Minnesota Humanities Center

St. Cloud - Headscarf Story Circle Gathering
2025-05-16 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | St. Cloud Multicultural Mall, 3123 Roosevelt Rd., St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center Headscarf Story Circles is a series of offerings that recognize the strength and resiliency of women. Our St. Cloud community will gather through shared connections of the headscarf and engage in conversations around health and wellness. 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. This event is hosted by Hodan Omar, Executive Director of Hooyo Hour.
Learn More About Headscarf Story Circles
Learn more about Headscarf Story Circles program in this video produced by the Minnesota Humanities Center.

Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
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St. Paul – Learning from Place: Bdote
2025-05-17 08:30 - 14:30 | Fort Snelling State Park, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St. Paul, MN, 55111, United States
Learning from Place: Bdote is an immersive experience that brings participants to sites of great significance to Dakota people in the Twin Cities. Participants will learn from Dakota community members through stories and histories that have often been left out of our state’s history. This experience is open to the public and is particularly beneficial for educators who want to include new perspectives in their history curriculum.
Learning from Place: Bdote will begin at Fort Snelling State Park (parking permit is required). After a break for “lunch on your own,” we will meet at Indian Mounds Regional Park, followed by a visit to the Pilot Knob Preservation Site. We will be outside the entire time. Participants need to provide their own transportation, lunch, snacks, and beverages.
Your co-leads: Ramona Kitto Stately and Fern Naomi Renville
Ramona Kitto Stately is an enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Dakhóta Nation. She has a BA in Dakota Art and Culture and a MAE in Teacher Leadership. She is Project Director for We Are Still Here Minnesota and serves as chairperson of the Minnesota Indian Education Association. Ramona was the Recipient of the 2021 Ron McKinley Award from Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, currently serves as 2023’s Indigenous Elder in Residence for Carleton College, and McKnight Culture Bearers Award Recipient in March 2023.
Fern Naomi Renville is an artist, storyteller, enrolled citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, and seventh-generation descendant of Chief Gabriel Renville. Born on the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota, Fern currently lives and works in Saint Paul as an educator sharing music, story, and land-based learning to promote greater understanding and knowledge of Dakota people.
There will be about one mile of walking throughout the day, sometimes on unpaved paths, as well as standing for periods of time. We will provide audio headsets for amplification of the tour guides. For specific inquiries about accessibility, please contact Eden Bart at eden@mnhum.org or 651-772-4261.
K-12 educators will receive 5 clock hours.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
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Want to know more about Learning from Place: Bdote?
Learn more about the Learning from Place: Bdote offering.

Learn More
Watch Learning from Place: Bdote, a video produced to celebrate 10 years of this powerful program.
Watch Now

Minneapolis - Remembrance Day - Commemorating George Floyd
2025-05-23 08:00 - 20:00 | MN
Join Minnesota Humanities Center for the second annual Day of Remembrance (DOR)—a community-centered event dedicated to honoring the legacy of George Floyd, five years after his tragic murder, and recognizing the global movement it ignited.
Marking five years since that pivotal moment, DOR is a full day of reflection, healing, and unity. The event includes four key components:
8:00am Interfaith Prayer Gathering at Minneapolis City Hall
9:00am Remembrance Brunch (sold out ticketed event) – panel discussion facilitated by MHC’s CEO, Kevin Lindsey
12:30pm Moment of Silence at George Floyd Square
5:00pm Art Highlights, Art Heals, Art Activates at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
For complete details, please visit the Win Back website.

St. Paul – Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Juneteenth Joy with Dr. Jessica B. Harris
2025-06-18 17:15 - 20:00 | Minnesota History Center, 345 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
Culinary historian, author of 15 books, including the New York Times bestseller High on the Hog, winner of two NAACP Image Awards, a Peabody Award, and James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement award winner Dr. Jessica B. Harris will be in conversation with MHC CEO Kevin Lindsey about the role food plays in shaping our identities and understandings of cultural heritage.

After the program, guests will be invited to mingle and taste samples of several local chefs’ signature dishes.

Featured Chefs

Chef Lutunji Abram – Lutunji’s Palate
Chef Jamal Hashi – Lux Catering
Chef James Johnson – Cooks of Hope
Chef Mateo Mackbee – Krewe Restaurant
Chef Rayo Odedina – Jokky Catering Services
Chef Robert Taylor – Dreamland Culinary Heritage

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services will be available at this event.

Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org

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Thank you to our sponsors!

