The Minnesota Historical Society and the Wilder Foundation worked with two new groups of existing and emerging community leaders in 2015 to enhance their ability to act on important community issues.
During each six-month program, 245 participants explored neighborhood involvement and developed leadership skills to take effective community action.
To re-install the historic steam-powered log carrier to the J.Neil's/Red Lake Indian Sawmill, a historically significant industrial artifact in northern Minnesota
The grant was used to hire a qualified contractor through a competitive bidding process to construct a protective overhead canopy in order to preserve the J. Neils/Red Lake (Ojibwe Nation) Sawmill and equipment.
New Arab American Theater Works is requesting funds for a community project exploring the impact of immigration from historic Syria (including modern day Lebanon) to the Americas over the last 100 years through an exploratory multi-disciplinary work of art and the input of community members. This will culminate in a 3 week production and 9 community dialogues exploring the complex subject of Lebanese and Syrian migration to the Americas.
To make accessible Boys' Life and Scouting and the American Girl and Girl Scout Leader magazines as a basis for understanding scouting history in Minnesota
To replace the roof and windows and upgrade the interior of the historic Northern Warehouse for use as an affordable mixed-use space, located in the Lowertown Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare planning documents that will help preserve the Norway Lutheran Church (Muskego), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To hire a qualified consultant to develop a Historic Structure Report that will help with the restoration of Norway Lutheran Church, St. Paul, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Otter Cove Children's Museum will be a state-of-the-art educational and cultural center in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, providing a much-needed accessible, indoor play space for the children of Otter Tail County and beyond. Otter Cove was started and driven by a group of moms but the actual place, Otter Cove, is for children and the "critters" who live there; the otter in the Otter Romp Playground, the fox at the cafe, the beaver at the dentist office, the raccoon at the grocery store, the swan on the stage, the mice at the bookstore, and the skunk at the veterinarian.
We will add to the number of American Indians presenting artistic work and ideas, and expand our audiences to promote a vibrant, honest American Indian world view in Minnesota by supporting 3 short term projects led by artists in our coalition: The January Buffalo Show, RedTalk Symposium, and Live At the Buffalo Show CD Audio Mastering and short run printing.
To stabilize structural elements on the Pattern Shop, a contributing building in the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railway Company Shops Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and now used as a social services facility.
To hire a qualified consultant to develop a Historic Structure Report that will help preserve the St. Paul Public Library/James J. Hill Reference Library, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To hire a qualified historian to complete the nomination expansion to the National Register of Historic Places for the St. Paul Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company Shops (Jackson Street Shops).
Weathering, a new play in-progress written by Harrison David Rivers and directed by Talvin Wilks, explores the histories and health outcomes for mothers of color in America. To generate authentic voice and representation, Penumbra’s developing deep engagement opportunities with Rivers and Minnesota’s healthcare professionals/caregivers with help from black doula/midwife circles, and from this commission’s two official sponsors, Regions Hospital and Healthpartners.
Elders and youths will engage with each other to instill a sense of value and validation of one another’s skills and abilities. Participants will strengthen their proficiency in the Hmong language and Hmong alphabet through these lessons. Youths will learn basic conversational Hmong words and they will be introduced to the Hmong alphabet. The youths will learn the skills of storytelling, singing traditional songs, and making and creating their own paj ntaub.