Minnesota Humanities Center

Minneapolis - Examining Military Service From the Margins
2025-01-30 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Quatrefoil Library, 1220 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, United States
From the Margins at Quatrefoil Library
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.
This session of “Examining Military Service From the Margins,” held at Quatrefoil Library in Minneapolis, will have conversations focused on LGBTQIA+ community issues. Topics of discussion will include the history of Queer service members, the effects of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the current experience of transgender individuals in the military.
What you can expect from this session:

Discussion Leaders, Veterans, active service members, and civilians will share information on military service, as well as talk about their personal experiences and perspectives.
A post-event resource list of articles, books, and organizations to help you gain a deeper understanding of topics discussed.
Engage in small and large group conversations.

Registration
Registration is required. There is no cost to attend.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Online - Building Bright Futures: Support Student Growth and Success as a National History Day Judge!
2025-01-29 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-01-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Online
Join us as a 2025 Regional History Day Judge and help shape the future of Minnesota students! This rewarding volunteer opportunity allows you to engage directly with young scholars as they explore historical topics, develop critical research and writing skills, and discover their voices.
Your role as a judge goes beyond evaluating projects—it’s about fostering confidence, curiosity, and a sense of accomplishment in students. By offering thoughtful feedback and celebrating their efforts, you empower them to grow as learners, thinkers, and creators.
The Minnesota Humanities Center, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, is committed to ensuring students see themselves in the mentors and evaluators they encounter throughout their educational experience. We especially welcome judges from Minnesota’s richly diverse communities, including African American, Asian, American Indian, Latino/e/x, East African, and Greater Minnesota residents. Your unique perspective can make a lasting impact!
No experience? No problem! This online training session, led by Sammi Jo Papas of the Minnesota Historical Society, provides everything you need to know. All you need is an interest in history and a willingness to connect with students.

Event Details:

Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in history and student success
Format: Online training
Stipend: Workshop attendees who commit to judging at a Regional History Day competition will receive a $50 stipend

Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now
Join us in nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and citizens. Learn more and sign up as a History Day judge to make a difference: mnhs.org/historyday.
Support young historians and help shape the next generation of leaders—sign up today!
Support for this project comes in part from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) “National History Day” initiative, an effort to extend NHD outreach to educators and students in hard-to-reach communities and to recruit, in collaboration with NHD and NHD affiliates, a more diverse pool of NHD judges from minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and underserved communities.

Golden Valley - Upholding Our Beloved Community: Comfort Pies Build Stronger Ties
2025-01-19 13:30 - 16:30 | Metropolitan Ballroom & Clubroom, 5418 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN, 55416, United States
Gather for an uplifting event where we come together to celebrate Dr. King and his enduring dream of Beloved Community. Enjoy music, speakers, food and facilitated conversations about the issues of our times. Connect with neighbors and friends and leave inspired and fortified!
Featuring:

An auction of unique items!
96 sweet potato pies (representing Dr. King’s age) to be given to those YOU determine deserve them most.
Renowned Vocalist Jamela Pettiford and the GQ Unit will perform to inspire the audience with her soulful melodies.
Saxophonist Jerome Richardson will captivate us all with his exceptional artistry.
Heart and Soul Drum Academy, led by Baba Jesse Buckner, delivers rhythms that unite us.
And most importantly—YOU!

Learn More
This event is free but registration is required. To learn more about this event, visit the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie event page.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Feeding Our Souls: Essence of Indigenous Joy
2024-12-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Splendid traditional entrees and desserts evolve at the Minnesota Humanities Center as we commemorate Indigenous Cultural Heritage Month through food and the beloved stories behind them that bring community joy. Cuisine and authentic presentations are showcased by one of the Twin Cities’ finest chefs, food historian, and musicians.
Featured Chef
Brian Yazzie aka Yazzie the Chef (Diné/Navajo) is from Dennehotso, Arizona and based out of Saint Paul, MN. Chef Yazzie has an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Culinary Arts from Saint Paul College 2016. He is a delegate of Slow Food Turtle Island Association, and a team member at I-Collective: a collective of cooks, chefs, seed keepers, farmers, foragers, and scholars, focused on bringing awareness to the cultural appropriations of indigenous foods of the Americas. Chef Yazzie and his Fiancée, Danielle Polk (Hoonmana Polk) are the Founders/Owners of Intertribal Foodways, a culinary mission specifically working with and for the betterment of tribal communities, wellness and health through Indigenous foods. They travel internationally and are available for catering, private dinners, pop up dinners, chef demos & cooking classes, collaborations, and presentations on indigenous food sovereignty.
Featured Emcee
Deanna StandingCloud, a citizen of the Red Lake Nation of Anishinaabe, Deanna collaborates with fellow Native comedians, including Trish Cook’s all-female group, ACE BAE Comedy. She’s performed comedy since 2022. She is also learning about traditional healing modalities for her new business, Ziigwan Indigenous Wellness. Deanna is a playwright, artist, and powwow emcee who enjoys spending time with her children, her dog Benny, cooking, taking nature walks, and creative activities.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