Minneapolis - We Are Water MN
2025-06-19 - 2025-08-11 | Nicollet Mall, 809 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, 55402, 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: Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

Minneapolis – Juneteenth Brunch & Conversation with Sherrilyn Ifill
2025-06-19 09:15 - 11:15 | Quincy Hall, 1325 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55413, United States
Sherrilyn Ifill is the current Vernon Jordan Professor of Law of Civil Rights at Howard University School of Law and was the former President and Director–Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. (LDF). Her book, On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the 21st Century, is credited with laying the foundation for contemporary conversations about lynching and racial reconciliation. She is also a frequent commentator on affirmative action, policing, judicial nominees, and the United States Supreme Court.

Ifill recently launched the 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy at Howard University and is currently completing a new book about race and the current crisis in American democracy entitled, Is This America? Register now to fill your body and soul with a delicious breakfast while hearing from renowned civil rights lawyer and scholar Sherrilyn Ifill.

Two meal options will be available depending on dietary restrictions.

Brunch Brisket Quiche: Pastry crust with egg custard, barbecue beef brisket, peppers, and onions served with breakfast bean hash (seasoned baked beans, diced potatoes, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno), and seasoned grilled watermelon.

Vegan Scramble (Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten and Dairy Free, No beef option): Vegan eggs with with spinach, onion, and mushroom served with breakfast bean hash (seasoned vegan baked beans, diced potatoes, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno) and seasoned grilled watermelon.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services will be available at this event.

Registration
Registration Questions: jessica@mnhum.org

Individual Tickets – $100

Individual Registration

Group Tickets

Full Table (10 Tickets) – $800Half Table (5 Tickets) – $400

Group Registration

Thank you to our sponsors!

St. Paul – Juneteenth Family Day with Anika Foundation
2025-06-21 12:00 - 18:00 | State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN, 55155, United States
Minnesota Humanities Center is proud to sponsor the Anika Foundation Juneteenth Family Celebration! Join us for family friendly fun, games, and community.
This event is free and open to all.
Learn More

St. Paul - Leading Elementary Social Studies Inquiry Institute
2025-06-25 09:00 - 2025-06-27 15:00, 2025-08-12 08:00 - 2025-08-14 15:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Learn how to do more with less! In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Humanities Center proudly presents the Leading Elementary Social Studies Inquiry (LESSI) Institute. This innovative program equips K-5 curriculum and instruction leaders across Minnesota to integrate English Language Arts and Social Studies Standards into cohesive, interdisciplinary lessons that maximize impact with limited resources and time.
Designed for curriculum and instruction leaders, this six-session Institute empowers participants to develop inquiry-based lessons that seamlessly integrate disciplinary literacy and social studies. Learn effective bundling of curriculum elements, create engaging model lessons, and gain skills to design high-quality professional development within districts.
Goals:

Support districts in implementing standards-based disciplinary literacy instruction.
Provide hands-on training in bundling standards for interdisciplinary teaching.
Develop and share adaptable, inquiry-based model lessons.
Establish a train-the-trainer approach for sustainable district-wide impact.

Key Details:

Participation requires attendance on all six dates.
Participants will leave with model K-5 social studies lessons integrating ELA elements.
Expect preparation between sessions for resource identification and lesson development.
Due to limited space, interested curriculum and instruction leaders must complete a short application. Final selections will prioritize geographic diversity and statewide reach.

Dates/Agenda:

June 25-27: Orientation, Bundling Foundations, Inquiry Lesson Development.
August 12-14: Model Lesson Construction, Presentation & Feedback, Train-the-Trainer Setup, Program Evaluation & Reflection.

Speakers:

Kristin Bauck, ELA Specialist, MDE
Mychi Nguyen, K-8 Ethnic Studies Integration Specialist, MDE
Brittany Rawson-Haeg, Social Studies Specialist, MDE

Provided:

Light breakfast and lunch
BOSA clock hours available
Lodging – a limited number of overnight rooms will be available for those traveling from outside of the Metro area.

Join this cohort to collaborate, gain expertise, and drive meaningful change in K-5 education across Minnesota. Learn to deliver high-quality, standards-aligned instruction efficiently and effectively by focusing on how to “do more with less.”
Registration
While intended for educators who have influence in their buildings and districts, K-5 classroom teachers are welcome to register.
The registration deadline is Friday, June 13.
Note: You must commit to attending all six sessions to participate.
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Minneapolis – Reconstruction Destructed Film & Community Conversation
2025-06-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Capri Theater, 2027 W Broadway, Minneapolis, 55411, United States
Reconstruction Destructed, sixth in the “Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery” film series, aims to shine a light on the most misunderstood period in American History and why it remains critically important to understand today. “It challenges our understanding of the impact of slavery and its ongoing impact throughout the United States,” said Monique Linder, Film Director and CEO, OMG Studios. “As our nation struggles to come to grips with our history of racial caste, the legal luminaries, civil rights leaders, and educational scholars are excellent guides not only to illuminate the past but more importantly to provide a path forward,” added Kevin Lindsey, CEO, Minnesota Humanities Center.

