In Search of Asia: 2010 Minneapolis/St. Paul Asian Film Festival

Next week marks the first-ever Minneapolis/St. Paul Asian Film Festival. Join in on Friday night, October 29, at St. Anthony Main Theatre for the FREE Asian Film Fest Preview Screening of the martial arts biopic IP MAN at 9:30PM (seating on a first-come, first-served basis).
See you at the movies!

IN SEARCH OF ASIA - The Minneapolis/St. Paul Asian Film Festival is just a week away! Wednesday, November 3rd is Opening Night and will feature India's leading voice in "new wave," non-Bollywood cinema Anurag Kashyap and his latest acclaimed film *THAT GIRL IN YELLOW BOOTS. The film event will get underway at 7PM with a Q&A with Director Kashyap to follow the screening. Then stroll with us over to Honey Cocktail Lounge for live entertainment and refreshments at the Opening Night Party. Take Note: Kashyap's celebrated DEV D, a modern and stylish interpretation of the classic novel Devdas by Sarat Chandra, will also play in the Festival!

Twin Cities filmmakers and co-directors Mark Tang and Lu Lippold will present and discuss their new documentary *OPEN SEASON Thursday, November 4 at 7PM. The film examines the violent November 2004 incident involving a Hmong hunter who shot and killed six white hunters in rural Wisconsin, and the culture clashes that ensued from the initial shock and subsequent trials. Listen to an interview with co-directors Tang and Lippold from NPR's Tell Me More radio show. Advanced tickets are highly recommended for this screening.

No matter what your cinematic tastes, we have you covered with over 30 films! If your in search for documentaries, ranging from searing: *ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE, *BREAKING THE SILENCE: BURMA'S RESISTANCE; to side-splitting: THE RED CHAPEL, they're here! We have a gaggle of comedies: *THE MIKADO PROJECT, SAWAKO DECIDES, PINOY SUNDAY, *THE PEOPLE I'VE SLEPT WITH, WORKS OF ART! Coming-of-age coming attractions: RASPBERRY MAGIC, TALENTIME! Stories of personal transformation: GULABI TALKIES, *THE THINGS WE CARRY, *COME TOGETHER HOME! War-torn and true: CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH, *THE LEGEND OF CHAO FA, ANPO: ART X WAR! The beautiful: BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, I WISH I KNEW, POETRY, A BRAND NEW LIFE! Animated: REDLINE, SUMMER WARS! And, of course the action--oh the action: CRAZY RACER, PRIVATE EYE, CLASH, GALLANTS!

With thoughtful and informative Panel Discussions, numerous Q&As, and Parties almost every night after the show's over, it's clear there's something spectacular to discover here!

ADVANCE TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE & AT THE ST. ANTHONY MAIN THEATRE BOX OFFICE!

STAY CONNECTED AND GET ALL THE LATEST INFO AT: www.mspfilmfest.org

Strategy for Good Workshop: Call for Nonprofit Participants

Thanks to Jean Nitchals of Network Buzz for linking us up with this information (cross-posting below) requesting nonprofit participants during the 2nd Thinkers & Makers, LLC Strategy for Good Workshop on Saturday, November 6, 2010. The workshop intends to pair nonprofit leaders with brand and marketing strategists from agencies around the Twin Cities in effort to address strategic issues in their organizations. Register below for a morning of engaging conversation topics ranging from social media initiatives to broader questions about brand awareness and marketing strategy!

Strategy for Good Workshop on 11/6 – FAQ!
20 October, 2010 (17:55) | Uncategorized | By: anemilie

Heya- we over here at Thinkers & Makers have been enjoying a FANTASTIC response to our call for participants in the 2nd Strategy for Good Workshop (#S4GMPLS).

Register on EventBrite: http://s4gmpls2.eventbrite.com/

We’ve also had people asking a lot of questions- so here’s some answers to the most common of them (care of @paulisakson).

Is there a cost? If not, where does the funding come from?

There is no cost. We get a space to host the event donated or use a public space where there is no charge. All of the strategists donate their time. We supply the materials. Others have been kind and brought coffee and snacks.

Will the workshop be held in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area?

The workshop will be held in St. Paul at CoCo: http://cocomsp.com/
Is there a cost? If not, where does the funding come from?

