newly-renovated Zollman Zoo & Nature Center, where you can learn more about water alongside the many animals that call it home. The Dr. Paul E. Zollman Zoo houses over 30 species of wild animals native to Minnesota, so be sure to leave time for a visit to the otters and eagles! This stop on our We Are Water MN is also a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the unique Karst Geology of the Olmstead County area–don’t miss out on the chance to learn more about this unique geography!
Want to make a day of out of your visit to the exhibit? Oxbow Park offers almost any outdoor enthusiast a chance to pursue their favorite activity such as hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, and more.
About We Are Water MN?
We are Water MN is a project of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

Online - Repeatable Routines: Building Formative Tasks for Social Studies, Session Two
2026-02-25 07:30 - 08:30 (America/Chicago) | https://www.mnhum.org/event/online-repeatable-routines-building-formative-tasks-for-social-studies-session-two/
Continue refining formative assessment practices by exploring structured routines that encourage student engagement, reflection and feedback in the social studies classroom.
The Minnesota Department of Education, in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, will host virtual and in-person sessions to support planning for and implementation of the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies, held monthly during the 2025–26 school year. These sessions are open to anyone with building or district-level responsibilities for curriculum planning and development in all social studies content areas, including curriculum directors, department leads, and teachers. Pre-registration is required for in-person sessions.
Virtual sessions will have content similar to in-person sessions, and whenever possible will feature the same speakers.
In-person sessions will be an hour longer than virtual sessions and will allow time for supported collaborative work and networking.
While districts are encouraged to have a representative at each monthly session, either in-person or virtual, participants do not need to commit to attending all nine sessions. Participants are also welcome to attend either session type throughout the year, as is best suited to their needs and schedule.
K-12 educators will receive 1 clock hour.
Registration
Registration Questions: brittany.rawson-haeg@state.mn.us
Register Now

Morton - 5th Annual Dakota and Ojibwe Language Symposium
2026-02-25 12:00 - 2026-02-27 13:00 | Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel, 39375 County Rd 24, Morton, MN, 56270, United States
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council’s Language Revitalization Working Group, partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center, is hosting the 5th Annual Dakota and Ojibwe Language Symposium. The goal of the symposium is to bring people and educators working in Dakota and Ojibwe language revitalization together. We will use this time to celebrate successes, highlight the current state of the field, shape future language revitalization efforts, and elevate the visibility of Indigenous languages throughout the state of Minnesota. By bringing people together, we hope this symposium serves as an opportunity for individuals to network with other Dakota and Ojibwe language professionals and provide valuable resources.
CEUs will be available for educators attending the symposium.
This year, the symposium will be held February 25, 26, and 27, 2026 at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel in Morton, MN. Breakfast and lunch are included. Participants are responsible for booking their own overnight accommodations if needed and can call Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel at 1-800-946-2274.
If you have any questions, please email Skyler Kuczaboski at skyler.kuczaboski@state.mn.us.

Community Presenter Application
If you are interested in leading an in-person session for other symposium participants, we invite you to submit a proposal. Sessions will be approximately 45 minutes long, and proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until all sessions are filled.

Exhibitor Application
If you’re interested in tabling at the Symposium, please complete an application. All applicants will be notified of the planning committee’s decision on their proposal within a week. Priority will be given to those focusing on language revitalization. The final decision on selection will be determined by the Working Group.
Please note: No sales will be allowed at symposium. This application is meant for informational/educational booths that are handing out free information and literature, not selling items.

Symposium Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Registration for this event has SOLD OUT.

Minneapolis - Repeatable Routines: Building Formative Tasks for Social Studies, Session Two
2026-02-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Minnesota Department of Education, 400 NE Stinson Blvd, Minneapolis, MN, 55413, United States
Continue refining formative assessment practices by exploring structured routines that encourage student engagement, reflection and feedback in the social studies classroom.
The Minnesota Department of Education, in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, will host virtual and in-person sessions to support planning for and implementation of the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies, held monthly during the 2025–26 school year. These sessions are open to anyone with building or district-level responsibilities for curriculum planning and development in all social studies content areas, including curriculum directors, department leads, and teachers. Pre-registration is required for in-person sessions.
Virtual sessions will have content similar to in-person sessions, and whenever possible will feature the same speakers.
In-person sessions will be an hour longer than virtual sessions and will allow time for supported collaborative work and networking.
While districts are encouraged to have a representative at each monthly session, either in-person or virtual, participants do not need to commit to attending all nine sessions. Participants are also welcome to attend either session type throughout the year, as is best suited to their needs and schedule.
K-12 educators will receive 2 clock hours.
Registration
Registration Questions: brittany.rawson-haeg@state.mn.us
Register Now

