GIRLS ARE NOT FOR SALE - A Benefit to End Child Trafficking in Minnesota

Q: What could be better than a concert with amazing musical artists spanning rock, hip hop, and reggaeton genres, a huge birthday blowout with some of the best people around, and a fundraiser for a powerful cause with local and international implications?

A: An event that is all those things combined, offers free admission, and takes place exactly one week from today. The best part? You're invited!

GIRLS ARE NOT FOR SALE - A Benefit to End Child Trafficking in Minnesota

Tuesday, December 7

5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Honey Lounge

205 E. Hennepin Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55414

Featuring: Maria Isa, I Self Devine, Adam Levy of the Honeydogs, Mayda, DJ Flipstyle, others TBA!

Sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of young girls in Minnesota is a chronic and growing problem. In fact, recent data from the Atlanta-based Shapiro Group show that the Internet sale of children for sex in Minnesota is up more than 50 percent in a six-month period.

GIRLS ARE NOT FOR SALE is a benefit event for the PRIDE program (from PRostitution to Independence, Dignity, and Equality) - a program that helps women and girls escape commercial sexual exploitation and reclaim their lives.

RSVP online on Facebook. For more information, contact Jeff at The Family Partnership.

We All Want to Be Young

Thanks to Katie Eukel for the hat tip on the provocative video below. Consider the ensuing music, imagery, and energy as part of a welcome back to the work week after a holiday weekend!

We All Want to Be Young from box1824 on Vimeo.

Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear.

Who can make the muddy water clear? Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear. -Lao Tzu

Accepting Applications: 2011 Young Turkey/Young America Foreign Policy Exchange

Due to the stated great success of last year's program, the Atlantic Council of the United States is currently recruiting for the 2011 Young Turkey/Young America foreign policy exchange. If you think you should be part of this year's great group of rising foreign policy leaders (between the ages of 25-35), see below for additional information for being an ambassador for the United States to Turkey.

The Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS), in partnership with the Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) at Sabanci University, is administering a dynamic exchange program, sponsored by the US Embassy in Ankara, and designed to connect and build constructive relationships between future leaders (age 25-35) from the United States and Turkey. This initiative is intended to help renew and reinvigorate the important bilateral relationship between the two nations. ACUS and IPC will recruit participants from each country, targeting individuals who have started careers in the fields of foreign policy, business and journalism, possess a strong passion for international engagement, and have demonstrated leadership abilities. Applications are due on December 17, 2010, late submissions will not be considered. The exchange will take place in mid-2011, and will last for nearly one month, with two weeks in the United States (February/March) and ten days in Turkey (June/July). Most of the two-week U.S. segment will be held in Washington, DC, and will also include a visit to a major regional center with strong international connections, such as Atlanta, Georgia. The Turkey session will include time in Ankara and Istanbul, with the possibility of visiting a third destination. We are currently seeking applications from exceptional Turkish and American young professionals, aged 25-35. We are targeting individuals who have started careers in the fields of foreign policy, business and journalism, who possess a strong passion for international engagement and have demonstrated leadership abilities. All travel, room and board costs will be covered by ACUS and IPC. The main objectives of the Young Turkey/Young America initiative are to:

• Cultivate understanding and lasting ties between American and Turkish participants;
• Develop critical leadership and conflict management skills to empower participants to become leaders in their respective professional fields;
• Facilitate ongoing collaboration among participants through joint projects to be carried out following program completion;
• Use Web 2.0 technologies to build a virtual forum where participants can share their views and experiences with a global audience;
• Build an expanding network of future leaders committed to advancing U.S.-Turkish cooperation through collaboration and ongoing projects.

Common Cents: Weigh In on Taxes and Spending

At the Citizens League Annual Meeting and Civic Celebration last week, I had the opportunity to participate in a demo of the new Common Cents project that is engaging Minnesotans in conversations about the state budget crisis. Some 25 workshops, open to the public, will take place across the state in the next month and will hopefully enlighten enlighten both citizens as well as the state legislature and their policy-making process. Check out the schedule below and sign up for a chance to weigh in on taxes and spending for the common good in Minnesota!

Common Cents: Minnesotans Weigh in on Taxes and Spending

Contact: Stacy Becker at stacybecker[at]comcast.net or 651-295-4033

With funding from the Bush Foundation, the Citizens League is launching a series of 25 statewide community workshops, giving Minnesotans an opportunity to weigh in on the troublesome state budget crisis.

The workshops are informative, fast-paced and interactive -- illuminating the current reality of the state budget, examining future trends, and asking participants to identify values and priorities they think should help frame state budget decisions for the coming decade and beyond.