There is no cost. We get a space to host the event donated or use a public space where there is no charge. All of the strategists donate their time. We supply the materials. Others have been kind and brought coffee and snacks.

Will the workshop be held in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area?

The workshop will be held in St. Paul at CoCo: http://cocomsp.com/

Is there a follow-up session?

Follow-up sessions are not conducted by our group. The purpose of this workshop is to help generate ideas and strategies for the non-profits who participate. If an organization wants to have a follow-up session with people, they are welcome to ask people to continue helping and then coordinate communications with those people on their own.

Are we paired with strategists in the Twin Cities who become consultants to our org?

We don’t force pairings between strategists and organizations but if people connect and want to continue helping out, they are more than welcome to.

What is covered in the two hour session?

Our sessions start out with an intro/welcome and some kind of warm-up exercise to get everyone’s brains moving. Then we break out into groups for 30 minutes or so where one non-profit/Good organization shares their situation with a group of strategists and then the group brainstorms ways to address the issues discussed. Oh, and last time we worked for almost 4 hours- as long as people wanted to keep strategizing, they did it!

What kind of help are you looking for now?

We’d love for non-profits to commit to being there on the 6th from 10am-12pm. We also need strategists- some of whom we would love to commit to being “captains” for each of the organizations who register- whether or not they are already involved with an organization. Interested in any of these roles? Register on EventBrite: http://s4gmpls2.eventbrite.com/

Accepting Applications: Serve on City of St. Paul Boards and Commissions

Are you or someone you know looking for opportunities to engage and learn more about Saint Paul issues? Mayor Coleman is currently seeking applicants for a wide variety of boards and commissions. Details for each committee, including meeting times and location, are on the website. Appointments will be made next month and into December. Please share this with colleagues and consider applying yourself!

If you have passion for making Saint Paul great, consider applying for a committee, board, or commission! The Mayor and City Council rely on committees, boards and commissions for thoughtful advice as they shape policies and make critical decisions. People with experience or interest serving in areas such as aging residents, people with disabilities, minority- and women-owned businesses, or addressing human rights issues are encouraged to apply. There are many opportunities for young adults and people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Here is a great opportunity to serve your city and fellow residents!

Some committees require Saint Paul residency. Mayor Coleman encourages applicants to seek recommendations from their City Councilmembers.

You can learn more by visiting the City of Saint Paul's website or by
contacting Wendy Underwood at 651-266-6545. Online applications are accepted at Saint Paul Boards and Commissions.

Accepting Applications: University of Minnesota Board of Regents

Do you you love the Golden Gophers? Respect that the U of M is one of the largest land grant institutions in the nation? Consider educational institutions and access to education part of what has made Minnesota so great? This opportunity may be for you:

Applications Sought for University of Minnesota Board of Regents The Regent Candidate Advisory Council (RCAC) is currently accepting applications for four positions on the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota. The 24-member RCAC was created in 1988 by the Minnesota State Legislature and is responsible for recruiting, screening and recommending Regent candidates to the Legislature for election to the Board. From the pool of applicants, the RCAC will invite selected candidates for public interviews in early January of 2011, and then will submit to a Joint Legislative Committee the names of two to four candidates for each open Regent position. The Joint Committee, in turn, makes recommendations of candidates for final approval by a Joint Convention of the Legislature. The Joint Convention will then elect regents to fill the vacancies. Regents are unpaid volunteers. They serve six-year, staggered terms. Four of the twelve Regent seats are open for election every two years. The four seats open in 2011 include one each for residents of Minnesota’s second congressional district, third congressional district and eighth congressional district as well as one at-large seat. Current Regents in these positions are Dallas Bohnsack, David Larson, Anthony Baraga, and Steven Hunter, respectively. All four incumbents are eligible for reelection, although the RCAC has been advised by Regent Dallas Bohnsack (representing the second congressional district) and Regent Anthony Baraga (representing the eighth congressional district) that they will not be seeking re-election to the Board, having already served two six-year terms. According to RCAC Chair Jane Belau, ideal candidates will have a deep interest in higher education and an understanding of the role of the University of Minnesota as a major land grant and research institution. They will have experience in governing large complex institutions, a strong sense of fairness, good listening skills and an awareness of the importance of the education mission in challenging economic times. Being a Regent is a time-consuming assignment; current Regents estimate that, on average, they spend about 40 hours per month in Regent tasks with time commitments varying according to personal work style and on the number of optional tasks undertaken by individual Regents. Application materials are available on the RCAC website at: http://www.rcac.leg.mn. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may request an application packet by contacting Sally Olson, of the Legislative Coordinating Commission, at 651-296-9002.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, November 8, 2010 Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on November 8th.