St. Paul - Objects of War: A Storytelling Circle
2026-02-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center invites you to join us for an engaging evening focused on stories of community, consolation, and courage. For Objects of War, participants are asked to bring an item connected to an experience of war and conflict — which could be dog tags, a service member’s good luck charm, or a family heirloom — and share the story of this item during the evening. Moderated by trained facilitators, the conversation will help participants understand why we hold on to certain objects, and how these objects help us better understand the human impacts of war.
About the Facilitators
Jovita Hernandez is a recently retired educator with 32 years of experience. Throughout her career, she approached teaching through a lens of equity, nurturing curiosity, and emphasizing the connections built through the power of story. She introduced Story Circle practice not only in her own classroom but also across the district, leaving a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike. Today, she continues to champion this practice, sharing it in both educational and community spaces as a dedicated story circle practitioner.
Pang Foua Xiong is a creative social entrepreneur, cultural conservator, and mother. She is a first-generation Hmong woman, born to refugee parents who arrived in Minnesota in 1980, and raised in the Rondo/Frogtown neighborhood on the homelands of the Dakhóta people in Mni Sóta Makoce (Saint Paul, Minnesota). Her work spans more than 25 years in grassroots advocacy and co-designing accessibility and equity opportunities in healthcare, education, and economic systems. Her identity and journey as a Hmong woman and efforts in cultural and language revitalization of her endangered native language and heritage continue to shape her sense of place and purpose. She is the founder of Community & Co Lifestyle, LLC, a cultural and creative social enterprise that facilitates and nurtures collaborative connections, leadership, community engagement, and facilitating systems of care. As a social entrepreneur, bilingual Hmong interpreter, creative and social impact consultant, and humanities facilitator, Pang Foua co-designs and leads thoughtful community-centered initiatives, creative solutions, and engagement through the lens of whole wellbeing, place-knowing, and place-based learning practices.
This event is presented in partnership with the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum, an institution which seeks to strengthen public understanding of how armed conflicts and military institutions have shaped our state and national experience.
Registration
This event is free to attend, however registration is required. Dinner will be served at the event.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Online Content Session – Era Seven: U.S. and the World
2026-03-03 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Investigate how World War II, the Cold War, and global migrations transformed U.S. society and its role on the international stage. Dr. Katharine Gerbner will moderate a panel of three historians: Elaine Tyler May, Hiromi Mizuno, and Jimmy Patiño, Jr. This session will provide deep historical context, source analysis, and thematic framing.

View Elaine Tyler May’s Bio

Elaine Tyler May is Regents Professor Emerita of American Studies and History at the University of Minnesota.  She is past president of the Organization of American Historians, and past president of the American Studies Association.  Her books include  Fortress America: How We Embraced Fear and Abandoned Democracy (2017);  America and the Pill: A History of Promise, Peril, and Liberation (2010); Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era (1988, newest edition 2017); Barren in the Promised Land: Childless Americans and the Pursuit of Happiness (1997); Pushing the Limits: American Women, 1940-1961 (1996); and Great Expectations: Marriage and Divorce in Post-Victorian America (1980). She has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Ms., Daily Beast, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune, among others. She is a recent recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Guggenheim Foundation.

View Hiromi Mizuno’s Bio

Hiromi Mizuno is Associate Professor of History at the University of Minnesota. She teaches courses on Modern Japan, Global Politics of Hunger, Global History of WWII. She is an intellectual and cultural historian whose research interests include history of science and technology, the Japanese empire, Cold-War Asia, agricultural modernization, and environmental history.

View Jimmy Patiño’s Bio

Jimmy Patiño is Associate Professor of Chicano and Latino Studies at the University of Minnesota. His work examines how marginalized communities imagine and enact democratic practices amid global capitalism, focusing on Mexican-origin and broader Latino/a/x communities at the U.S.–Mexico border and in major U.S. cities. His book Raza Sí, Migra No: Chicano Movement Struggles for Immigrant Rights in San Diego shows how generations of Mexican-origin activists confronted the crisis over the “illegal alien” by building community across differences in citizenship and national affiliation. Centering San Diego as both an urban and border space, his work highlights challenges to deportation-oriented policies from 1968 to 1986 through the lens of Chicano self-determination. He is currently developing new projects on solidarity across African American, Chicana/o/x, and Puerto Rican movements, exploring how regional contexts shaped Black-Brown/Afro-Latinx diasporic alliances and revolutionary thought across the Midwest, Texas, California, and New York. His broader research and teaching interests include Comparative Ethnic Studies, Chicano/a-Latino/a History, diaspora, transnationalism, borderlands, social movements, political mobilization, and Cultural Studies.

All Content Sessions will be conducted via Zoom and a Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)-hosted Canvas learning community. Each session’s lectures and discussions will be recorded and registered participants will receive access to the Canvas course with session recordings, curated resources, and collaborative planning tools.

High school U.S. History teachers and 5th and 7th grade educators are invited to participate in companion Pedagogy Sessions.

Registration
Content Sessions are open to all K–12 educators interested in historical content and source-based instruction. Educators are welcome to register for individual sessions that align with their interests and schedules. Join us for one or more sessions throughout the year.

This event is free but registration is required. Separate registration is required for each offering.

