Connecting Generations through History launched in November 2009 with 12 projects statewide, facilitated by Minnesota Historical Society staff, historic sites and public libraries.
Minnesotans of all ages are participating in deep intergenerational learning experiences by working together to document community history and create lasting products (exhibits, documentaries, audio tours etc.) that are shared with their communities. These intergenerational collaborations build relationships among members of older and younger generations, increase students" appreciation for Minnesota history and recognize the importance of older adults and their role in transmitting community history.
Minnesotans of all ages are participating in deep intergenerational learning experiences by working together to document and share community history. Major projects in FYs14 and 15 included a partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, in which the MNHS Teen Advisory Council supported Iraqi students in creating an exhibit about life in Baghdad. The teens met regularly via video-conference and had a private Facebook page. The exhibit created by the students was on display at the Minnesota History Center in December.
The historic marker, installed along Cottonwood County Road 29, documents the WPA project to recreate Mountain Lake as firsthand memory of the manmade lake's contruction fades away.
Digital maps were created depicting landscape change in Minnesota from the 1850s to today as well as maps that show predicted change in forest tree composition in northern Minnesota due to climate change.
To expand the awareness of the arts and history of music in America. The fair will host a jug band, polka band, folk singer and yodeler. To enhance the performances, a sound system and portable bleachers will be purchased.
This on-going program is for detecting, mapping and controlling invasive plant species and re-establishing native vegetation in their place on lands administered by the Division of Parks and Trails. Control of invasive plant species furthers progress to preserve and restore the quality of native plant communities on Parks and Trails lands as well as helps prevent the spread of invasives to new locations.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has been monitoring for contaminants of emerging concern in Minnesota's surface water since 2007. These contaminants include a wide variety of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other chemicals that can harm fish and wildlife and human health. One group of these chemicals, disinfection by-products, are formed when water is treated with chlorine. Some of these chemicals are cancer-causing and highly toxic.
Valuable three-dimensional images of ancient rock carvings at Jeffers Petroglyphs will be safely stored and also made accessible to the general public thanks to ACHF funds. Funds allowed staff to catalogue the images and make them accessible at the Jeffers site and through the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections Online website. The images of individual carvings will serve as an archival record, a research and conservation resource and an educational tool
The purpose of the Jeffers Petroglyphs Data Access project is to store and provide access to 3D digital scans of the Jeffers Petroglyphs. A website devoted to the Jeffers Petroglyphs is being created to showcase the valuable three-dimensional images of ancient rock carvings recently catalogued by the Minnesota Historical Society Collections staff. This project carries out the critical second piece of the 2008 Jeffers Petroglyphs Conservation Project that was initially funded to remove lichen from the petroglyphs.
To survey that portion of the 23-mile long Red Rock Ridge not within the boundaries of the Jeffers Petroglyphs State Historic Site for additional glyphs and other evidence of usage to further aid in understanding human habitation in Southwest Minnesota.
The Kairos Alive! Cultural Wisdom Immersion and Sharing Project collaborates with Centro Tyrone Guzman, Augustana Open Circle, Walker West Music Academy and outstate Developmental Achievement Centers to explore and exchange joyful cultural meaning through music, dance, song and story via 2-way Zoom webcast. Project explores cultural heritage and identity expression, and how it relates to the universality of human experience, in an environment of creative safety and intercultural exchange.
This project collaborates with 1) Minneapolis Hawthorne Neighborhood Council (multi-cultural/intergenerational); 2) Minnesota Independence College and Community (MICC), Richfield (neuro-divergent young adults); 3) an established network of 20+ senior centers and organizations serving people with developmental disabilities statewide (multi-cultural and intergenerational), such as Centro Tyrone Guzman (Latinx), Ecumen Prairie Lodge, Brooklyn Park, Wabasha County Developmental Achievement Center, Wabasha, and Adult Day Services, Bemidji; 4) community collaborations in Bemidji and New Ulm servi
In order to preserve Karen and Karenni culture and identity in Minnesota, The Urban Village proposes the creation of a collaborative learning program where participants will have an opportunity to connect and explore their identity and heritage. Through this program, our youth will be empowered to drive the development of the first ever Karen and Karenni history archive. The learnings and content birthed from this program will then be archived and organized for all Minnesotans to access.
Revise Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) lesson plans about karst geology and groundwater protection, to align with new Minnesota Science Standards (2019) and provide grade level recommendations. The project will add or remove activities so that the lessons better support grade-specific standards and approaches to learning. The plans will also provide recommendations regarding communicating to local teachers in southeast Minnesota and how to support the use of the lesson plans.
The Oliver H. Kelley farm in Elk River is a National Historic Landmark, where visitors experience mid-19th-century Minnesota farm life. This historic structures report provides the foundation for future maintenance and preservation of the farmhouse while continuing to provide an important level of programming and public service. The Jeffris Family Foundation has awarded a matching grant of $25,000 to the Minnesota Historical Society to fund half of the estimated costs of a consultant to prepare the report.
Minnesota Civic Youth is dedicated to helping kids and young adults develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and desire to be informed, active citizens. We do this by engaging them in authentic civic experiences and activities that respect their viewpoint and celebrate their voice. We have three primary program areas: Kids Voting Minnesota Network, Governing Youth and Teens Speak Out.
To hire a qualified historian to complete an evaluation to determine eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for a structure in Mountain Lake.
The goal of this project is to finalize the Lake Pepin Watershed phosphorus total maximum daily load (TMDL) report by using the existing information and documentation prepared under previous contracts to prepare one TMDL report that addresses the impairments on the mainstem of the Mississippi River. Information developed to date for draft TMDLs on the Minnesota River mainstem will be documented for later use by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The goal of this project is to support the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in responding to public comments on the Lake Pepin Watershed Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), which were prepared by LimnoTech under previous phases of the project.
The biological communities present in a lake are the result of cumulative effects of natural and human-caused influences within the entire area of land and water that flows into the lake (i.e., the watershed). Biological assessments are used on lakes to identify water pollution and habitat concerns based on the type and abundance of selected animals and their habitats. Certain species cannot survive without clean water and healthy habitat while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions.
A project to build capacity for poets to actively document and correct historical gaps in the Lao Minnesotan journey as we approach 50 years in the US. The project will include interdisciplinary exhibits and performances giving traditional artists a chance to develop new work with Lao poets that address ancient and modern history, myth, and cultural traditions, additionally publishing innovative and experimental collections on the Lao experience.
A website called "Minnesota's Legacy" was created by the Minnesota Legislature to help citizens monitor how dollars from the Legacy Amendment and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund are being invested in the state. This appropriation is being used by the Legislative Coordinating Commission to assist with the administration of the website.