Findings will be presented to our newly elected governor and Legislature in January 2011.

How to participate:

1. Attend a workshop: Twenty-five workshops will be held around Minnesota, Nov. 4 - Dec. 15. See below for a full listing and links to register.
2. Volunteer to be a table captain: We need 10 table captains for each of the workshops. Table captains will record key points raised by participants, administer budget games, and keep discussions rolling. Please contact Maya Petrovic at mapetrovic[at]gmail.com or 612-859-1515 to sign up.
3. Participate in the Common Cents state budget project on CitiZing^®:
• Take a quick, weekly budget poll
• Join the discussion: What values and priorities should guide budget decisions? (Nov. 5 - Dec. 16)
• Weigh In: Give your feedback on survey and discussion materials (Nov. 5 - Dec. 16)
• Preliminary Findings: Have we heard you right? (Dec. 20-31)
• Conclusion: Now help get the word out at the Capitol (Jan. 1-15)

As part of the project, TakeAction Minnesota, a statewide community organizing group, will lead a series of workshops to engage people from underrepresented communities. The state budget impacts the lives of all Minnesotans and people of color in particular. If Minnesota is to meet the demographic and economic challenges it faces, it's important that policy makers hear the priorities, concerns and hopes leaders of underrepresented communities have for the state.

Workshop schedule:

Click on the links below to register for the workshops.

Columbia Heights Thursday, November 4 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Columbia Heights Senior Center, John P. Murzyn Hall 530 Mill Street NE Edina Monday, November 8 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Southdale Library, Ethel Berry Room 7001 York Ave. S Rosemount Monday, November 8 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Robert Trail Library 14395 S. Robert Trail St. Paul (Highland) Tuesday, November 9 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Hillcrest Community Rec Center 1978 Ford Parkway Minneapolis (NE) Thursday, November 11 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Logan Community Center 690 13th Ave. NE Eveleth Monday, November 15 600 - 8:00 p.m. "Rock" RRCC Range Recreation Civic Center 901 Hat Trick Avenue Stillwater Monday, November 15 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Stillwater Public Library 224 3rd St. N Duluth Tuesday, November 16 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Duluth Heights Recreation Center 33 W. Mulberry St. Maple Plain/Long Lake Tuesday, November 16 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Maple Plain Library 5184 Main St. E Rochester Wednesday, November 17 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Rochester Community and Technical College, Heinz Commons 851 30th Ave. SE St. Paul (Rondo) Wednesday, November 17 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Rondo Community Outreach Library 461 Dale St. N Albert Lea Thursday, November 18 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Albert Lea City Hall, Council Chambers 221 E Clark St. Minneapolis (SW) Thursday, November 18 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Washburn Public Library 5244 Lyndale Ave. S

Anoka Monday, November 22 5:45 - 7:45 p.m. Rum River Library 4201 6th Ave. St. Cloud Monday, November 22 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Atwood Memorial Center, Glacier Rm. 720 4th Ave. South Winona Tuesday, November 23 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Winona City Hall, Council Chambers 207 Lafayette St. Grand Rapids Monday, November 29 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library St. NE Willmar Monday, November 29 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Willmar Public Library 410 5th St. SW Bemidji Tuesday, November 30 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Bemidji Public Library 509 America Ave. NW Alexandria Tuesday, November 30 5:45 - 7:45 p.m. Douglas County Public Library 720 Fillmore St. Thief River Falls Wednesday, December 1 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Northland Community & Technical College, Room 601 1101 Highway One East Brainerd Wednesday, December 1 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Brainerd Public Library 416 S 5th St. Detroit Lakes Tuesday, December 7 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. City Hall, Council Chambers 1025 Roosevelt Ave. Moorhead Wednesday, December 8 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Moorhead Public Library 118 5th St. S Worthington Wednesday, December 15 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nobles County Government Center, Farmers Room 315 10th Street *Note location change*

Find more information and join the discussion at www.citizing.org/commoncents.

Thanks to the Bush Foundation for their generous support!

Judges, Money, and Politics: The State of Judicial Elections in Minnesota

I participated in a League of Women Voters of Minnesota Study Committee a couple of years ago regarding the issue of judicial impartiality. Reviewing the numerous cases nationwide of increasingly expensive judicial races funded by special-interest monies, we questioned whether Minnesota's historically fair and impartial courts may be at risk. The conversation continues today, amongst member groups of Minnesotans for Impartial Courts, who are hosting the following panel discussion this week to illuminate the issue and proposed solutions for maintaining the integrity of Minnesota's courts.