The film features Minnesota Federal District Court Judge Jerry Blackwell, Bryan Stevenson, Esq., Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, Dr. Josie R. Johnson, University of Minnesota Regent and First Lady of Minnesota Civil Rights, and Dr. Duchess Harris, Special Assistant to the Provost and American Studies Professor at Macalester College. Some of the Filming of Reconstruction Destructed occurred at The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, one of America’s premiere museums examining America’s history of racial injustice.

K-12 educators will receive 2 clock hours.

Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org

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Thank you to our sponsors!

St. Paul - Ancestral Art - Hmong Weaving & Textile Retreat
2025-06-26 09:00 - 16:00 | XIA Gallery & Cafe, 422 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN, 55103, United States
Join us for a daylong retreat with master weaver from Thailand, Ms. Li Sawangcharoensap (Lig Yaaj). Her presence will offer rare, hands-on opportunities for Hmong Americans and the broader community to engage directly with an ancestral art form that has largely remained unseen outside Southeast Asia. We are excited to collaborate with RedGreen Rivers, Minnesota Hmong Museum, and Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota to host a unique daylong retreat in the ancestral art of traditional Hmong weaving.
A delicious Southeast Asian lunch will be served. Participants are welcome to wear clothing representing their cultural heritage.
Due to limited weaving tools, space is limited to 20 adults.
Children are welcome to join their guardian at no additional cost but may be limited to commercial art projects and supplies. Child spots are limited to 10. Please contact MayKao Fredericks at maykao@mnhum.org to reserve a spot for your child.
K-12 Educators will receive 3 clock hours.

About Ms. Li Sawangcharoensap (Lig Yaaj)
Ms. Li Sawangcharoensap (Lig Yaaj) is a master practitioner of the traditional Hmong art of processing and weaving hemp by hand—a centuries-old craft now endangered by industrialization and displacement. As a member of the Hemp Weaving Group of Khiri Rat, she has dedicated her life to preserving and revitalizing this intricate practice, which includes cultivating, harvesting, retting, spinning, and weaving hemp fiber entirely by hand. Her expertise and lived experience uniquely position her to educate others about this vital cultural heritage. In 2024, her work was featured by RedGreen Rivers in Cloth Origins: Textiles from the Hmong Journey at the prestigious John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
Ms. Sawangcharoensap’s upcoming visit to Minnesota and Wisconsin will be her first time to the U.S. and will include a series of events celebrating Hmong women as cultural bearers and tradition keepers.
Registration
If cost is a barrier, please contact MayKao Fredericks at maykao@mnhum.org before registering. A limited number of scholarships are available.
Please register early and contact us if you are no longer able to attend.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
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St. Paul – Kumbayah, The Juneteenth Story: Special Edition
2025-06-27 14:00 - 16:00 | The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55105, United States
This theatrical experience, written by Rose McGee, takes audiences on a journey into the past, addressing the origins of Juneteenth and the imagined impact on the lives of individuals hearing the news of the Emancipation Proclamation and that the Civil War was over.

Presented in partnership with Sweet Potato Comfort Pie.

Registration
This performance is free to attend, but registration is required.

Registration Questions: oshaughnessy@stkate.edu

Register Now

Thank you to our sponsors!

St. Paul - Summer on the Lawn: Shakespeare in Our Parks
2025-07-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) enthusiastically welcomes Classical Actors Ensemble back to the MHC front lawn for the 11th season of Shakespeare in Our Parks. This season, the Classical Actors Ensemble will present one of William Shakespeare’s lesser-known comedies, “All’s Well That Ends Well.” Follow the trials and tribulations of the heroine Helena as she faces deception, duress, and death in her quest to win the heart of the snobbish and nowhere-near-good-enough-for-her Bertram. Guffaw, jeer, and cheer as a memorable cast of characters galivant through royal courts and battlefields and satirize social mores.
Picnics, lawn chairs, sun umbrellas, and blankets are welcome. Note that the performance is in an open field with minimal shade. Please plan accordingly. Restrooms will be available for use at the Minnesota Humanities Event Center. Can’t make it on July 13? Check out Classical Actors Ensemble’s full calendar for other performances across the Twin Cities this summer.
From Classical Actors Ensemble: “The Theater is a sacred place. It is a public forum where actors and audience gather to contemplate what it means to be human. Shakespeare and his contemporaries grappled with that question in some of the English language’s best poetry, leaving behind a canon of compelling stories with universal themes that provide invigorating challenge for actors and an awe-inspiring legacy for audiences. Classical Actors Ensemble performs the plays of the English Renaissance as they were originally intended: as popular entertainment for everyone. By demonstrating why these works of art are considered classic, we freshly prove their relevance in today’s world.”
This event is part of MHC’s 2025 summer “Summer on the Lawn” series.
Registration
Registration is encouraged but not required. There is no cost to attend.
Register Now

