fy24 annual report - Flipbook - Page 16
Native American Lives
In January, MHC was awarded a $172,400 grant from
the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC)
to support the re-release of the 3 original titles in the
Native American Lives Series and to develop 9 new
titles, expanding the series to 12 works.
In-Na-Po
(Indigenous Native Poets)
Providing a creative space for learning
and writing, MHC was honored to host a
weeklong national convening of seventeen
Indigenous poetry fellows from thirteen
Native Nations. This retreat launched the
#LanguageBack initiative, a movement
striving to support poets working with their
traditional languages.
During their time together, the In-Na-Po
fellows were mentored by distinguished
Indigenous faculty. The workshops, inter-act
activities and panel discussions led by
established Indigenous writers were a
reminder of the value of language in
building community and the importance
of understanding our past as we build
our future.
Poetry Sparks! Lines,
Lyrics and Laureates
Families gathered in Rochester’s
Peace Plaza to celebrate a unique
opportunity: hearing two poet
laureates reading their works together.
Minnesota’s Poet Laureate
Gwen Nell Westerman stood with
City of Rochester Poet Laureate
Jean Prokott to showcase how words
spoken aloud and physical space create
a truly impactful experience. Families
gathered to walk through poetry and
art stations, reading the works and
even creating poetry buttons.
Additionally, MHC is creating new educator guides to
accompany each title to meet the gaps in elementary
school resources around Native content, and supporting
implementation of Indigenous Education for All
requirements, and ensuring every child reads at or
above grade level consistent with the READ Act.
Michelle Norris:
Our Hidden Conversations
In partnership with the Westminster Town Hall Forum, MHC
hosted Peabody Award-winning journalist Michelle Norris
who discussed the more than half-a-million stories submitted
to her over the past decade at The Race Card Project
covering race, ethnicity, identity, and class. At this
first–of–its kind forum and before a thousand in-person
guests, community leaders read several of the six–word
entries to help bring the stories and observations submitted
to Norris to life. In her new book, Our Hidden Conversations,
Norris discussed how even during times of great division,
with honesty, grace, and a willing ear, we can bridge
empathy and understanding.
Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home
Centering around the vibrant artistry of the Latino poetry tradition, the Latino Poetry anthology
of poems is a national humanities initiative for 2024-2025. MHC gratefully received a grant
from the Library of America funded through the National Endowment of the Humanities to host
a poetry reading and discussion as well as a classroom poetry workshop in Rochester during
Hispanic Heritage Month.
Teaching artists will use the selections from this newly released anthology to facilitate discussions
throughout Minnesota around the current universal themes of belonging, identity, struggle,
and solidarity.
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