Judges, Money, and Politics – The State of Judicial Elections in Minnesota

Thursday, November 18th, 2010
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Panel discussion
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Reception
Free and open to all

Cowles Auditorium
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
301 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455

As a result of recent U.S Supreme Court decisions, judicial campaigns are becoming more partisan and expensive every election cycle. Many fear Minnesota’s courts are in danger of becoming the next battleground of big-money campaign contributors and partisan operatives. In response, proposals for changing the way Minnesotans elect judges have been put forward as a way of maintaining an impartial judiciary. Please join us for a lively conversation about the state of judicial elections in Minnesota and the proposed solutions at the Humphrey Institute. The event will be moderated by Professor Larry Jacobs and panelists include:

• Eric Magnuson, former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
• Gary Borgendale, Local Ministry Director for AM980 KKMS radio
• Sarah Walker, Chief Operating Officer at 180 Degrees, Inc

This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at http://impartialjustice.eventbrite.com.

For parking and directions please go to: http://www.hhh.umn.edu/contact/parking.html.

To request disability accommodations, please call 612-625-2530 or e-mail cspg@umn.edu.

You're invited to NAAAP-MN's "Living Life On Purpose: Aligning Actions and Intentions"

I'm excited to be hosting a leadership development workshop tonight and wanted to blast it out in case there is interest among any new readers after this past weekend's Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference. There are a few seats left, and you can get in for free if you register mentioning Minnesota Rising, so take a look at the agenda below and let us know if we can expect to see you there!

Living Life On Purpose: Aligning Actions and Intentions

Join NAAAP-MN Professional Development and Programming Chair, Diane Tran, for "Living Life On Purpose: Aligning Actions and Intentions." Through guided discussion and interactive exercises, you will:

• Gain insight into the importance of living a purpose-filled life
• Sketch out intentions and strategies for achieving your goals
• Be more mindful of the need for leadership
• Leave with an Action Plan for the long-term

NAAAP-MN is honored to have The Schwan Food Company as the Sponsor for this Professional Development Workshop.

Light dinner will be provided. FREE to NAAAP-MN members and Schwans employees; $15 for non-members. RSVPs required to Vanessa Pau, vpau[at]naaap-mn.org, by November 16 (2pm). Vanessa will email you specific directions and parking info once you're registered.

LOCATION: 8400 Normandale Lake Blvd. Bloomington, MN 55437
[Same Office Building as Kincaid's].

Workshop Agenda:
6:00-6:30pm - Registration and Light dinner
6:30-6:45pm - Introductions and Welcome
6:45-8:10pm - "Living Life on Purpose" Workshop
8:10-8:30pm - Networking

Community means strength that joins our strength

One of my colleagues in the nonprofit community in Minnesota is transitioning from her role in supporting nonprofit leadership development to attending school full-time. I'm happy that she's moving forward to her next chapter with a strong network of relationships that she has built over the years, illustrated by her sharing the beautiful poem below in one of her recent farewell emails.

 Community 

 Somewhere, there are people To whom we can speak with passion Without having the words catch in our throats Somewhere a circle of hands Will open to receive us, Eyes will light up as we enter, Voices will celebrate with us Whenever we come into our own power Community means strength that joins our strength To do the work that needs to be done. Arms to hold us when we falter, A circle of healing, A circle of friends, Someplace where we can be free. Starhawk Dreaming the Dark

Minnesota Rising Supporter Profile: @donmball + @CoCoMSP

Where is the Minnesota Rising Un/Conference being held on Saturday, November 13 you ask? Well, none other than at CoCo, a coworking and collaborative space located in Lowertown St. Paul. Coco, founded by Don Ball, Kyle Coolbroth, Jeff Heegaard, and Roger Heegaard, is a place "where independent workers, small businesses and corporate workgroups can gather to share ideas, team up on projects and get some work done."

CoCo provides a unique professional atmosphere as opposed to working at home or meeting up at a coffee shop. Instead, CoCo features a lounge area that provides seating, as well as library tables to spread out your work. If you want a semi-private workspace, they have it. If you need a conference room for up to 20 people, CoCo has that too.

Minnesota Rising is grateful for the opportunity to take advantage of this beautiful space! The area is perfect to spread out for breakout sessions and to come together as a large group during our opening and closing sessions. Thanks especially to Don Ball for his leadership with UnSummit and continued support for myriad groups to host their versions of this innovative meeting technology at CoCo. Kudos to you for helping Minnesota rise, Don!

Minnesota Rising Supporter Profile: Lars Leafblad + Pollen

One of the best and easiest ways to stay in touch with civically-engaged professionals and community-oriented opportunities in the Twin Cities is to sign up to receive the Pollen newsletter.