Registration Questions: Brittany.Rawson-Haeg@state.mn.us

Register Now

This offering is part of Navigating the U.S. History Eras: Content, Pedagogy, and Inquiry in the Classroom is a yearlong professional learning opportunity supporting implementation of Minnesota’s 2021 K–12 Academic Standards in Social Studies presented by MHC and MDE.

St. Paul - Teaching Bdote Educator Workshop
2026-03-07 09:00 - 12:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The Teaching Bdote Educator Workshop is designed for educators who have attended or plan to attend Learning from Place: Bdote and are preparing to incorporate the experience into their classroom or to lead their own classroom field trip. Whether you are looking for a refresher or preparing for your first teacher-led trip, this workshop will provide the guidance, resources, and confidence you need.
Offered in collaboration with Saint Paul Public Schools, this interactive, in-person session supports educators in aligning Bdote field trips with the 2021 Minnesota Social Studies Standards and the inquiry-based model of learning. Participants will also receive an overview of newly developed Bdote lesson plans, including a closer look at one lesson that is nearing completion and explicitly aligned to the standards. These lessons are designed to support classroom learning before and after a Bdote field trip.
The workshop will be facilitated by Saint Paul Public Schools and Minnesota Humanities Center staff and will address common questions and anxieties that non-Indigenous educators may experience when teaching Dakota history, grounding the work in Dakota voices and perspectives.
Ramona Kitto Stately (Santee Dakota) will share Dakota perspectives and guidance on teaching Dakota history with care. Participant reflections from classroom educators who have recently led Bdote field trips will be shared through short video segments from a previous Teaching Bdote session, offering candid insights and practical guidance grounded in real classroom experience.
Participants will:

Learn from recorded reflections and practical guidance from classroom educators on teaching Bdote, preparing students, and leading field trips.
Learn from Dakota perspectives on centering Indigenous knowledge and place-based histories.
Explore new and emerging Bdote lesson plans aligned to Minnesota Social Studies Standards.
Access resources and lesson materials to support both classroom learning and field trip planning.

Intended Audience: While all are welcome, this workshop is especially geared toward teachers in grades 4–7.
K-12 educators will receive 3 clock hours upon completion of the workshop.
Continental Breakfast will be provided.
Registration
Saint Paul Public School teachers: Register using discount code SPPS26 to waive the fee.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | Cancellation Policy
Register Now

Minneapolis - Sketches of Minnesota: Civic Community Comedy Tour
2026-03-10 18:30 - 20:30 | Luminary Arts Center, 700 N First St, Minneapolis, 55401, United States
MHC and the comedy team at Danger Boat Productions spent late summer and most of fall traveling to communities across Minnesota. They’ve taken stories from each town and put them into a hilarious sketch comedy revue. It’s like going along on the year-long Sketches of Minnesota road trip, but you get to enjoy the highlights from the comfort of a theater seat…without the backseat driving.
Sketches of Minnesota is a traveling program designed to increase understanding and encourage conversations among people who might not know each other or have differing viewpoints, by bringing neighbors together over a shared meal and improvisational comedy. These kinds of conversations are more crucial now than ever, and we think that the program can facilitate essential healing within our Minnesota communities.
Sketches of Minnesota is presented in partnership with Danger Boat Productions
Registration
This event has been canceled. Please consider joining us in Minneapolis on March 11 or Rochester on March 13.

Minneapolis - Sketches of Minnesota: Civic Community Comedy Tour
2026-03-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Luminary Arts Center, 700 N First St, Minneapolis, 55401, United States
MHC and the comedy team at Danger Boat Productions spent late summer and most of fall traveling to communities across Minnesota. They’ve taken stories from each town and put them into a hilarious sketch comedy revue. It’s like going along on the year-long Sketches of Minnesota road trip, but you get to enjoy the highlights from the comfort of a theater seat…without the backseat driving.
Sketches of Minnesota is a traveling program designed to increase understanding and encourage conversations among people who might not know each other or have differing viewpoints, by bringing neighbors together over a shared meal and improvisational comedy. These kinds of conversations are more crucial now than ever, and we think that the program can facilitate essential healing within our Minnesota communities.
Sketches of Minnesota is presented in partnership with Danger Boat Productions
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Rochester - Sketches of Minnesota: Civic Community Comedy Tour
2026-03-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Rochester Civic Theatre, 30 Civic Center Drive SE Ste 100, Rochester, 55904, United States

Sartell - Social Studies Standards Workshop: 6-12 Educators and Leaders
2026-03-17 09:00 - 15:00 | Resource Training & Solution, 137 23rd Street S, Sartell, 56377, United States
We invite 6-12 teachers and school leaders to a one-day Social Studies workshop. Participants will engage in a structured examination of the 2021 social studies standards, focusing on key content shifts, vertical alignment across grade levels, and their impact on curriculum design. Throughout the workshop, collaborative teams will strengthen their understanding of high-quality instructional practices and the instructional shifts needed to support student learning.
This workshop is a collaboration between Resource Training and Solutions and the Minnesota Humanities Center, and will also feature Brittany Rawson-Haeg, Social Studies Content Lead for the Minnesota Department of Education.
Grade 6-12 educators will receive 5.25 clock hours upon completion the session.
Registration
Registration for this event is managed by Resource Training Solutions. Registration fee includes lunch. Registration closes Friday, March 13, 2026.
Registration Questions: info@resourcecoop-mn.gov
Register Now