St. Paul - Minnesota Writers Off the Page: Marcie Rendon
2024-12-06 18:30 - 20:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us for a special evening with acclaimed author, poet, and playwright, Marcie Rendon, as she delves into her latest book, “Where They Last Saw Her” (Bantam Books, 2024). Marcie will be in conversation with Lisa Skjefte, Deputy Director at MIGIZI. Their conversation will explore crime novels, humor, resilience, and what it means to be an Indigenous woman in Minnesota today.
Following the discussion, audience members are invited to participate in a Q&A session, enjoy light refreshments, and have further informal conversation with the featured speakers. Copies of “Where They Last Saw Her,” along with other titles by Marcie Rendon, will be available for purchase from Moon Palace Books at the event and the evening will finish with a book signing.
This event is presented in partnership with MIGIZI, which supports the development of American Indian youth through academic, cultural, and career-building programs, and is part of the Minnesota Writers Off the Page series, bringing the inspirational voices of Minnesota’s authors directly to readers. While the event is free, registration is required to reserve your spot. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with one of Minnesota’s most compelling voices.
About the Book
Things are different now for Quill than when she was a lonely girl. Her friends Punk and Gaylyn are two women who don’t know what it means to quit; her loving husband, Crow, and their two beautiful children challenge her to be better every day. So when she hears a second woman has been stolen, she is determined to do something about it—starting with investigating the group of men working the pipeline construction just north of their homes.
As Quill closes in on the truth about the missing women, someone else disappears. In her quest to find justice for all of the women of the reservation, she is confronted with the hard truths of their home and the people who purport to serve them. When will she stop losing neighbors, friends, family? As Quill puts everything on the line to make a difference, the novel asks searing questions about bystander culture, the reverberations of even one act of crime, and the long-lasting trauma of being considered invisible. (Random House Publishing Group)
About the Author
Marcie R. Rendon, citizen of the White Earth Nation, is one of O: The Oprah Magazine’s 31 Native American Authors to Read Right Now and a McKnight Distinguished Artist Award winner. Her debut novel, “Murder on the Red River,” received the Pinckley Prize for Debut Novel Award and was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award, Contemporary Novel category, and her second novel, “Girl Gone Missing,” was nominated for the G. P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award. Her script, “Say Their Names,” will be produced by Out of Hand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. And her script “Sweet Revenge” had a staged reading at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The creative mind of Raving Native Theater, she curated Twin Cities Public Television’s “Art Is . . . CreativeNativeResilience.” Rendon received the Loft Literary Center’s Spoken Word Immersion Fellowship with co-creator Diego Vazquez for their work with incarcerated women.
About the Moderator
Lisa Skjefte, Red Lake Nation Anishinaabe, joined MIGIZI in April of 2023 as our new Deputy Director. She was formerly the Vice President of Community Engagement and Impact at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC). Prior to her work at MIWRC, Lisa worked at Children’s Minnesota where she specialized in systems change by partnering with and leading efforts to institutionalize health equity. While at Children’s Minnesota she co-created with the community two separate community and patient experience initiatives, The First Gift and the American Indian Volunteer Cohort. Lisa is also the co-founder of KWESTRONG, a grassroots movement centered around an annual Native Women’s Triathlon (RUN BIKE CANOE) at Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Minnesota, and is currently finishing up her Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of Minnesota.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

