bushCONNECT On the Road

We believe in the power of events to inspire, equip and connect people to think bigger and think differently about what is possible in our communities. In 2017, we offered 225 scholarships to people from our region to attend national events together. Scholars went to the Aspen Ideas Festival, Independent Sector, MCON, PopTech, SOCAP and the Social Innovation Summit.

Aspen Ideas Festival

Scholars in Aspen, Colorado.

Aspen Ideas Festival Tweet

Our Bush Foundation crew met Cory Booker and Katie Couric at the Aspen Ideas Festival!

Experiencing PopTech

Dan Thiede and other scholars at PopTech connected in person and on social media.

PopTech

The long bus ride was worth it to get to PopTech in Camden, Maine! Our attendees connected beyond the conference during hikes and other activities and built new relationships with people outside our region, too.

Social Innovation Summit

Attendees at the Social Innovation Summit, including Betty Gronneberg (BF’16, center), made lasting connections and have stayed in touch after returning home.

MCON

Tipiziwin Tolman (center), a Cohort 6 Rebuilder from Standing Rock, spoke on a social justice panel at MCON about media narratives and the Dakota Access Pipeline.

SOCAP

Participants at SOCAP in San Francisco, California, explored how capital markets can drive positive social and environmental impact.

PopTech

PopTech attendees connected beyond the conference, organizing activities including a boat tour with a local lobsterman.

Aspen Ideas Festival

Bush Foundation Scholar Guled Ibrahim asked General David Petraeus about current events and the “Muslim ban” at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Independent Sector

Bush Foundation President Jen Ford Reedy spoke to scholars at Independent Sector’s Our Common Future conference in Detroit, Michigan.

MCON

At MCON, attendees gathered over meals and throughout the two-day event to build connections while in Washington, D.C.

Social Innovation Summit

Participants at the Social Innovation Summit in Chicago, Illinois, included Adriana Alejandro-Osorio, who got to meet featured speaker Van Jones.

Event Sponsorship

The Bush Foundation sponsors events across the region where people can share ideas and build stronger networks.

YWCA Mankato, It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race

Participants at YWCA Mankato’s It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race event explored the Faces exhibit, which asks participants to consider their social circles and implicit assumptions about race.

Center for Technology and Business, Women’s Business Summit

The Center for Technology and Business’ Women’s Business Summit in Bismarck featured a Breakfast with Entrepreneurs panel where speakers shared their entrepreneurship journeys.

Pollen, Work Redux: Care

Attendees and speakers at Pollen’s Work Redux event in Minneapolis.

Coalition to Increase Teachers of Color and American Indian Teachers in Minnesota

Participants at the Coalition to Increase Teachers of Color conference in St. Paul.

TEDxBismarck

Volunteers and planning committee members at TEDxBismarck in North Dakota.

RuralX

Keynote speaker Jason Roberts of Better Block Foundation presented at RuralX in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on how leaders can create environments that promote growth and pride in their communities.

TEDxGullLake

Jingle dancers, drummers and singers from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe performed at TEDxGullLake.

Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE), Muslim Women’s Empowerment Conference

Participants at RISE’s Muslim Women’s Empowerment conference in Minneapolis, including Taneeza Islam (BF’13).

Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE), Muslim Women’s Empowerment Conference

Participants at RISE’s Muslim Women’s Empowerment conference in Minneapolis.

Pollen #LikeABoss: Collaboration

Attendees and speakers at Pollen’s #LikeABoss event in Minneapolis, including Pollen Executive Director Jamie Millard (in green).

Twin Cities Startup Week

Attendees at Twin Cities Startup Week talked through how to build a business while creating an impact.

Bunker Labs Minneapolis, Muster

Participants at the inaugural Bunker Labs Minneapolis Muster event, bringing military veterans together to help other veterans start and grow businesses.

Bush Foundation Events

Bush Foundation staff and board members travel and host events across the region. In 2017, we held our Board Retreat and reception in Fargo, North Dakota; receptions in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Minneapolis, Minnesota; and other gatherings  to connect our Fellows, grantees and others doing important work to make our region better for everyone.

South Dakota Reception

Board member Paul Batcheller gave the opening remarks at our South Dakota Reception.

Minnesota Reception

Board members Jodi Gillette (center) and Jennifer Alstad (right) with Cecily Engelhart of First Peoples Fund at the Minnesota Reception.

Education Events

Education Portfolio Director Kayla Yang-Best greeted the crowd at an event on the Power and Possibility of Individualized Learning, presented in partnership with The School Leadership Project.

Education Events

Strategy and Learning Vice President Allison Barmann spoke alongside Education Portfolio Director Kayla Yang-Best at an event on Realizing the Power and Possibility of Individualized Learning.

Education Events

Speaker Jeff Duncan-Andrade addressed the crowd at an event on Realizing the Power and Possibility of Individualized Learning.

Fargo Board Retreat

Bush Foundation staff members at a dinner break during the Fargo Board Retreat.

North Dakota Reception

Fellows, grantees, staff and friends connected at the North Dakota Reception.

North Dakota Reception

Board Member Michael Solberg addressed the crowd at the North Dakota Reception.

Bush Fellows Dinner

Board Vice Chair Dr. Kathleen Annette, Tea Rozman Clark (BF’15) and others enjoyed conversation and laughter at the Bush Fellows Dinner in Minneapolis.

Bush Fellows Dinner

Board members, staff and Fellows enjoyed conversation and laughter at the Bush Fellows Dinner in Minneapolis.

North Dakota Reception

Board Chair Pam Moret spoke with Kristi Hall-Jiran of the Community Violence Intervention Center.

Community Innovation Convening

Community Innovation grantees got to know one another at the Minneapolis convening.

Fellows Launch Retreat

Christina A. Sambor (BF’14, center) connected with new Fellows at the Bush Fellows Launch Retreat.