Hampton - Learning from Place: Watt Munisotaram (Cambodian Temple)
2025-07-25 13:00 - 16:00 | Watt Munisotaram, 2925 220th St E, Hampton, 55031, United States
Join us for an immersive cultural learning experience at Watt Munisotaram, the largest Cambodian Buddhist temple in the United States, located in the serene countryside of Hampton, Minnesota. Hosted in collaboration with the Cambodian American Partnership of Minnesota, this event offers a rare opportunity to explore the intersection of history, spirituality, and community within one of Minnesota’s most vibrant cultural landmarks.

Event Highlights

Historical Context: Gain insight into Cambodia’s complex history, including the impact of the Khmer Rouge genocide and the Vietnam War, which led many Cambodians to seek refuge in Minnesota.
Temple Origins & Architecture: Discover the origins of Watt Munisotaram and explore its stunning architecture. Learn how the temple was established and how it continues to serve as a spiritual and cultural anchor for the Cambodian American community.
Guided Tour: Walk the temple grounds with community members who will share their knowledge and experiences, offering a deeper understanding of the site’s cultural and religious significance.
Community Voices: Listen to personal stories from Cambodian Americans and hear directly from temple monks about their spiritual practices and daily lives.
Cambodian Cuisine: Enjoy a tasting of traditional Cambodian treats—an essential part of the cultural experience.

Minnesota is home to the fifth-largest Cambodian population in the United States, with approximately 12,000 Cambodian Americans—most residing in the Twin Cities metro area.

This event offers a powerful way to engage with community while learning about Cambodian history, culture, and spirituality in a welcoming and enriching environment.

Learn about Watt Munisotaram in the first segment on Buddhism from Prayers on the Prairie: Asian-Pacific Minnesota Religious Practices, an educational video produced in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans.

K-12 educators will receive 3 clock hours

Registration
REGISTRATION FOR THIS IS CLOSED. JOIN OUR WAITLIST.

Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org

Join Our Waitlist

Staples - K-8 Social Studies Standards Workshop
2025-07-29 09:00 - 15:00 | Sourcewell, 202 12th Street NE, Staples, MN, 56479, United States
We invite K-8 social studies educators to a workshop that will provide an overview of the new 2021 Minnesota social studies standards. This workshop includes time for teachers to work together to bundle benchmarks into cohesive, interdisciplinary instructional units. Participants will also have work time to start aligning these units with existing resources and primary sources.
A collaboration between Sourcewell and the Minnesota Humanities Center, this workshop will be led by Sourcewell education consultant Jen McLachlan and will feature Brittany Rawson Haeg, Social Studies Content Lead for the Minnesota Department of Education.
Workshop Leader
Jen McLachlan serves as an education consultant at Sourcewell, lending her expertise to programs such as ElevatePD, New Teacher Academy, and the Social Studies Network. With a background as a middle-level educator in both math and social studies, as well as serving on a school board, she is deeply passionate about empowering teachers to become innovators and catalysts for change.
Workshop Presenter
Brittany Rawson Haeg is the Social Studies Content Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education. She began her teaching career as a high school social studies teacher in Brooklyn, New York. She taught middle and high school social studies in the Twin Cities. Prior to teaching, she was a staff assistant in the New York City Department of Education Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. She believes in the power of social studies education to help students develop greater empathy and understanding.
For more information and to register, visit the Sourcewell event listing.