What love looks like in public

"Justice is what love looks like in public." -Cornel West

PARALLEL POSTS

• A rising tide raises all boats
• Wanderlust
• Let it spring from love

Announcing Jefferson Awards for Public Service Youth Service Challenge

The Jefferson Awards for Public Service have recently expanded their programming and work to the Minnesota region. An active leader in the United Way Emerging Leaders with a solid history of volunteerism, Tarcy Thompson is just the woman to make this program work for students in Minnesota and for the civic health of our communities. See her program announcement below and contact her with any questions or if you would consider coaching a team of high schoolers on their projects during the course of a school year!

The Youth Service Challenge was started by the Jefferson Awards for Public Service with the goal to get 1 million young Americans (K-College) involved in volunteer/service projects. Students and Teachers can register at http://www.youthservicechallenge.org/, where they will upload their service project or download project toolkits available on the site. After they have registered, participants can recruit online supporters/followers, give progress reports on their project, raise money, publish various multimedia messages about their project (blogs/videos/photos/etc.) and become eligible to win prizes (grants, celebrity visits, etc.).

The projects should be completed by the end of December. If you have any questions, you can contact Tarcy Thompson at t.thompson@jeffersonawards.org or 612-708-2922.

Register for the Citizens League 2010 Annual Meeting

The Citizens League's annual bash is back again! After the long election season, gather together with active citizens of all stripes for the big celebration and to help figure out what work there is next to do to build common ground for the common good in Minnesota!

Annual Meeting and Civic Celebration

Wednesday, November 10th
Doors 5:15 p.m. Program 6:30 p.m.
Party 7:45 p.m.
Minneapolis Hilton
1001 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis
Driving and transit directions

Register Now
Registration is free.

Your vote will be counted on November 2nd.
Minnesota is counting on you the rest of the year.

We know complaining, gloating, and giving up doesn't work. The Citizens League does. Whether it's transportation, education, or any of the other many issues facing Minnesota, Citizens League members come together to create innovating and effective policy solutions -- and have fun in the process.

Be a part of what's next.
Come to the Citizens League Annual Meeting.

Preview the great sessions at the Minnesota Rising Un/Conference!

Guest Post by Tanya Schmitt

The Minnesota Rising Un/Conference is less than a month away! There is a great lineup of sessions planned that will be led by conference participants. With an afternoon planned to be a forum to learn from one another, representatives from Network Partner organizations have prepared breakout sessions that will be interactive and conversational—intended to connect like-minded participants with ideas or organizations they may be interested in moving forward with.

Session topics will cover a variety of topics including changing demographics of organizations whether it be, geography, gender, culture or age. There will also be sessions on leadership structures, authentic leadership development, and personal awareness that will propel our rising generation to greater success in the future. Additional sessions will cover current hot topics such as local food, and emerging leadership groups to get involved with.

In addition to interactive sessions with engaging conversation, facilitators come from a variety of organizations across sectors for you to connect with, and potentially collaborate with in the future. The array of topics will be sure to spark some interesting connections throughout the day!

To learn more about each session, visit the Minnesota Rising Un/Conference website.

Have an idea for another topic you’d like to discuss? Let us know!

Leah Lundquist will be at the Minnesota Rising Un/Conference! Will she see you there?

Are you getting excited for the Minnesota Rising Un/Conference on Saturday, November 13? Watch this video of emerging leader, Leah Lundquist, to see what she is especially excited for at the conference!

Leah Lundquist on the Minnesota Rising Un/Conference! from Diane Tran on Vimeo.

Minneapolis YWCA 8th Annual It's Time to Talk Forums on Race

Hearing Anna Deavere Smith speak at the 2006 It's Time to Talk Forums on Race luncheon was extremely inspirational. Deavere Smith had conducted hundreds of interviews with diverse community members following the aftermath of the L.A. riots, and had the uncanny ability to perfectly impersonate a Korean shop owner or an African American male elder, conveying their incredibly compelling stories through their realistically imitated voices onstage. She was powerful. And helped me realize starkly just how it is that art can be used for social justice.

