Creating a Space to Connect

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits engaged leaders at both its annual conference and a leadership conference last year to help build the capacity of those working at local nonprofits.

Dr. Keith Stanley Brooks presented at Minneapolis EDTalks, a series of short, compelling talks and conversations on issues that affect public education and our young people. Photo by Jeff Achen

PlaceMakers/Rochester Prototyping Festival

Bush Foundation staff checked out the PlaceMakers/Rochester Prototyping Festival, a year-long initiative focusing on creative placemaking as a tool for economic regeneration and engagement in community building.

The Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC)

The Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) focused on equity and inclusion at its 2016 Forum. At the daylong event, both the keynote and a panel of local leaders shared personal experiences leading change efforts at their organizations.

Bush Fellow Andrea Jenkins (BF’11) gave a talk on “Why I Wear Purple” at TEDxMinneapolis. Photo by Ben Ragsdale Photography

The Innovation Expo

The Innovation Expo events in Rapid City and Sioux Falls connected entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, community ambassadors and others involved in the development of startup companies.

The Bush Foundation Board traveled to Rapid City, S.D., in May 2016 to learn more about the issues and work happening in the area and to meet the leaders making a real impact. In 2017, they’ll do the same in Fargo, N.D.

2016 Board Retreat

Rapid City Reception

The Bush Foundation Board and staff connected with leaders in South Dakota during a reception in Rapid City in May. Photo by Johnny Sundby

Meet and Greet

The Board took a walking tour and met with local business owners and grantees in Rapid City. Here, Board Vice Chair DeAnna Cummings (left) speaks with Lori Pourier of First People’s Fund. Photo by Johnny Sundby

Rapid City Reception

The Bush Foundation Board and staff connected with leaders in South Dakota during a reception in Rapid City in May. Photo by Johnny Sundby

Arts leaders from across the region came together to help articulate the challenges and opportunities associated with their work. Their insights are helping to inform the Foundation’s future work in Community Creativity.

Community Creativity Cohort

Brainstorming Session

A participant further explored big questions in the arts community. Photo by Bruce Silcox

Arts leaders participated in engaging activities led by local artists to get to know one another better before their work session.

Arts leaders participated in engaging activities led by local artists to get to know one another better before their work session. Photo by Bruce Silcox

Arts leaders brainstorm

Arts leaders brainstormed together about how the arts can play a role in community problem solving. Photo by Bruce Silcox

Q&A Session

The big question: How can arts and culture best be integrated into public life and leveraged to bridge understanding across and within cultures to make the region better for everyone? Photo by Bruce Silcox

Diane Tran facilitates a group conversation. Photo by Bruce Silcox

bushCONNECT 2016 brought together more than 1,000 people and, for the first time, added a second day of programming to help participants build skills. The Bush Foundation partnered with more than 40 organizations to create a set of events designed to inspire, equip and connect leaders from across the region.

bushCONNECT 2016

Baratunde Thurston

Comedian, Author and “The Daily Show” Producer Baratunde Thurston kicked off bushCONNECT with a vibrant keynote.

Spoken word artist Desdamona

Spoken word artist Desdamona leads a Wilder Foundation workshop, “Improvisation, Solidarity & Risk: Leadership Lessons from Jazz & Hip-Hop.”

Rose McGee of Sweet Potato Comfort Pie

For the first time this year, attendees could opt in to a second day of off-site skill-building workshops, such as the one led by Rose McGee of Sweet Potato Comfort Pie: “A Catalyst for Caring and Building Community.”

bushCON attendees

Attendees shared their passions with artists selected by Pollen, and walked away with their own personal Careercatures.

Malik Bush

Malik Bush shared his own story during an Ignite Talk, “¿Who Do You See?: Update Your Visual Lexicon.”

Trivia game hosted by FlipPhone

Attendees rounded out their bushCONNECT experience with a rousing trivia gameshow, hosted by FlipPhone.

Conversations with community leaders

Attendees had the unique opportunity to have intimate conversations with community leaders such as Lori Saroya (BF’14), National Chapter Development Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Workshop led by Harry Waters, Jr.

The Guthrie Theater presented a workshop led by Harry Waters, Jr., “Preparing for Action: A Practical Use of Theater for Social Change.”

“Hack the System with Community Solutions for Change” session

Twin Cities writer and creative organizer Junauda Petrus (right) co-leads a “Hack the System with Community Solutions for Change” session with Emily Zimmer (left), Artistic Director of the Chicago Avenue Project at Pillsbury House Theatre.

Nausheena Hussain

Bush Fellow Nausheena Hussain (BF’16) gave an Ignite Talk, “RISE – Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment.”

A ReadyGo letterpress project

A ReadyGo letterpress project invited attendees to fill in the blanks and jot notes of gratitude to one another.

“How to Improve Audience Engagement with Brand Messaging”

A second day of workshops allowed attendees to delve more deeply into topics with experts, such as Jabber Logic’s popular session on “How to Improve Audience Engagement with Brand Messaging.”