Prior Lake - 41st Annual Minnesota Indian Education Association Conference
2026-03-18 08:00 - 2026-03-20 17:00 | Mystic Lake Center, 2400 Mystic Lake Boulevard NW, Prior Lake, MN, 55372, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center will be at the annual Minnesota Indian Education Association (MIEA) Conference this year – stop by our table to connect with us, explore educator resources, and learn more about our work with educators.
You can also find us co-presenting at the following sessions:

Drop Everything and Read Indigenous with the Native American Lives Series
Story, Place, and Identity: An Educator Guide to Native Artists Featured in the Native American Lives Series
From Bdote to the Classroom: Teaching Dakota History through Place-Based Learning

About MIEA
The primary goal of MIEA is to create and uphold a robust communication network while fostering quality education and unity among American Indians. This objective serves to ensure the continuous flow of information and heightened awareness regarding both local and statewide educational endeavors. Specifically, MIEA is dedicated to persistent awareness and proactive efforts that cater to the distinct educational and culturally specific needs of American Indian students across the state. Through these concerted actions, MIEA aims to significantly contribute to the educational and cultural enrichment of American Indian communities.
Registration
The full MIEA Conference runs from March 18-20. Registration and payment through MIEA for the full conference are required to attend.
Registration Questions: info@minnesotaindianeducation.org
Register Now

Online Pedagogy Session – Era Seven: U.S. and the World
2026-03-19 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Investigate how World War II, the Cold War, and global migrations transformed U.S. society and its role on the international stage. Using content and sources from Dr. Katharine Gerbner, Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Social Studies Specialist Brittany Rawson-Haeg and experienced classroom educators will lead this hands-on workshop supporting high school U.S. History teachers in designing inquiry-based, standards-aligned units.
All Pedagogy Sessions will be conducted via Zoom. Educators who participate in all Pedagogy Sessions will leave the year with a complete U.S. History course aligned to the new standards.
Educators are invited to participate in companion Content Sessions.
Registration
Pedagogy Sessions are designed for high school U.S. History teachers and may also be relevant for 5th and 7th grade educators. Educators are welcome to register for individual sessions that align with their interests and schedules. Join us for one or more sessions throughout the year.
This event is free but registration is required. Separate registration is required for each offering.
Registration Questions: Brittany.Rawson-Haeg@state.mn.us
Register Now
This offering is part of Navigating the U.S. History Eras: Content, Pedagogy, and Inquiry in the Classroom is a yearlong professional learning opportunity supporting implementation of Minnesota’s 2021 K–12 Academic Standards in Social Studies presented by MHC and MDE.

St. Paul - Meet the Finalists of the 2026 Minnesota Book Awards
2026-03-21 10:00 - 15:00 | George Latimer Central Library, 90 W. Fourth Street, St. Paul, 55102, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center is proud to sponsor the 2026 Minnesota Books Awards category of Novel/Short Story. Join us to meet the finalists for this year’s award at a Meet the Finalists event, hosted by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.
This year’s finalists in the Novel/Short Story category are:

“Ashes to Ashes” by Thomas Maltman
“If the Dead Belong Here: A Novel” by Carson Faust
“Lucky Tomorrow: Stories” by Deborah Jiang-Stein
“The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore” by Anika Fajardo

Minnesota Book Award finalist authors from all nine awards categories will participate in readings, panel discussions, and other activities about their books and their work at this special event. Events will take place in different rooms of the library throughout the day. Come for one or stay for all! It’s your choice. Attendees can also buy finalist books and enjoy library activities.
Registration
Registration for this free event is through The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.
Register Now