I trained the next two years to serve as a Racial Justice Facilitator for the YWCA of Minneapolis' annual event, worked to foster real and sometimes, difficult, conversations around those table, and continue to be an avid supporter of the program. For an opportunity to participate in the same, see below for details about this year's It's Time to Talk Forums on Race luncheon or see more information about the YWCA Racial Justice program.

Join us for the 8th annual It's Time to Talk Forums on Race luncheon on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. You will engage in a powerful, facilitated dialogue on race and experience a tool that can expand open dialogue on race relations within your organization.

Event Details

• Wednesday, October 20, 2010
• 11:30am-1:30pm
• Minneapolis Convention Center
• $1000 per table or $100 per individual

Corporations, non-profits organizations, religious groups, schools and more have found participating in It's Time to Talk engaging and profound. 98% say the information from the event was relevant to them and 84% believe their involvement helped them address issues of race and inclusion.

Participating organizations are publicly recognized for their involvement. Organizations can maximize their participation by scheduling the included "Continue the Conversation" dialogue at their home site.

Don't miss the exciting, collective, powerful experience as over 1000 people come together to engage in dynamic, facilitated dialogues about improving race relations in our community!

Event proceeds support the YWCA of Minneapolis' Racial Justice programs: working to build an inclusive community.

Keynote speaker for 2010



Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Economist, Writer, Commentator on Race, Gender, and their Economic Impact

Recognized for her progressive and insightful observations as an economist, author and commentator, Dr. Julianne Malveaux has been described by Dr. Cornel West as "the most iconoclastic public intellectual in the country." Dr. Malveaux's contributions to the public dialogue on issues such as race, culture, gender, and their economic impacts, are shaping public opinion in 21st century America.

Dr. Malveaux is the 15th President of Bennett College for Women and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from MIT.

PhilanthroFair II - Engaging Young Professionals through LEADership and Service

The event so nice they're doing it twice! Join the LEAD Project next Wednesday for PhilanthroFair II at Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen to connect with nonprofits seeking volunteers and other like-minded emerging leaders. Get dressed up in your business duds and enjoy food and fun, PhilanthroFair-style!

PhilanthroFair II - Engaging Young Professionals through LEADership and Service

Come out to PhilanthroFair II at Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen to meet nonprofits that are looking for motivated, passionate volunteers. All nonprofits have skill-based volunteer opportunities/board of director/advisory board openings. This is a great way to learn about community needs and how to get involved, while meeting other like-minded young professionals.

Meet representatives from: Children's Theater Company, Free Arts Minnesota, Friends of St. Jude, Hammer Residences, Inc., Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners, Minnesota Planetarium Society, Movember, Reach Out and Read, Students Today Leaders Forever, The A-List, Washburn Center for Children, Youth Frontiers and more!

Event Details:

Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen - 533 Hennepin Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55403

5:30 - 6:00 p.m. - PhilanthroFair Mini Bootcamp (RSVP here - limited tickets available)
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - PhilanthroFair II

Minneapolis Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good

It's that time of year for fall clothes, yellow buses, and crossing guards. Perhaps you find yourself missing classmate camaraderie, pulling all-nighters to finish essays due at 8AM the next morning, and the general pace of life as a student. Or maybe you think it's the right time to change things up and pursue the next steps that will get you closer yet to your ideal career. Either way, a chance to explore the options available to you comes in the form of the Minneapolis Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good next Monday evening. Read on for registration information and additional details as you prepare to go back to school!

October 18, 2010, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
University of Minnesota, Coffman Memorial Union, Great Hall
300 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN

The Minneapolis Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good is generously hosted by the University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

Are you looking to learn more about the issues you care about and find out how to do more meaningful work? Pursue your passion and explore ways to further your social-impact career through graduate school!

At the Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good, you will have an opportunity to meet graduate admissions representatives from local, national, and international programs to discuss professional development through graduate education. You will also have a chance to attend a free information session offering advice on graduate degree options, the application process, financial aid, and deciding when to attend graduate school after spending time in the working world.