St. Paul - Summer on the Lawn: Outdoor Movie Night!
2025-08-01 21:00 - 23:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center’s 2025 Summer on the Lawn continues with a special movie screening under the stars! In partnership with TriLingua Cinema, MHC presents the early aughts classic, “Holes.” Based on the acclaimed young adult novel by Louis Sachar, “Holes” follows the trials and misadventures of Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia LaBoeuf), who is sent to a juvenile detention camp in the Texas desert after a wrongful conviction. The cruel camp staff force inmates to spend their days digging holes in search of a historic outlaw’s lost treasure. Through the efforts of Stanley and his companions, the mystery of the treasure and the history of the campgrounds are revealed, and injustices are brought to light in this comedy drama featuring performances by Sigourney Weaver, Eartha Kitt, Tim Blake Nelson, and Khleo Thomas.
This film is rated PG and runs for 111 minutes. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to consult Common Sense Media for more information on film content.
Showtime begins right after sunset (approximately 9:00 p.m.). Light refreshments will be provided by TriLingua Cinema and MHC. Picnics, lawn chairs, and blankets are welcome. Note that the screening is in an open field with minimal shade. Please plan accordingly. Restrooms will be available for use at the Minnesota Humanities Event Center. In case of inclement weather, the screening will be moved indoors to the Minnesota Humanities Event Center.
This event is part of MHC’s 2025 summer “Summer on the Lawn” series.
About TriLingua Cinema
TriLingua Cinema is a nonprofit traveling cinema with the mission of utilizing films to build community among the diverse residents of Saint Paul’s East Side. Their ultimate goal is to open a brick-and-mortar movie theater in Payne-Phalen or Dayton’s Bluff.
Registration
Registration is encouraged but not required. There is no cost to attend.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