Roseville - Minnesota Writers Off the Page: Carson Faust
2026-03-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Autumn Grove Park, 1365 Lydia Avenue W, Roseville, 55113, United States
Minnesota Writers Off the Page and Makwa Coffee’s Native Author Book Club are joining forces for a special evening with Carson Faust, author of “If the Dead Belong Here,” which has just been shortlisted for the Minnesota Book Awards in the Novel/Short Story category! For this intergenerational, supernatural thriller, Faust will be in discussion with author Dennis E. Staples, and along with readings from the book, they will discuss ghosts, hauntings, the craft of horror/thriller, and how their Indigenous backgrounds inform their writing. 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 available for purchase through the cafe. Copies of “If the Dead Belong Here” will be available for purchase, and the evening will finish with a book signing.
About the Speakers
Carson Faust is two-spirit and an enrolled member of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe of South Carolina. He is the recipient of artist fellowships from the McKnight Foundation and the Jerome Foundation. His fiction has appeared in TriQuarterly, ANMLY, and Waxwing, among other journals, and has been anthologized in “Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology.” He lives in Minnesota, where he works in philanthropy.
Dennis E. Staples is an Ojibwe writer from Bemidji, Minnesota, and the author of “This Town Sleeps” and “Passing Through a Prairie Country.” He holds an MFA in fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts and is a graduate of the 2018 Clarion West Writers Workshop and a recipient of the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship. His work has appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction and Nightmare magazine. He is a member of the Red Lake Nation.
This event is presented in partnership with Makwa Coffee, a community centered craft coffee shop in Roseville, MN. This event is part of the Minnesota Writers Off the Page series, bringing the inspirational voices of Minnesota’s authors directly to readers.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Online - Repeatable Routines: Building Formative Tasks for Social Studies, Session Three
2026-03-25 07:30 - 08:30 | https://www.mnhum.org/event/online-repeatable-routines-building-formative-tasks-for-social-studies-session-three/
Conclude the formative task series with a focus on sustainability. Participants will learn how to embed formative assessment routines into their teaching practice for long-term impact.
The Minnesota Department of Education, in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, will host virtual and in-person sessions to support planning for and implementation of the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies, held monthly during the 2025–26 school year. These sessions are open to anyone with building or district-level responsibilities for curriculum planning and development in all social studies content areas, including curriculum directors, department leads, and teachers. Pre-registration is required for in-person sessions.
Virtual sessions will have content similar to in-person sessions, and whenever possible will feature the same speakers.
In-person sessions will be an hour longer than virtual sessions and will allow time for supported collaborative work and networking.
While districts are encouraged to have a representative at each monthly session, either in-person or virtual, participants do not need to commit to attending all nine sessions. Participants are also welcome to attend either session type throughout the year, as is best suited to their needs and schedule.
K-12 educators will receive 1 clock hour.
Registration
Registration Questions: brittany.rawson-haeg@state.mn.us
Register Now

Shoreview - Minnesota Writers Off the Page: Debra J. Stone
2026-03-25 17:30 - 19:15 | Emmet D. Williams Elementary School, 955 W County Rd D, Shoreview, 55126, United States
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Off the Page is pleased to feature author Debra J. Stone and her new book, “The House on Rondo,” which has been shortlisted for the MN Book Awards in the category of Middle Grade Literature. Debra will be in conversation with Terresa Hardaway, discussing the history of the Rondo neighborhood, what it means to be a writer, and their hopes for the future of Rondo. Following the discussion, audience members are invited to participate in a Q&A session, and have further informal conversation with the featured speakers. Copies of “The House on Rondo” will be available for purchase, and the evening will finish with a book signing.
Debra J. Stone is a 2023-2025 Jerome Hill Arts Fellow in Literature, essay, poet and novel author. More of her work has been published by Blue Earth Review, Indiana Review, Green Mountains Review, Under the Gum Tree, and other literary journals. In 2021 her poem, “year-of- staying–in place,” was nominated Best of Net and Pushcart nominated. She is a board member of the Hennepin History Museum. Debra is married and resides in Minneapolis.
Terresa Hardaway, Ph.D., is an abolitionist, design researcher, author, anti-racist facilitator, creative director, organizer, and educator based in Minneapolis. She is Creative Director of Blackbird Revolt— a social justice-based design studio; an Associate Professor of Graphic Design; McKnight Presidential Fellow; the Director of Design Justice at the University of Minnesota’s College of Design; and the owner of Black Garnet Books.
This event is presented in partnership with Black Garnet Books, an independent bookstore in Saint Paul, MN, that offers a curated selection of books and art by authors and illustrators of color in an environment that encourages learning, joyful interaction, and communal care for everyone who visits. This event is part of the Minnesota Writers Off the Page series, bringing the inspirational voices of Minnesota’s authors directly to readers. This edition of Minnesota Writers Off the Page will be held at Emmet D. Williams Elementary School in Shoreview.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Minneapolis - Repeatable Routines: Building Formative Tasks for Social Studies, Session Three
2026-03-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Minnesota Department of Education, 400 NE Stinson Blvd, Minneapolis, MN, 55413, United States
Conclude the formative task series with a focus on sustainability. Participants will learn how to embed formative assessment routines into their teaching practice for long-term impact.
The Minnesota Department of Education, in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, will host virtual and in-person sessions to support planning for and implementation of the 2021 K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies, held monthly during the 2025–26 school year. These sessions are open to anyone with building or district-level responsibilities for curriculum planning and development in all social studies content areas, including curriculum directors, department leads, and teachers. Pre-registration is required for in-person sessions.
Virtual sessions will have content similar to in-person sessions, and whenever possible will feature the same speakers.
In-person sessions will be an hour longer than virtual sessions and will allow time for supported collaborative work and networking.
While districts are encouraged to have a representative at each monthly session, either in-person or virtual, participants do not need to commit to attending all nine sessions. Participants are also welcome to attend either session type throughout the year, as is best suited to their needs and schedule.
K-12 educators will receive 2 clock hours.
Registration
Registration Questions: brittany.rawson-haeg@state.mn.us
Register Now

