Iron Range - Sketches of Minnesota
2026-10-01 17:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Minnesota Discovery Center, 1005 Discovery Dr, Chisholm, MN, 55719, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Iron Range community for the Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour at the Minnesota Discovery Center! 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 free 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: Improv show
8:00–8:30 PM: Talkback
Host Partner: Chisholm Community Foundation and Hibbing Foundation
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.
This event is made possible by the generous support of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Minneapolis - Learning from Place: Somali Cedar Riverside
2026-10-02 09:00 - 11:45 | Brian Coyle Neighborhood Center, 420 South 15th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, United States
Cedar Riverside is the heart of the East African community in Minneapolis and home to one of the largest Somali populations in the United States. Over time, Somali Minnesotans have shaped the neighborhood into a vibrant cultural corridor filled with businesses, mosques, and gathering spaces where community life unfolds each day.
Participants will begin at Brian Coyle Community Center and hear from respected community leader Halimo Ainte, who will share reflections on Somali migration, community building, and the transformation of Cedar Riverside into a thriving East African neighborhood. Participants will also visit neighborhood spaces such as a local mosque and nearby businesses that serve as everyday gathering places.
The experience includes a Somali coffee ceremony that reflects the tradition of roasting spices as a vehicle for welcome, conversation, and connection. The learning tour concludes with Somali food samples and reflections.
K-12 Educators will receive 3 clock hours upon completion of the event.
This experience is curated by Yusra Mohamud, as a longtime connector within South Minneapolis’s East African community, Yusra brings a rare combination of deep cultural roots and a gift for storytelling that transforms corridors into living narratives of resilience, identity, and belonging.
Registration
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.

St. Paul - Learning from Place: Little Africa Plaza
2026-10-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Little Africa Plaza, 678 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul, 55104, United States
Minnesota is home to a vibrant and growing African diaspora representing many countries, languages, and cultural traditions. In St. Paul, Little Africa has emerged as a cultural corridor where this diversity is expressed and rooted through entrepreneurship, community leadership, art, and food.
Participants will gather at Little Africa Plaza and hear from community leaders and culture bearers about the vision behind the new development and the role of African entrepreneurs in shaping the corridor. The experience will include a cooking demonstration featuring injera, the traditional Ethiopian flatbread and food samples. Through this experience, participants will learn how food traditions carry stories of family, culture, and community.
Participants will also visit the African Museum, Art and Culture Center, where they will learn about ongoing efforts to elevate African art within the Little Africa cultural corridor and explore opportunities to support this vision through volunteer and event participation.
K-12 Educators will receive 3 clock hours upon completion of the event.
This experience is presented in collaboration with African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), a non-profit organization that supports African immigrant entrepreneurs and has helped advance the vision for Little Africa Plaza and the surrounding cultural corridor.
Registration
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.

Blaine - We Are Water MN
2026-10-08 - 2026-11-30 | Northtown Library, 711 County Hwy 10 NE, Blaine, MN, 55434, 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: Anoka County Library
We Are Water MN will round out its 2026 tour at the Northtown Library in Blaine! Anoka County Libraries exist to serve their communities and connect them to resources and learning, and We Are Water MN is no exception, bringing water education and engagement to the library. Fun fact: Anoka County is the 4th largest county in the state of Minnesota, comprised of over 360,000 residents! Libraries are naturally places people go to learn, and we look forward to seeing the many water related resources, books, book discussions, and beyond!
Though most of the programming at Northtown will happen indoors, the library also features beautiful outdoor grounds, with a pond and Shoreline Buffer Garden that are on library premises. Join us outside for nature programming!
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

Luverne - Sketches of Minnesota
2026-10-10 17:00 - 20:30 | Big Top Tent Rental, 321 W Hatting St, Luverne, MN, 56156, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Luverne community 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: Improv show
8:00–8:30 PM: Talkback
Host Partner: Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow (LIFT)
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Minneapolis - Learning from Place: South Minneapolis Baketivism
2026-10-24 09:00 - 12:00 | CityView Church, 3041 4th Ave South, Minneapolis, 55408, United States
Join us for Learning from Place: South Minneapolis Baketivism, a time of reflection, remembrance, healing, and community care led by nationally recognized community leader Rose McGee, founder of Sweet Potato Comfort Pie.
Through her signature workshop, which integrates Character Values: Upholding Our Beloved Community© with a baking demonstration of her signature sweet potato pie, participants will explore how values such as courage, compassion, responsibility, and presence are embodied in community, especially in the wake of tragedy. The baking of Rose’s sacred dessert becomes both symbol and practice, transforming conversation into action. Participants will also hear stories from ordinary people making extraordinary efforts to show care through food.
This experience takes place at Firebase Movement (a tenant of CityView Church), centrally located near community memorials honoring George Floyd, Rene Good, and Alex Pretti.
Program Schedule:
8:30 a.m. – Check-In
9:00 a.m. – Program Begins
Noon – Program Concludes
Immediately following the program, participants will have the option to sign-up with Firebase Movement to help distribute pies to the local community and participate in a prayer walk.
Presented in collaboration with Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, an organization that uses food, art, and cultural traditions to foster connection, healing, and change.
Registration
This event is free, however registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

St. Paul - Celebrating Native Language and Culture Through the Joy of Games
2026-11-05 18:00 - 20:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Put the cell phones away and join us for an evening of fun, food, and cultural connection. As we recognize National Native American Heritage Month, the Minnesota Humanities Center welcomes Tony Drews and Nashke Native Games for a lively, intergenerational game night.
Unlike mainstream board games that reflect dominant cultural experiences, Nashke Native Games centers Ojibwe language, stories, and values, offering a playful way to engage with culture, strengthen family and community bonds, and support language preservation. The evening begins with conversation over a light dinner provided by an Indigenous caterer followed by gameplay that is certain to be fun – and educational – for all.
Guests will also have a chance to participate in a drawing for prizes, including items from Nashke Native Games and books from Native American Lives, the Minnesota Humanities Center’s biography series highlighting Native voices. One title, “Charles Albert Bender: National Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher,” tells the story of Bender and his passion for baseball – a reminder that games, in all forms, bring people together.
Whether you come with family, friends, or on your own, you’ll leave with new words, fresh insights, and a deeper appreciation for the power of play in preserving culture and fostering connection. Each household will also receive an Ojibwe game to take home and continue learning together. Everyone is welcome—families, educators, and community members ages 10 and up.
Following the event, Nashke Native Games will have additional games and educational resources available for purchase.
K-12 Educators will receive 2 clock hours upon completion of the event.
Registration
$15 for adults. $10 for children 10 and under. Complimentary registrations are available to help ensure cost is not a barrier. Use discount code FEEWAIVER when registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | Cancellation Policy
Register Now

Save the Date! 2027 Project Citizen Showcase
2027-05-04 | MN
What happens when students investigate issues in their communities, research public policy solutions, and present their ideas to decision-makers?
Join us for the 2027 Project Citizen Student Showcase, where student teams from across Minnesota will share their civic engagement projects with educators, community members, and judges. This event will highlight the research, creativity, and civic leadership of young people learning how to engage in democracy by becoming active leaders in defining and implementing democratic public policy.
More details about participation and registration will be shared in the coming months.
Learn more about Project Citizen and upcoming opportunities on the Minnesota Center for Civic Education program page.