St. Paul - Learning for Sovereign Futures: Native Education for All Institute
2025-08-04 08:00 - 2025-08-08 16:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) is excited to share an upcoming professional learning opportunity in collaboration with the Tribal Nations Education Committee, Minnesota Department of Education’s Office of American Indian Education, and the Minnesota Humanities Center.
Applications for the NIEA’s Learning for Sovereign Futures: Native Education for All Institute are now open! This free, five-day workshop, taking place from August 4-8, 2025, in the Twin Cities, is designed for educators, leaders, and advocates focused on supporting Indigenous Education for All (IEFA) in K-12 classrooms.
This opportunity is open to any educators or leaders working in or with a Minnesota K-12 school or district and ideal for those who plan professional development activities in their roles.
Apply Now
THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Native American Lives Series Book Launch
2025-08-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Come help us celebrate the launch of the first four books in the Native American Lives Series! Written for middle grade readers, this biography series features Dakota and Ojibwe leaders and changemakers pivotal to both Minnesota and the United States, such as Charles Albert Bender, a World-series winning pitcher, and the first Minnesotan to join the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
During the launch event, meet the editors and authors, enjoy live readings, connect with community partners, and be among the first to get your hands on these inspiring books. If you are an educator, we will share about upcoming opportunities to bring the books into classrooms, including book giveaways, mini-grants, and professional development. Visit the Native American Lives Series program page to learn about all 12 titles in the series.
This event is free to attend, and light refreshments will be served. The first 30 guests who register in advance will receive a free book from the series and the first 30 educators to register will receive four free books for their classroom! You must be in attendance to receive a free book and bring a school ID to receive the four classroom books. Complimentary books will also be available for a $10 donation to the Minnesota Humanities Center at the event, and the evening will end with a book signing.
Whether you are an educator, parent, librarian, or lifelong learner, this is your chance to discover a new series that honors Indigenous histories and futures, and to celebrate Native storytelling at its very best. All are welcome!
Published by Lerner Publishing Group, the series is supported by the Minnesota Humanities Center, generously funded through the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) through its Understand Native Minnesota campaign, also funded in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
About the Speakers
Heid E. Erdrich is the author of a dozen books in both poetry and prose. She grew up in North Dakota and is Ojibwe, enrolled at Turtle Mountain. She curates art exhibits, teaches, researches, and collaborates with other artists. In 2024, Heid served as the Inaugural Minneapolis Poet Laureate. She is the 2025 James Welch Visiting Writer at University of Montana Missoula, and a co-editor of the Native American Lives Series
Diane Wilson is a Dakota author, educator, and bog steward. Her novel, The Seed Keeper (2021) and her memoir, Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past (2006), won the Minnesota Book Awards in 2022 and 2007. She has also published a nonfiction book, Beloved Child; and co-authored a picture book—Where We Come From. Her essays have appeared in anthologies including: Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations (2021); We Are Meant to Rise (2021); and A Good Time for the Truth (2016). She is the former Executive Director for Dream of Wild Health and the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance. In addition to this book, she authored the first in the series, Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector. Wilson is a Mdewakanton descendant, enrolled on the Rosebud Reservation.
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.
Jessica Engelking is the daughter of an enrolled member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. She grew up in Warroad, Minnesota, with her parents and younger sister. After high school, she attended the University of Minnesota–Morris, making use of their American Indian Tuition Waiver. She graduated with a BA in philosophy and went on to study philosophy at the graduate level. She received her MA in philosophy from the University of Iowa. She currently resides in Minnetonka and is isolating in Elkader, Iowa, with her boyfriend, David, and dog, Walden. She is working from home as the social media manager for the Great Plains Action Society, a Native nonprofit. Jessica enjoys running with her dog, spending time on the water, reading, and she’s trying to get better at beading.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
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Duluth - Minnesota Writers Off the Page: Michelle Filkins, Margret Aldrich, Julie Gard, Jennifer Hopkins & Leslie Miller
2025-08-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Wussow’s Concert Cafe, 324 N Central Ave, Duluth, MN, 55807, United States
What can we discover when we reclaim the term ‘locker room talk’ and the intimate conversations between women in personal spaces? The Minnesota Book Award winning anthology, “Locker Room Talk: Women in Private Spaces,” lays bare some of these conversations shared by women from Minnesota and beyond, demonstrating how women show up and care for each other, and the power of women to create safe and supportive spaces. Join us for a discussion with editors Michelle Filkins and Margret Aldrich, and contributing author and Duluth resident Julie Gard and contributing authors Jennifer Hopkins and Leslie Miller for readings and a conversation about the book. Following the discussion, audience members are invited to participate in a Q&A session, and have further informal conversation with the featured speakers. The café will be open during the event with food and drink available to buy. Copies of “Locker Room Talk: Women in Private Spaces” will available for purchase, and the evening will finish with a book signing.
About the Speakers
Michelle Filkins is a founding editor of Spout Press and a contributing author to “The Evolution of Human Cooperation and Community Development” (Lexington Books), and “Creating a Transformational Community: The Fundamentals of Stewardship Activities” (Lexington Books). She is a Little Free Library steward and one of the Daunte Wright Memorial caretakers. Currently she is a professor and reference and instruction librarian at Metro State University in St. Paul. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two teenage sons.
Margret Aldrich is the author of “The Little Free Library Book” (Coffee House Press), a ten-year veteran of the publishing industry, recipient of an Innovator Award from the Book Industry Study Group, and former Princeton University writing fellow. She has published her work with The Atlantic, Utne Reader, Huffington Post, Book Riot, and others. Today Margret is the director of communications and media relations at the Little Free Library nonprofit organization.
Julie Gard’s most recent prose poetry collection, “I Think I Know You,” won the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award and was a finalist for the INDIES Book of the Year Award. “Home Studies” (New Rivers Press) was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, and additional publications include “Scrap: On Louise Nevelson” (Ravenna Press) and two chapbooks. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota and is a Professor of Writing at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Jennifer Hopkins has a spectacular cast of characters in the story of her life. Her hope is that anyone reading her story is reminded to build communities of love, strength, and laughter. Jennifer has been in love with the ying to her yang for over twenty years, and they raised a son together. Both men impress her daily with their integrity, devotion, and comedic timing.
Leslie Adrienne Miller’s collections of poetry include “Y,” “The Resurrection Trade,” and “Eat Quite Everything You See” from Graywolf Press, and “Yesterday Had a Man In It,” “Ungodliness,” and “Staying Up For Love” from Carnegie Mellon University Press. Professor of English at the University of St. Thomas, she holds degrees in creative writing and literature from Stephens College, University of Missouri, Iowa Writers Workshop, and University of Houston.
This event is presented in partnership with Wussow’s Concert Cafe, an inclusive and supportive home for local artists, musicians, writers, and everyone in between, and Spout Press, a small, all-volunteer, non-profit literary publisher that publishes and promotes the finest in contemporary experimental writing — mentoring young writers and bringing new and/or under-appreciated voices to the attention of a larger audience. This event is part of the Minnesota Writers Off the Page series, bringing the inspirational voices of Minnesota’s writers directly to readers.
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