Rochester - Headscarf Story Circle Gathering
2026-03-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Rochester Cultural Center, 1515 US-14, Rochester, 55904, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is excited to host Headscarf Story Circle – a series of offerings that recognize the strength and resiliency of women. Join us for our second of three offerings in Rochester as we gather together through the shared connection of the headscarf and its complexity. This event commemorates Women’s History Month’s theme “Sustainability” with “Sustaining Home, Health, and Joy.”
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.

Danielle Teal is a Senior Program Coordinator at Mayo Clinic with nearly two decades of experience supporting initiatives that strengthen organizations and the people within them. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Danielle is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Behavioral Health (DBH) with a management concentration, where her work focuses on the intersection of behavioral science, population health, and organizational well-being.
Her professional interests center on designing systems and experiences that help people, organizations and communities thrive. Danielle is especially motivated by initiatives that support employee well-being, foster joy at work, and bring a more human-centered approach to how work gets done.
In December 2025, Danielle was diagnosed with breast cancer, an experience that profoundly shaped her perspective and deepened her commitment to resilience, compassion, and living with intention. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, and dreaming up creative projects. One of her long-term aspirations is to travel cross-country performing intentional acts of kindness and eventually write a book about radical kindness.

Tawonda Burks of Rochester, Minnesota is the current Director of Operations at RAEDI (Rochester Area Economic Development Inc.). She is the founder and owner of ELOCINA, LLC, President-Elect of Southeast Minnesota BDPA, Board of Trustee member of the Jeremiah Program, Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Leadership Table at Cradle 2 Career, and committee member with Center for Chronic Disease Reduction & Equity Promotion Across America.

Community Partner: Rochester Women Magazine.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Online Content Session – Era Eight: Civil Rights Struggles
2026-04-02 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Go beyond the 1960s to explore long civil rights movements, from the Great Migration to Black Power, and their relevance for students today. Led by Dr. Yohuru Williams and moderated by Dr. Katharine Gerbner, this session will provide deep historical context, source analysis, and thematic framing.

View Dr. Yohuru Williams’s Bio

Dr. Yohuru Williams is a Distinguished University Chair, Professor and the Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas. A noted scholar of the civil rights and black power movements, an education activist and frequent national commentator, he is an important voice on the topics of race and social justice.

Dr. Williams holds a joint appointment in the Department of History and the School of Law. As a Distinguished University Chair, he helps the university address equity and justice topics that are outside any one school or college and separate from the internal-facing portfolio of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Williams collaborates with people across the university already engaged in community work in order to leverage the full intellectual capacity of St. Thomas to be of even greater service to the community.

All Content Sessions will be conducted via Zoom and a Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)-hosted Canvas learning community. Each session’s lectures and discussions will be recorded and registered participants will receive access to the Canvas course with session recordings, curated resources, and collaborative planning tools.

High school U.S. History teachers and 5th and 7th grade educators are invited to participate in companion Pedagogy Sessions.

Registration
Content Sessions are open to all K–12 educators interested in historical content and source-based instruction. Educators are welcome to register for individual sessions that align with their interests and schedules. Join us for one or more sessions throughout the year.

This event is free but registration is required. Separate registration is required for each offering.

Registration Questions: Brittany.Rawson-Haeg@state.mn.us

Register Now

This offering is part of Navigating the U.S. History Eras: Content, Pedagogy, and Inquiry in the Classroom is a yearlong professional learning opportunity supporting implementation of Minnesota’s 2021 K–12 Academic Standards in Social Studies presented by MHC and MDE.

St. Paul - Hope is a Force
2026-04-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Minnesota Humanities Center! In partnership with the East Side Arts Council, this free community gathering brings together a vibrant lineup of local poets sharing original work shaped by a range of perspectives and ways of seeing the world. Poets reading include:

Joe Alfano
Jan Borofka
Colleen Callahan
Diane Jarvenpa
Marla Kennedy
Diane Brady Leighton
Mem Lloyd
Sheila OKeefe
Romi Slowiak
Leslie Thomas
Roslye Ultan
Carol Wichers

Through an inspiring showcase of readings, this afternoon will highlight the richness of our local literary community. Poetry invites us to pause, listen, and connect. Light refreshments will be available—come enjoy an afternoon of words that resonate.
This event is held in partnership with East Side Arts Council (ESAC), a community arts organization offering accessible, low-cost, or free arts programs led by accomplished professional artists. ESAC celebrates the diversity of its neighborhood and builds appreciation of the arts.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