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
Register Now

St. Paul - Health Equity Breakfast Series
2024-12-02 08:30 - 10:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
We’re excited to invite you to Shifting Power, Transforming Systems Through Language, presented by the University of St. Thomas Morrison Family College of Health in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center. Please join us for a rich conversation on language as a vital bridge to more equitable and inclusive care for communities in which language is a barrier.
Language access is critical in providing equitable, high-quality, whole-person care for immigrant and refugee communities. This breakfast will include a viewing of Translators, an award-winning brief documentary, which focuses on the role children play to step in as translators and interpreters for adult family members. Panelists and attendees will have opportunities to share from their own personal and professional experiences to explore questions raised in the documentary, examine the role of language in providing culturally responsive care, discuss systemic issues leading to limited language access in health care and social service settings, and consider strategies for increasing language access and improving culturally responsive care. We hope you can join us for this important conversation!
Registration
Registration Questions: coh@stthomas.edu
Register Now

St. Paul - Minnesota English Learner Education (MELEd) Fall Conference
2024-11-22 - 2024-11-23 | Saint Paul RiverCentre, 175 Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
The annual MELEd Fall Conference will be held November 22-23, 2024 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The Minnesota English Learner Education Conference is a partnership between MinneTESOL and the Minnesota Department of Education. Educators come together to celebrate, share information, learn from and with each other, and network across Minnesota for ESL, Dual Language and Bilingual Education, and Migrant Education.
The Minnesota Humanities Center will be tabling and presenting two sessions at the conference:

Culturally Rich Resources for All Learners – Friday, November 22, 10:15-11:00 a.m.
Amplifying Student Voice through the Latino Poetry Anthology, Places We Call Home – Saturday, November 23, 2:00-2:45 p.m.

Registration
Registration Questions: admin@minnetesol.org
Register Now

St. Paul - Event Center Annual Open House
2024-11-20 11:30 - 13:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
You and a guest are invited to join us for our Event Center’s annual open house! Bring your colleagues and friends and stop in anytime between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to see our beautiful space and have lunch on us. Take a tour of our event spaces and overnight lodging, network with other planners, enjoy a sampling of food from our in-house chef, and see how we can make your next event a success! We hope you can join us! Please RSVP you and your guest(s) by November 18.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Minneapolis - Examining Military Service From the Margins
2024-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55411, 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 Two of “Examining Military Service From the Margins” will build upon the discussion from the previous session and consider the guiding question, “How has the military service of certain populations been hidden, devalued, limited, or discriminated against?”
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

Online - Headscarf Story Circle Gathering: Health and Humanities - Reaching Women Across Minnesota
2024-11-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
The Headscarf Story Circles have created a welcoming space where women of all ethnicities, religions, and ages come together in unity, connected by the shared significance of the headscarf. This video captures the essence and purpose. Metaphorically, each thread of the headscarf is intricately woven to form a profound tapestry, symbolizing the complexity and beauty of our shared commonality.
This virtual experience will be a health and humanities focus – “Headscarf Story Circle Gathering: The Silent Subject of Menopause.” Women of all ages agree that menopause has not been an open or common discussion, yet it comes with many questions, concerns, and myths. Participants will hear from experts in women’s health and have a chance to share their own stories of experiences, fears, and remedies.
We are excited to also have the following Greater Minnesota community ambassadors join us as they prepare to bring Headscarf Story Circle into their communities.
Ambassador Bios
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.
Julia Freeman of St. Paul is Director of Community Engagement for Voices for Racial Justice where she has (since 2007) led the Education Equity work using a healing and racial justice lens. She has helped districts and schools use co-created tools that put students and parents in the center of equity solutions. She is a racial justice trainer, coach, and the grandmother of ten.
Hodan Omar is the founder and Executive Director of Hooyo Hour Organization. Recognizing the growing need to support mothers, she established Hooyo Hour as a nonprofit to provide community resources, educational support, and programs that empower women to become self-sufficient. A dedicated community connector, Hodan was honored with the Social Trust Award from the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, recognizing her efforts in building social trust across the greater St. Cloud community.
Emily Fuerste Swanson is co-owner/proprietor of Oldenburg House, a B&B next to the St. Louis River and Jay Cooke State Park in the little town of Carlton (near Duluth). Oldenburg House is named for Margaret Oldenburg, a citizen scientist and explorer who grew up in this historic house, and her story shaped Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community (OACC). OACC works with local creatives to nurture connections to each other and the abundant and irreplaceable cultural and natural resources in this beautiful place we call home.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

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
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.
Register Now