St. Paul - Summer on the Lawn: Puppets & Performance
2025-08-10 15:00 - 17:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
MHC concludes its 2025 “Summer on the Lawn” series with a fun-filled, festive, family friendly music and puppetry double feature! The event begins with a children’s concert by local favorites Rose Lani and The Rosie Posies, who will lead the audience in singalongs and games through musical storytelling. After that, Open Eye Theatre’s Driveway Tour performers will present “The Adventures of Juan Bobo,” a puppet show inspired by Puerto Rican folk stories. Open Eye performers will remain after the show to give curious kids and adults a behind the scenes peek and a closer look at the featured puppets.
Please note that this event will be outdoors, weather permitting. MHC will provide light refreshments during the event. Picnics, lawn chairs, and blankets are welcome. Both performances will be in an area with some shading, but audience members should expect exposure to the sun. Please plan accordingly. Restrooms will be available for use at the Minnesota Humanities Event Center. In case of inclement weather, the performances will be moved indoors to the Minnesota Humanities Event Center.
This event is part of MHC’s 2025 summer “Summer on the Lawn” series.
About Open Eye Theatre
Open Eye Theatre is nationally recognized for bringing a visual feast of evocative figure theater to the stage. The company’s whimsical yet profound work surprises and delights whether experienced in the company’s historic jewel box theater in Minneapolis or in neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities with the Driveway Tour. From experimental object works to puppet shows in backyards to community pageants to miniature spectacles, Open Eye consistently creates a unique, contagious exchange between artists and audiences.
About Rose Lani and The Rosies Posies
Rose Lani is a children’s musician who combines her love for music & literacy with children of all ages! She delights kids and families with her ‘ukulele and fun, original songs which promote learning, positivity, and community.
Musician friends Caitlin Halmrast Lucic and Miz Kathleen are The Rosie Posies, who bring on the energetic beat! Caitlin (on drums and percussion) is a longtime music educator and musician in the Twin Cities and beyond. Miz Kathleen (on electric bass) is a Saint Paul librarian who performs music in libraries and other venues.
With upbeat and positive original songs, plus new spins on traditional tunes, Rose Lani and The Rosie Posies can’t wait to music-a-long with you!
Registration
Registration is encouraged but not required. There is no cost to attend.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Braham - Sketches of Minnesota
2025-08-12 17:00 - 20:30 | Braham Event Center, 655 8th St SW, Braham, MN, 55006, United States
“Braham, MN: Dynamic. Friendly. Engaged!”
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Arc Retreat 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: Performances
8:00–8:30 PM: Talkback

Host Partner: Arc Retreat Community
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
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Henderson - We Are Water MN
2025-08-14 - 2025-10-06 | Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, MN, 56044, 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: Ney Nature Center
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
Learn More

St. Paul - History Fest
2025-08-14 08:30 - 15:30 | Minnesota History Center, 345 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
Get ready for the 2025-2026 school year with a choice of educator-led sessions focusing on state, national and world history, as well as assessments, primary sources, and more. Connect with your history peers from around the state! This workshop has sessions for elementary, middle, and high school levels. The Minnesota Humanities Center will be tabling in the vendor area – stop by to view MHC’s educator resources and learn more about our work with educators.
Registration
History Fest is organized by the Minnesota History Center. Registration and payment through MNHS for the full conference are required to attend.
Registration Questions: Email Jessica McMahon at jessica.mcmahon@mnhs.org.
Register Now

New Ulm - Sketches of Minnesota
2025-08-14 17:00 - 20:30 | New Ulm Turner Hall, 102 S State St, New Ulm, MN, 56073, United States
“New Ulm: Come See What’s Brewing”
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and New Ulm Turner Hall 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: New Ulm Turner Hall
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
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Maplewood - Feeding Our Soul: The Essence of Asian Joy
2025-08-22 17:30 - 20:00 | Pan Asian Center, 3001 White Bear Ave, Maplewood, 55109, United States
As part of our Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Cultural Joy series, the Minnesota Humanities Center invites you to an engaging Night Market Pop-Up experience celebrating the stories, sounds, and street foods that bring communities and neighborhoods together.
Night markets can be traced back to China, where they provided locals with quick meals and joyful entertainment after a long day’s work, similar to a cultural “happy hour.” From Asia to the Americas, these nocturnal bazaars offer goods, stories, traditions, and flavors deeply rooted in local identity.
Join us for a curated program featuring Asian food, music, live performance, and laughter featuring Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay and Eve Vang. You’ll also hear personal reflections from a beloved food truck chef.
Guests will have the opportunity to write and share short reflections or spoken word inspired by their favorite street food memories, with a chance to win prizes provided by our venue host, Pan Asian Center.
Come hungry, food truck meals and beverages will be available for purchase.
Come for the food, stay for the laughter and feed your soul.
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Food Trucks Open
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Performances and Open Mic
Registration
So that we can deliver the best event experience, registration is encouraged.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now

Rochester - Sketches of Minnesota
2025-08-28 17:00 - 20:30 | Rochester Art Center, 30 Civic Drive SE Ste 120, Rochester, MN, 55904, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Rochester Art 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: Rochester Art Center
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
Sketches of Minnesota on August 28 is at capacity. Please join our waitlist. If a spot becomes available, we will contact you in the order received.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Join the Waitlist

Minnesota State Fair - Sketches of Minnesota
2025-08-29 11:30 - 12:30 | MPR Stage (Minnesota State Fair), Judson Ave and Nelson St, St. Paul, 55108-3003, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and MPR for a special State Fair edition of Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These 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. This performance will be held at the MPR Stage at the corner of Judson and Nelson.
Host Partner: MPR
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 performance is free however paid admission to the Minnesota State Fair is required.