West St. Paul - Celebrate National Poetry Month
2026-04-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Thompson Park Activity Center, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, 55118, United States
Celebrate National Poetry Month with Minnesota’s Poet Laureate, Gwen Westerman, at the Dakota Lodge in Thompson County Park! Join us for an inspiring afternoon as Gwen shares her personal story, reads from her powerful and heartfelt poems, and reflects on the creative journey behind her acclaimed book, “Songs, Blood Deep.” Gwen beautifully captures the landscape, history, and spirit of Minnesota life. Don’t miss this special opportunity to meet our state’s leading voice for poetry and be inspired by the ways language and storytelling connect us all.
About Gwen Nell Westerman
Gwen Nell Westerman is a poet, visual artist, and scholar. Her roots are deep in the landscape of the tallgrass prairie and reveal themselves in her art and writing. She is an enrolled citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, and her father’s family is from the Heipa District. Her mother’s family is from the Flint District of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Neither of her parents spoke English when they were sent as small children to boarding schools in Oklahoma and South Dakota. Singing and writing for as long as she can remember, Gwen understands from experience the important ways language and the land shape who we are. She was appointed as the Poet Laureate of Minnesota by Governor Tim Walz in 2021.
This event is in partnership with Thompson Park Activity Center, serving West Saint Paul.
Registration
Registration for this event through TriDistrict Community Education.
Registration Questions: help@isd199.org
Register Now

Online - From Page to Practice: The Native American Lives Series in the Classroom
2026-04-08 07:30 - 08:30 | https://www.mnhum.org/event/online-from-page-to-practice-the-native-american-lives-series-in-the-classroom/
Join us for an introductory professional development session on the Native American Lives Series—a vibrant new collection of biographies designed to support grades 1–8 educators in bringing Indigenous voices, histories, and perspectives into the classroom. This session will introduce the three newest titles in the series, “George Morrison: Modern Artist,” “Sharon Day: Water Walker,” and “Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin: Political Pathfinder.” Developed with Native authors, illustrators, and editors, these books provide culturally grounded content that supports both literacy development and inclusive social studies instruction.
Educators will:

Gain an overview of the entire series
Learn about integrating indigenous content with current academic standards
Learn about classroom ready resources and educator guides
Receive 1 clock hour

Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

St. Paul - IFest: International Festival of Minnesota
2026-04-10 - 2026-04-11 | Saint Paul RiverCentre, 175 Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
After a multi-year hiatus, a cherished cultural tradition is coming back with new life, new leadership, and renewed purpose. The International Festival of Minnesota (IFest) will bring together representatives from more than 70 nations and ethnic communities to celebrate the vibrant diversity of Minnesota and the world.
With an expected 20,000 attendees, including 7,000 students, the festival will offer immersive experiences in global cuisine, music, dance, artisan crafts, storytelling, and cultural demonstrations.

The Minnesota Humanities Center is proud to serve as the Official Education & Community Learning Partner for IFest. We have developed accessible and meaningful resources for educators and students to go deeper into the important mission of IFest and strengthen their cultural knowledge and fluency. Check out our new student toolkit and stay tuned for additional resources.
Student Day: Friday, April 10 – 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Public Event: Friday, April 10 – 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 11 – 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Registration
Registration through the IFest website required.
Registration Questions: Contact IFest
Student Day Admission
Public Event Admission

Byron - MN DNR 59 Demonstration and Program on Invasive Species
2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, 5731 County Rd 105 NW, Byron, MN, 55920, United States
Learn from Conservation Officer Schlag and Canine Officer Trapper about the duties of protecting Minnesota’s natural resources. Watch a demonstration of the canine skills Trapper has been trained to do, including how he finds invasive zebra mussels!
This event is free and open to all ages. Meet in the Nature Center.
We are Water MN is a project of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.
We are Water MN is funded by the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Online Pedagogy Session – Era Eight: Civil Rights Struggles
2026-04-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Go beyond the 1960s to explore long civil rights movements, from the Great Migration to Black Power, and their relevance for students today. Using content and sources from Dr. Yohuru Williams, Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Social Studies Specialist Brittany Rawson-Haeg and experienced classroom educators will lead this hands-on workshop supporting high school U.S. History teachers in designing inquiry-based, standards-aligned units.
All Pedagogy Sessions will be conducted via Zoom. Educators who participate in all Pedagogy Sessions will leave the year with a complete U.S. History course aligned to the new standards.
Educators are invited to participate in companion Content Sessions.
Registration
Pedagogy Sessions are designed for high school U.S. History teachers and may also be relevant for 5th and 7th grade educators. Educators are welcome to register for individual sessions that align with their interests and schedules. Join us for one or more sessions throughout the year.
This event is free but registration is required. Separate registration is required for each offering.
Registration Questions: Brittany.Rawson-Haeg@state.mn.us
Register Now
This offering is part of Navigating the U.S. History Eras: Content, Pedagogy, and Inquiry in the Classroom is a yearlong professional learning opportunity supporting implementation of Minnesota’s 2021 –12 Academic Standards in Social Studies presented by MHC and MDE.

