Creating a Space to Connect
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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.Image
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
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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.Image
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.Image
Bush Fellow Andrea Jenkins (BF’11) gave a talk on “Why I Wear Purple” at TEDxMinneapolis. Photo by Ben Ragsdale Photography
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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
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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 SundbyImage
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 SundbyImage
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 SundbyArts 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
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Brainstorming Session
A participant further explored big questions in the arts community. Photo by Bruce SilcoxImage
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 SilcoxImage
Arts leaders brainstorm
Arts leaders brainstormed together about how the arts can play a role in community problem solving. Photo by Bruce SilcoxImage
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 SilcoxImage
Diane Tran facilitates a group conversation. Photo by Bruce Silcox.
Diane Tran facilitates a group conversation. Photo by Bruce SilcoxbushCONNECT 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
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Baratunde Thurston
Comedian, Author and “The Daily Show” Producer Baratunde Thurston kicked off bushCONNECT with a vibrant keynote.Image
Spoken word artist Desdamona
Spoken word artist Desdamona leads a Wilder Foundation workshop, “Improvisation, Solidarity & Risk: Leadership Lessons from Jazz & Hip-Hop.”Image
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.”Image
bushCON attendees
Attendees shared their passions with artists selected by Pollen, and walked away with their own personal Careercatures.Image
Malik Bush
Malik Bush shared his own story during an Ignite Talk, “¿Who Do You See?: Update Your Visual Lexicon.”Image
Trivia game hosted by FlipPhone
Attendees rounded out their bushCONNECT experience with a rousing trivia gameshow, hosted by FlipPhone.Image
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).Image
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.”Image
“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.Image
Nausheena Hussain
Bush Fellow Nausheena Hussain (BF’16) gave an Ignite Talk, “RISE - Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment.”Image
A ReadyGo letterpress project
A ReadyGo letterpress project invited attendees to fill in the blanks and jot notes of gratitude to one another.Image