If you would like to attend this FREE event to look for grad schools, register here. Also, watch a short video on how you can make the most out of your experience at the fair.

Accepting Applications: 2011 LOTT Fellows Program

A proud alumna of the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow (LOTT) program, I had the privilege of co-chairing the awe-inspiring LOTT Conference last year and continue to serve as a member emeritus on the Advisory Committee. We're up to great things to make the program even more comprehensive, thoughtful, and compelling this year. If you know someone that fits the profile of a LOTT Fellow, or would yourself be interested, please apply for the opportunity to get to know a cohort of amazing young women, be mentored by a community-minded and successful woman, and join the network of women making change for a more equitable and just Minnesota!

The LOTT Fellows Program inspires college-aged and emerging professional women to envision themselves as future leaders. The program is designed to develop young women's potential to lead professionally, personally, and in their communities.

The LOTT Fellows Program provides five months of leadership development via intensive seminars, one-on-one mentoring, and network building for ten to fifteen fellows. The fellows program focuses on the leadership development of participants in all aspects of their lives, through both self-reflective and collaborative themes and activities. The program assists participants in establishing career goals, creating a plan for goal attainment, and developing their leadership skills through mentoring and training. The fellows program aims to instill strong skills and perceptions of leadership efficacy in participants to increase the rates at which they assume leadership positions and engage in other forms of active community participation.

Becoming a LOTT Fellow

The LOTT Fellows Program is designed to develop young women's leadership potentially to lead professionally, personally, and in their communities.

The program consists of:

• Intensive seminars
• One-on-One Mentoring
• Networking with today's promising young women
• Networking with today's women leaders

Over the course of 5 months, Fellows and Mentors embark on an exciting journey of partnership, reflection, coaching, and inspiration. Activities include interactive discussions, a variety of guest speakers, and one-on-one mentoring.

LOTT Program Fellows are women who:

• Want to make things happen
• Value community and civic involvement
• Work in collaboration with others to accomplish goals
• Respect themselves, their peers and mentors, and those with different opinions or perspectives
• Commit to personal growth and developing leadership qualities
• Are in the final two years of a post-secondary degree program or
• Are an emerging professional

Program Requirements:

The program will involve activities from November 2010 through May 2011. Attendance is required at all events.

• Fellow Orientation Meeting
• Personal Leadership Workshop
• Collaboration/Teamwork Workshop
• Communication and Networking Workshop
• Setting Goals Workshop
• LOTT Women's Leadership Portion at the LWV Minnesota Conference

LOTT Fellows are expected to meet one-on-one with their mentor at least three additional meetings scheduled at your convenience throughout the program.

Application Process:

Please submit the following materials as a packet by October 15, 2010. Detailed instructions are found on the application form.

• Completed application form
• Resume
• Two Letters of Recommendations
• Answers to two short response questions

Twin Cities Crop Mob October 17 at Blue Gentian Farm

We're excited to have @RealFoodMN facilitate a conversation at the Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference about making Minnesota a national leader in the real food movement! For some pre-work, you're invited to attend the last Twin Cities Crop Mob of 2010:

What is a crop mob?
From CropMob.org

Crop mob is primarily a group of young, landless, and wannabe farmers who come together to build and empower communities by working side by side. Crop mob is also a group of experienced farmers and gardeners willing to share their knowledge with their peers and the next generation of agrarians. The membership is dynamic, changing and growing with each new mob event.

REGISTER: Twin Cities Crop Mob at Blue Gentian Farm

TIME: Sunday , October 17; 10 AM - 4 PM

LOCATION: Blue Gentian Farm (pronounced jen'shun) is located in New Richmond, WI about 35 miles east of St. Paul, MN.

FOOD: Lunch will be generously provided by the Powers family.

THE PROJECT: We're looking for 15 people to work on Blue Gentian's "Oak Savanna Pasture Restoration Project" which they have been working on (on and off) for several years. There is an upland pasture with oak trees and a lot of other undesirable trees that need to be cut down, picked up, and piled for burning and/or firewood. The remaining oak trees, spaced properly, will improve the grass yield of the pasture and be reminiscent of the oak savanna landscape from Wisconsin's past. The oak savanna pasture is partially done, so people can see what the end result of their labor will be. There are some old remnant fences that can be torn down, and rock piles to load, if time permits. This project would allow the Mob to make a contribution that will last for several years.