St. Cloud - Minnesota Writers Off the Page: Joyce Sutphen
2026-04-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Paramount Center for the Arts, 913 W. Saint Germain St., St. Cloud, 56301, United States
To celebrate National Poetry Month, MHC’s Off the Page is bringing together two of Minnesota’s Poet Laureates, Joyce Sutphen and Gwen Nell Westerman. Sutphen will be reading from her most recent collection, “Paper Camera: Poems, Poets, and Poetry,” which examines the many facets of poetry itself; reading, memorizing, writing, and what poetry can do for us. She will be joined in discussion by the current Poet Laureate, Gwen Nell Westerman. 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 “Paper Camera: Poems, Poets, and Poetry” will be available for purchase, and the evening will finish with a book signing.
About the Speakers
Joyce Sutphen grew up on a farm near St. Joseph, Minnesota, and currently lives in Chaska. She has degrees from the University of Minnesota, including a Ph.D. in Renaissance Drama. Her first book, “Straight Out of View,” won the Barnard New Women’s Poets Prize (Beacon Press, 1995, republished by Holy Cow! Press in 2001). “Coming Back to the Body” (Holy Cow! Press, 2000) was a finalist for a Minnesota Book Award, and “Naming the Stars” (Holy Cow! Press, 2004) won the Minnesota Book Award in Poetry. In 2005, Red Dragonfly Press published “Fourteen Sonnets” in a letterpress edition, and in 2006 Sutphen co-edited the award-winning anthology “To Sing Along the Way: Minnesota Women Poets from Pre-Territorial Days to the Present” (New Rivers Press). Her poems have appeared in “Poetry,” “American Poetry Review,” “Atlanta Review,” “Minnesota Monthly,” “Water-Stone,” and many other journals, and she has had work featured in Ted Kooser’s “American Life in Poetry,” and on “The Writer’s Almanac.” She has also been a guest on A Prairie Home Companion, hosted by Garrison Keillor. In 2011 she was named the second Minnesota Poet Laureate by Governor Mark Dayton, following the tenure of Robert Bly. Her newest collection is “Paper Camera: Poems, Poets, and Poetry,” published by Nodin Press, 2025.
Gwen Nell Westerman is a poet, visual artist, and scholar. Her roots are deep in the landscape of the tallgrass prairie and reveal themselves in her art and writing. She is an enrolled citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, and her father’s family is from the Heipa District. Her mother’s family is from the Flint District of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Neither of her parents spoke English when they were sent as small children to boarding schools in Oklahoma and South Dakota. Singing and writing for as long as she can remember, Gwen understands from experience the important ways language and the land shape who we are. She was appointed as the Poet Laureate of Minnesota by Governor Tim Walz in 2021.
This event is presented in partnership with Paramount Center for the Arts, a multidisciplinary community arts facility whose mission is to engage, educate, enrich, and entertain through inspiring arts experiences. This event is part of the Minnesota Writers Off the Page series, bringing the inspirational voices of Minnesota’s authors directly to readers.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Minneapolis - NUESTRO NORTE Premiere
2026-04-18 11:00 - 12:00 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St, Minneapolis, 55414, United States
Join us for the public premiere of NUESTRO NORTE during the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival – Collective Action Day.
NUESTRO NORTE is a cinematic portrait of five community leaders from across metro and greater Minnesota, their lived stories interwoven with symbolic fiction scenes and original musical performances. More than a documentary, the film seeks to offer a collective vision, celebrating Latine leadership while reflecting on history, diversity, community investment, innovation, and the strength of intergenerational ties.
This film was produced in collaboration with LatinoLEAD, Dual Studios, and the talented film director Martín Blanco with guidance from the project’s Task Force: Sandy Vargas, Elsa Vega, and Jessica Lopez Lyman.

Admission
SOLD OUT

Byron - Feed the Otters and Photos with Ellie the Otter
2026-04-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, 5731 County Rd 105 NW, Byron, MN, 55920, United States
North American River Otters are a curious animal with many adaptations for hunting on land and fishing in the water. Come on out to learn about them, watch a staff member feed out live minnows, and take a picture with our special guest, Ellie the Otter, who is featured in our audio stories in the We Are Water MN exhibit.
This event is free to the public and for all ages.
We are Water MN is a project of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.
We are Water MN is funded by the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Cuyuna Lakes - Sketches of Minnesota
2026-04-18 17:00 - 20:30 | Clearwater Forest Camp and Retreat Center, 16595 Crooked Lake Rd, Deerwood, MN, 56444, United States
“Clear Lakes. Deep Woods. One Community.”
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Clearwater Forest Camp and Retreat Center for the Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events 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 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 listens in on the conversations, takes everything they heard from residents, and brings it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.

5:00–6:00 PM: Doors open / Community hour
6:00–7:15 PM: Dinner
7:15–8:00 PM: Performances
8:00–8:30 PM: Talkback

Host Partner: Clearwater Forest Camp and Retreat Center
Community Partner:

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.