Minneapolis - Sketches of Minnesota
2025-09-06 11:00 - 14:30 | Center for Performing Arts, 3754 Pleasant Ave S, Minneapolis, 55409, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Kingfield Neighborhood Association 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.

11:00–12:00 PM: Doors open / Community hour
12:00–1:15 PM: Lunch
1:15–2:00 PM: Performances
2:00–2:30 PM: Talkback

Host Partner: Kingfield Neighborhood Association
The work of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to create a stronger Minnesota by increasing our understanding of the beauty, wisdom, and stories of its people. Through partnerships, we facilitate the spaces, like Sketches of Minnesota, that seek to build connections and deepen understanding of ourselves and our communities in pursuit of a more just society.
Registration
This event is free but registration is required.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Register Now

Online Content Session - Era One: Indigenous Histories
2025-09-09 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Explore the histories of America’s first peoples before European contact and connect them to the lived experiences of Indigenous communities today. Led by Dr. Brenda Child and moderated by Dr. Katharine Gerbner, this session will provide deep historical context, source analysis, and thematic framing.

View Dr. Brenda Child’s Bio

Brenda J. Child is Northrop Professor of American Studies and former chair of the Departments of American Studies (2016-19) and the Department of American Indian Studies (2009-12).

She is the author of award-winning books of American Indian history, including Boarding School Seasons: American Indian Families, 1900-1940, (1998), which won the North American Indian Prose Award; Holding Our World Together: Ojibwe Women and the Survival of Community, (2012); Indian Subjects: Hemispheric Perspectives on the History of Indigenous Education (with Brian Klopotek, 2014). Her 2014 book My Grandfather’s Knocking Sticks: Ojibwe Family Life and Labor on the Reservation won the American Indian Book Award and the Best Book in Midwestern History. Child’s book for children, Bowwow Powwow (2018), won the American Indian Youth Literature Award for best picture book.

Child served as a member of the board of trustees of the National Museum of the American Indian-Smithsonian and was President (2017-2018) of the Native American & Indigenous Studies Association. She was born on the Red Lake Ojibwe Reservation in northern Minnesota where she served as a member of a committee writing a new constitution for the 12,000-member nation.

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 - Minnesota Writers Off the Page: Mubanga Kalimamukwento
2025-09-10 18:30 - 20:30 | Black Garnet Books, 1319 University Ave W, St. Paul, 55104, United States
Join us for a special evening with Mubanga Kalimamukwento, author of “Obligations to the Wounded,” winner of this year’s Minnesota Book Award for novel/short story. Mubanga will be in conversation with Mona Susan Power, and along with readings from the book, their discussion will explore creative writing, the short story craft, family, culture, emigration, and more. Audience members will be invited to participate in a Q&A session, enjoy light refreshments, and have further informal conversation with the featured speakers. Copies of “Obligations to the Wounded” will be available for purchase, and the evening will finish with a book signing.
About the Speakers
Mubanga Kalimamukwento was born in Lusaka, Zambia. Her creative work has appeared or is forthcoming in adda, Aster(ix), Contemporary Verse 2, Kweli, Overland, The Ex-Puritan, Menelique, on Netflix, and elsewhere, and her editorial work can be found or is forthcoming in Shenandoah, the Water~Stone Review, Doek! Literary Magazine, and Safundi. She founded Ubwali Literary Magazine and co-founded the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop. When she’s not writing or editing, Mubanga serves as a Mentor at the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop. She is a PhD student in the Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies at the University of Minnesota (Twin-Cities), where she is also an Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) Scholar. Mubanga lives in Minnesota with her husband and their two children.
Mona Susan Power is the author of four books of fiction and has written short stories and essays that have appeared in publications and anthologies such as The Atlantic, The Paris Review, Ploughshares, and Granta. She received a bachelor’s degree and JD from Harvard University and earned an MFA from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her first novel, “The Grass Dancer,” was published in 1994.
Mona is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (Iháŋktȟuŋwaŋna Dakhóta). She was born and raised in Chicago and now lives in Minneapolis.
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.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
Register Now