Other activities include a tour of the farm & animals, and/or a nature walk on a mowed path along the Willow River and tall grass prairie.

ABOUT BLUE GENTIAN FARM:
The name Blue Gentian (pronounced jen'shun) comes from the rare Blue Gentian Flowers found growing between the farm's wetlands and cool season pastures. Totaling 395 acres, they have over 100 acres of restored tall grass prairie, large cool season grass pastures, low lying wetlands, and majestic oak savannas.

They utilize sustainable farming practices and return more to the land than they take. The heritage breeds they raise are selected for unique qualities that make them a perfect fit for their operations as well as the consumer. While not certified organic, their animals are never given growth hormones, fed rationed antibiotics, or steroids. All of Blue Gentian's animals are free range and dine on natural diets of legumes and proteins.

Westminster Town Hall Forum: Walter Mondale - A Life in Politics

Walter Mondale
A Life in Politics

Walter Mondale is one of America’s most distinguished public servants. His years of service are captured in his political autobiography, The Good Fight: A Life in Liberal Politics, just released this month. He served the people of Minnesota as Attorney General and U.S. Senator. In 1976, he was elected Vice-President of the United States on the Democratic ticket with Jimmy Carter, and in 1993, he was appointed Ambassador to Japan by President Bill Clinton.

Westminster Town Hall Forum
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Noon – 1:00pm

Free and Open to the Public

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Nicollet Mall and 12th Street
Downtown Minneapolis

Music by pianist Thelma Hunter precedes the forum at 11:30 AM. Following the presentation, Magers & Quinn Booksellers will sell copies of The Good Fight, and Mr. Mondale will be available for signing. A public reception and a small group discussion, facilitated by the Minnesota International Center, also follow the presentation.

Will you run? Amber Collett for SWCD2

There are a multitude of ways to create change in a community - volunteering, serving on a governance board or working committee, organizing an issue campaign, and much more. One of the methods of public service, however, that is often overlooked by emerging leaders, is that of elected office.

At the Minneapolis Urban League Young Professionals event this past Wednesday, Minnesota State Senator, Mee Moua, asked audience members to stand and remain standing if they supported access healthcare, quality education, good jobs, for communities of color. Every person in the room was on their feet, proud to demonstrate their belief in a stronger, more equitable community. Then Senator Moua asked her final question, "How many of you are willing to run for office in order to make sure these things happen? Remain standing." Most in the room looked around at each other sheepishly and sat down, with only a handful still up, declaring their willingness to take on a somewhat thankless, hopefully rewarding, and surely challenging, path to making their vision of a better community possible.

Given that there are only 25 days left until Election Day and that most people need to be asked to run, I want to make an ask of you, as someone who cares about their community, is engaged in work to serve the public, and who has the potential to make where you live or work or play better than it is today, to consider a future run for office. While you consider it, you can take a look at one emerging leader's first foray into this political sphere. Amber Collett has worked for several years as an environmental educator and organizer and is running for the Hennepin County Soil and Water District 2 seat in order to make possible the changes she sees as critical to protecting our natural resources. Our role, for the time being, is stand up in support of emerging leaders, like Amber, who are making this important decision, at least until we ourselves, as Senator Moua intimated, are ready to stand up and take the lead on the issues we each hold most dear.

Register for the Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference!

We're excited to announce that registration is open for the Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference, "Making Our Mark On Minnesota!"

Minnesota Rising is the network of emerging leaders in Minnesota. Hosted by and for emerging leaders, the Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference asks, "Why wait to make your mark on Minnesota?" The Un/Conference will engage emerging leaders across the Twin Cities in an energizing day of learning, skill-building, and relationship-building with their peers. Check out the Un/Conference website to learn more and to register for what is sure to be an inspiring and energizing event!

We look forward to seeing you there!

How to become a nonprofit rock star!

Trista Harris will be speaking at the upcoming Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference about career acceleration. See below for more detail about the book she is co-authoring with Rosetta Thurman and visit the site to sign up for more information as the book tour rolls out!