Online - Beyond Learning from Place: Bdote - Action Planning & Engagement for Accomplices
2024-11-07 12:30 - 15:00 | Online
Since 2013, the Minnesota Humanities Center has collaborated with Dakota community members to offer Learning from Place: Bdote, an immersive experience that brings people to sites of significance to Dakota people in the Twin Cities. Over 3,400 people have participated in this transformative offering, leaving many wanting to learn and do more. We are excited to partner with Native Governance Center to host the first of our Beyond Learning from Place: Bdote online workshops.
Workshop Overview:
Action Planning and Engagement for Accomplices
Presented by Native Governance Center – nativegov.org
Are you interested in taking action to support Native communities? Do you feel unsure about how to get started on building relationships and potential partnerships with Native nations? Join Native Governance Center, a Native-led nonprofit organization, for a deep dive into best practices for meaningful engagement. This interactive presentation will equip participants with tools for creating supportive action steps using Native Governance Center’s action planning framework. Attendees will also learn how to get into a good headspace and understand protocol before partnering with Native nations. Expect content grounded in real-life examples and ample opportunities to engage with presenters and fellow attendees in a welcoming, beginner-friendly environment. This presentation is perfect for those wondering “what’s next” after attending a Bdote tour.
Native Governance Center Presenters:

Cree Rose Dueker (Chippewa Cree Tribe): Program Manager for Community Engagement
Sage Phillips (Penobscot Nation): Program Coordinator for Community Engagement

Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Minneapolis - Examining Military Service From the Margins
2024-11-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55411, 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

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

Online - Teaching Bdote: Tools for Teaching Dakota Content
2024-11-02 09:30 - 12:00 | Online
Teaching Bdote: Tools for Teaching Dakota Content is designed for educators who have attended, or are planning to attend, Learning from Place: Bdote. This workshop is especially useful for developing unique classroom content to align with Minnesota State Social Studies Standards.
Offered in collaboration with Saint Paul Public Schools, this online workshop will address the concerns and anxieties that non-Indigenous educators may have around teaching Dakota history. Educators will leave with new resources and content, deeper understanding, and ideas for how to lead a Bdote trip or to bring the experience into the classroom.
Teaching Bdote will be facilitated and presented by Ramona Kitto Stately, Ethan Neerdaels, and the Saint Paul Public Schools Office of Teaching and Learning.
Registration
If cost is a concern, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for Minnesota residents. To request a complimentary spot, please register with Discount Code WAIVE24.
Through our partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools, the fee is waived for all SPPS educators. Please register with Discount Code SPPS24.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Register Now

St. Paul - Latine Film Project - Inspiring the Next Generation
2024-10-30 08:30 - 11:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us for an exclusive preview of a new project created in collaboration with MHC and LatinoLEAD that amplifies the stories of Latine individuals who have exemplified strength and resiliency to pursue unconventional paths to success. Through inspiring stories along with supporting learning materials, the project seeks to inspire future leaders and foster community pride and understanding across Minnesota. During the session, you’ll gain insight from community listening reports, connect with project contributors, and view a sneak peek of the video content. Participants will also have the opportunity to provide input and explore ideas for expanding the project’s reach and impact. An authentic Mexican breakfast will be served.
This event is offered as part of the St. Paul Area Chamber’s Equity Leadership Series. For more information about the series contact events@stpaulchamber.com.
Limited seats are available for non-St. Paul Area Chamber members through MHC’s registration link below.
Registration
If cost is a concern, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for Minnesota residents. To request a complimentary spot, please register with Discount Code WAIVE24.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Register Now

St. Paul - Reflections on War and Service at the Capitol Mall
2024-10-26 13:00 - 15:30 | State Capitol Mall, 13 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, St. Paul, MN, 55155, United States
Presented in honor of Veterans Voices Month, this event will provide participants an opportunity to reflect on the experiences and perspectives of service members, Veterans, and civilians in how we understand the nature of military conflicts, and how the public remembers and interprets the experience of war and service through memorials and monuments. The program will include an interactive writing activity and participants will have the opportunity to share their stories and experiences. Facilitators will guide participants through the writing activity and there will be time for group discussion about monuments and memorials on the Minnesota State Capitol Mall.
Participants will meet in the Minnesota State Capitol building and then walk to the Lower Capitol Mall, where most of the program will occur. Most of this event will take place outdoors, weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, the program will be conducted indoors at the State Capitol.
K-12 educators can receive 2 CEUs for attending.
Registration
This event is free and open to all ages, but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Rochester - Reckoning With Slavery: MN African American History Film Screening & “Where Do We Go From Here?” Community Talk
2024-10-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Marcus Rochester Cinema, 4340 Maine Ave SE, Rochester, MN, 55904, United States

