Creative Individuals

Katherine Beecham: Beecham is a seasoned educator who has served in kindergarten through postsecondary education positions in public and private institutions. Her career focused on diversity education, providing teachers and students with curriculum development and program assistance. Beecham was also cofounder of the Saint Paul nonprofit, ARTS-Us, which was founded to provide storytelling training for youth. She has served as a storyteller and is a previous Minnesota State Arts Board grant recipient. She holds a MEd from Saint Mary's University.; Heidi Jeub: Jeub is an artist, teaching artist, and director of Heijeu Arts, bringing art education to underrepresented communities. She completed a BA at the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in arts and cultural leadership.; Mary Ann Laxen: Now retired, Laxen was the director of the physician assistant program at the University of North Dakota. She was one of the founders of the Riverwalk Artists in East Grand Forks. She is a board member of several nonprofit organizations, including one for the arts.; Gregory Watson: Watson is the author of twelve collections of poetry, most recently Stars Unseen, published by Holy Cow! Press. He is also coeditor with Richard Broderick of The Road by Heart: Poems of Fatherhood, published by Nodin Press. He has volunteered through the Saint Paul Public Schools during National Poetry Month for the past two years.