Top nonprofit bloggers Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris have co-authored the first book of its kind to offer career advice beyond just getting your foot in the door of a nonprofit organization. How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar provides an accessible, do-it-yourself map of how to build a successful career in the nonprofit sector. As a result of reading this book, young professionals will be able to develop valuable nonprofit expertise, practice authentic leadership, and establish a strong personal brand.

Want to book the authors for an event, conference, workshop or book signing? Email info (at) rosettathurman (dot) com with your request.

Accepting Applications: InCommons Collaboration Challenge!

Today is the launch of the InCommons Collaboration Challenge! In the spirit of surfacing courageous leadership, from October 5-29, 2010, the Bush Foundation and its InCommons partner organizations invite you to share about an effective collaboration to innovatively solve problems or advance solutions in Minnesota . Entrants may self-nominate or can offer nominations of collaborations to be reviewed by a panel of judges, with the top three finalists being put to a public online vote from November 30 - December 10, 2010. The collaboration with the most votes will receive $25,000 to continue, expand or replicate the effort described in the entry!

Have you seen or been a part of any particularly remarkable collaborative efforts or innovative partnerships to advance the common good in Minnesota? Read on for more Challenge details and how you can help highlight the amazing work being done in our communities across this great state!

The first InCommons Collaboration Challenge recognizes and supports innovative local collaborations to solve community problems.

Communities across Minnesota are facing tough problems—economic and otherwise. Many people are working alone, disconnected from others addressing similar issues. Some are struggling to achieve scale and gain critical mass. Others are stymied because of the status quo–“that’s just how we do it here.”

In spite of this reality, organizations, leaders and community members are working together to advance solutions to a variety of challenges. They are tapping into the assets within their communities, capitalizing on their strengths and collaborating in innovative ways to solve problems at the local level. The first-ever InCommons Collaboration Challenge celebrates these efforts.

Eligibility and Guidelines

Entry to the InCommons Collaboration Challenge is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and individuals who are affiliated with a nonprofit organization.* Entrants can propose the continuation, expansion or replication of the collaboration described in their entries.

We will consider entries that meet the following guidelines:

• The entry reflects the theme of the Challenge: Collaboration to Solve Community Problems. The scope of the InCommons Collaboration Challenge is to identify innovative local collaborations between nonprofit organizations, leaders (broadly-defined) and community members aimed at solving problems and advancing solutions.
• The collaboration described in the entry is underway or has taken place within the past two years.
• The collaboration described in the entry has demonstrated growth beyond the conceptual stage and has demonstrated progress and impact.
• The collaboration described in the entry is located in Minnesota.
• The entry is submitted in English.

The InCommons Collaboration Challenge is interested in collaborations that reflect a variety of disciplines, issues, and outcomes. Examples could include anything ranging from skills/capacity building, to deliberative democracy, to arts and education. The InCommons Challenge especially encourages submissions that reflect interdisciplinary approaches.

InCommons encourages submissions from young people, communities of color, ethnic communities and from Greater Minnesota.

While the InCommons Collaboration Challenge strongly encourages online entry to the Challenge, paper entries will be allowed upon request. For more information please contact Challenge staff at info@InCommons.org or 612.520.1756.

Please complete the entire entry form and submit responses by Friday, October 29, 2010 at 11:59 PM. All decisions of the judges will be final.

*The InCommons Collaboration Challenge is open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are listed in the IRS Business Master File (excluding private, non-operating foundations) and individuals affiliated with a qualifying organization. If your organization is a religious or faith-based organization not required to file with the IRS, you may be asked to provide the following: (i) your EIN issuance letter, (ii) year of establishment and (iii) denominational listing (i.e., state letter for churches or listing on a national church directory). Finalists may be subject to criminal background checks and background checks with Guidestar and the Charities Review Council to ensure compliance with state standards.

Projects or programs directly managed or led by the Bush Foundation or the nine InCommons partner organizations (Ashoka’s Changemakers, Minnesota Community Foundation, Minnesota Council of Churches, Minnesota Public Radio, The Saint Paul Foundation, Twin Cities Public Television, University of Minnesota Center for Integrative Leadership, Walker Art Center and Wilder Foundation) are not eligible for participation in the InCommons Collaboration Challenge.

Entries will be reviewed by a panel of independent judges, and three finalists will be put to a public online vote.