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

St. Paul - Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Latine Joy
2024-10-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Savory entrees and delectable desserts will again fill the tables at the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) as we commemorate Latine Cultural Heritage Month through food and the beloved stories behind them that bring community joy. Cuisine and entertainment will be showcased by some of the Twin Cities’ finest chefs and musicians.
Featured Chef: Manuel Gonzalez
Manuel Gonzalez is from Mexico City. He moved to the United States In 1982, after finishing culinary school in Mexico. Having always dreamed of opening his own business, he applied and was chosen as one of the first restaurants to be part of the Latine Business Development Project, opening in their first restaurant in 1999. He invited his sister Victoria, to participate in this adventure, because she has a background in hospitality management and business consulting experience. Together they run Manny’s Tortas inside the Midtown Global Market and a booth in the food building at the Minnesota State Fair. Manny is frequently a guest speaker for economic development programs, and a guest chef at locations such as Macy’s Department Store and Midtown Global Market. He also teaches cooking classes for different events.
Featured Musician: Jesus Guzman
Born in Vargas, Venezuela, Jesus began to study violin at the age of 7 in the National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela, also known as El Sistema. He has studied in the Latin American Violin Academy in Caracas with the violin master, Francisco Del Castillo. In addition, Jesus has participated in masterclasses with violin virtuosos, Guy Braunstein, Thibault Vieux, and Alexis Cardenas. Jesus has an extensive performing career, notably the five years he spent as member of 1st Violin of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela under conductors Gustavo Dudamel and Diego Matheuz. In 2022 He won an award in the Z-film Festival in Minneapolis, MN, for his composition and video edition as a best original song of “Añoranza” Lastly, He is part of the staff of teachers for GTCYS (Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies) working as a violin teacher in the Harmony program in Riverview West School of Excellence – St. Paul (MN), and teaching around the Twin cities.
Program Emcee: Melissa Gonzalez Vazquez
Melissa Gonzalez Vazquez is Communications and Community Engagement Manager at LatinoLEAD. Drawing from her firsthand encounters with the transformative impact of Latine-focused nonprofits, Melissa is dedicated to enhancing our community’s access, visibility, and success through purposeful programming, cross-sector partnerships, impactful narratives, and cross-cultural coalition building efforts. She believes that Minnesota is an excellent hub to foster Latine leadership infrastructure and strategies. She is dedicated to connecting emerging vanguards across industries and highlighting our Latine community’s assets. Her background in congressional campaign communications and designing nationwide Latine leadership programming reinforced her passion for aligning Latine efforts and amplifying its collective influence through narrative writing, digital marketing and graphic design.
Registration
Registration is required for this free event.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

St. Louis Park - Reckoning With Slavery: MN African American History Film Screening & “Where Do We Go From Here?” Community Talk
2024-10-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Edina Mann Theatre, 3911 W. 5th St., Edina, MN, 55424, 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 fee is required to attend the Twin Cities Film Festival.
Register Now

Waite Park - Reckoning With Slavery: MN African American History Film Screening & “Where Do We Go From Here?” Community Talk
2024-10-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Marcus Parkwood Cinema, 1533 Frontage Rd N, Waite Park, MN, 56387, United States

Minneapolis - Reckoning With Slavery: MN African American History Film Screening & “Where Do We Go From Here?” Community Talk
2024-10-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Capri Theater, 2027 W Broadway, Minneapolis, 55411, 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 fee is required to attend the Twin Cities Black Film Festival.
Register Now

Shakopee - We Are Water MN
2024-10-10 - 2024-12-07 | Hocokata Ti, 2300 Tiwahe Circle, Shakopee, MN, 55372, 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: Hocokata Ti at Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

St. Paul - Latino Poetry: “Places We Call Home”
2024-10-07 18:30 - 20:00 | Riverview Library, 1 E George St, St. Paul, MN, 55107, United States
What does Latino poetry reveal about America? How might it help us imagine a more just, joyful, and hopeful future? Taking place at the St. Paul Public Library – Riverview, poets Ray Gonzalez and Lupe Castillo share readings from Places We Call Home, an anthology that celebrates and explores the multifaceted legacy of Latino poetry. Presented with Minnesota Humanities Center.
Ray Gonzalez is the author of fifteen books of poetry, including The Heat of Arrivals, winner of the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Book Award; Cabato Sentora, a Minnesota Book Award Finalist; The Hawk Temple at Tierra Grande, winner of the 2003 Minnesota Book Award; Consideration of the Guitar: New & Selected Poems; Cool Auditor: Prose Poems; and Beautiful Wall, also a Minnesota Book Award winner. Gonzalez is also the author of three collections of essays, two collections of short stories, and the editor of twelve anthologies. Gonzalez is a professor in the MFA Creative Writing Program at the University of Minnesota.
Lupe Castillo is the creator of HeartSpeaks: Voices of Cultura Healing & Writing Circles and a self-identified XicanaIndia from the Southern lands. As a Culture Bearer, HeartSpeaks provides activated radical collaborations in writing and spoken word artistry. Lupe facilitates writing circles and poetry workshops in community groups, high schools, and universities. Lupe’s recent poetry is documented in the Northside Green “Our Urban Canopy” Art/Coloring Book. An upcoming co-authored poetry book will be published in 2025.
About Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home seeks to foster nationwide conversation on this vital form of literature through a groundbreaking new anthology edited by Rigoberto González, events around the country, an online media archive, and a wealth of library resources meant to spur in-depth reflection and discussion on key figures and themes.
This program is presented as part of Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home, a major public humanities initiative taking place across the nation in 2024 and 2025, directed by Library of America and funded with generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Emerson Collective.
Registration
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Hopkins - 2024 Passport to the Humanities: The Humanities Showcase
2024-10-05 | Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN, 55343, United States
Join us for our Annual Celebration where stories will unfold, hearts will connect, and minds will expand!
Highlighting the profound impact of the humanities in our lives, the Humanities Showcase will feature storytelling and unique performances of emotion, art, and the human connection. Miss Shannan Paul, a multi-dimensional storyteller, will weave the event performances together, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all.
Miss Shannan Paul, acclaimed for her engaging and relatable comedy, captivates many audiences, from business professionals to sci-fi fans, with her unique blend of humor and storytelling. Beyond her stand-up comedy, she has made significant contributions as a TV host, executive producer of “Miss Shannan’s Comedy Through The Chaos,” and an active board member for organizations like the Pacer Center and the Autism Society of Minnesota. Her diverse background, including roles in marketing, radio, and television, and her commitment to diversity and inclusion, makes her an influential figure in various fields and a respected voice on cultural sensitivity and workplace dynamics.
This event invites our Minnesota communities to join us, get curious, and explore new ways of thinking that help us better understand ourselves and the world around us.
Schedule of Events
Spend your Saturday night with us starting at the VIP Pre-Show Reception, enjoy the Humanities Showcase, and stay for the Encore Reception with networking, desserts, cash bar and entertainment!
VIP Pre-Show Reception: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Hosted Bar & Heavy Hors d’oeuvres)
General Admission: 6:00 PM (Cash Bar & Light Hors d’oeuvres)
Not attending the VIP Pre-Show Reception? Find local restaurants.
Showcase: 6:30 –7:30 PM
Encore Reception: 7:30 – 9:00 PM (Entertainment, Cash Bar, & Dessert Reception)
Attire: Business Cocktail
If you have any questions about the event or sponsorship, please reach out to Ann Mayers, Development Director, at ann@mnhum.org or 651-772-4262.
Registration
VIP Admission (Pre-Show Reception, Humanities Showcase, and Encore) – $125;
General Admission (Humanities Showcase and Encore) – $75
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Duluth - Take Me Where There Is Life: Open Studio & Closing Reception
2024-10-04 17:30 - 20:00 | Duluth Art Institute Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W 2nd St, Duluth, MN, 55806, United States
Throughout August and September, the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) has partnered with the Duluth Art Institute (DAI) to host a first-of-its-kind artist residency in Minnesota. “Take Me Where There Is Life” is an art project and workshop with Spanish artist Carmen La Griega that connects, facilitates, and co-creates with community members through art therapy and artistic practice with a focus on those experiencing memory loss. Workshop participants are people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their caregivers. Carmen’s instruction and approach to the workshop uses lessons that she learned and developed while creating art with her father, who lived with Alzheimer’s in the later stages of his life.
On Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4, Carmen, DAI, and MHC will host an open studio and closing reception, where attendees can learn more about the project, see an exhibition of paintings and drawings created by the workshop participants, and hear from Carmen about her experiences as an instructor and artist-in-residence.
The Open Studio will be on Thursday, October 3, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., featuring an exhibition tour and artist discussion with Carmen and DAI staff member Madeline Kayser. The Closing Reception will be on Friday, October 4, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