Pollen is a networking newsletter that over 1,500 area professionals have already subscribed to. It is described as “a community comprised of civic-minded connectors who share ideas, career and civic engagement opportunities and peer-to-peer recognition to create positive impact and personal and professional growth for its members.”

Lars Leafblad is the savvy curator whose day job is as a Principal at KeyStone Search based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lars also dedicates his time to serving on the boards of CaringBridge.org, The Salvation Army - Twin Cities, and on the host committee of TEDxTC.com. He was awarded with a "40 under Forty" award from The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal in 2007.

Pollen was launched December 4, 2009 and features job opportunities, events around the community, board openings, interesting ideas and information to be a well-informed professional, and an entire section devoted to Pollen members who have been recognized in the community. At the end of every newsletter is an area devoted to new members and those who recruited them, so add your name to that list, if it isn't already, by emailing Lars at larsl[at]keystonesearch[dot]com. You can also connect with Lars on Twitter, LinkedIn, and the Keystone Search website.

To view the latest issue of Pollen, published on MinnPost, click here.

Want to end poverty and hunger? Come learn more about RESULTS!

Please join us for an evening of celebration…

RESULTS Benefit

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
5:00pm Social Hour and Silent Auction bidding
6:00-7:30 Introduction to RESULTS and keynote speaker
Keynote Speaker: Jim Koppel, Regional Director of the Children's Defense Fund

RESULTS is a grassroots advocacy organization made up of ordinary people who are not content with a world where 24,000 children die every single day from easily preventable causes, or where 40 million Americans must rely on food stamps each month simply to get enough to eat. RESULTS volunteers have made remarkable achievements in early childhood education, children’s health care, fighting AIDS, and microfinance. Come join us at our fundraiser to support our work and hear about how everyday Minnesotans are helping end poverty. We are very happy to be sponsored by KFAI.

The Center for Families
3333 North 4th St
Minneapolis, MN 55412

Pizza and dessert will be provided. There is no cost to attend. Please RSVP to Diane at minnesotarising@gmail.com.You will have the opportunity to make a donation that is meaningful to you. If you are not able to attend, we invite you to make a donation directly to RESULTS at www.results.org.

Minnesota Rising Un/Conference: Keynote Speaker

The Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference is just four days away and we are so excited about the amazing conversations that will take place this Saturday! To jump start our day, NGEN Fellow, Jennifer Ford Reedy, will discuss her work in several well-known endeavors to develop Minnesota's civic and community health and provide us insight into her own professional journey. Be there to check her out on Saturday morning! Un/Conference registration closes tomorrow on Wednesday, November 10.

Jennifer Ford Reedy is vice president of strategy and knowledge management for Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation.

In this newly created role, Jennifer is charged with driving the Foundations' strategy development and implementation across all areas of the Foundations. In addition, she oversees marketing and communications and information technology functions for the Foundations.

Prior to joining the foundations, Jennifer was a consultant with McKinsey and Company for nine years. At McKinsey, she focused on working with clients in financial services and nonprofit organizations, including work with several of the country's largest foundations.

From 2003-2007, Jennifer was "on loan" from McKinsey to direct the Itasca Project, a CEO-led regional economic development initiative in the Twin Cities. In that capacity, she helped to develop and lead community initiatives on topics ranging from transportation to financial literacy.

Jennifer holds a Master of Arts degree in social policy from the University of Chicago and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kansas where she received a national Truman Fellowship for Public Service.

ReGeneration

"Societies that keep their values alive do so not by escaping the processes of decay but by powerful processes of regeneration... Each generation must rediscover the living elements of its own tradition and adapt them to present realities. To assist in this discovery is one of the tasks of leadership."

-John W. Gardner On Leadership

PARALLEL || POSTS

• What makes you come alive
• What love looks like in public
• A rising tide raises all boats

Get ready for "Give to the Max Day" on November 16!

November 16th, 2010 is Give to the Max Day. One of the tweets I like to share when praising Minnesota's levels of civic engagement and concern for community is from @socialcitizen, early in the day during last year's inaugural Give to the Max Day:


We're in the midst of a tough economy, are being stretched in numerous ways (personally, professionally, financially) as individuals and communities, and to be frank, $14 million+ is a lot to fundraise in one day. But, as Harry Boyte wrote in the Minnesota Civic Health Index , “One important finding of the national Civic Health Index points to the importance of widely communicating stories about civic traditions and current practices. Knowledge of the existence of a civic tradition turns out to be a powerful predictor of civic engagement. People who know that there is a civic tradition are much more likely to be civically involved.” My guess is that this principle also applies to a strong tradition of philanthropy and given the commitment of the nonprofit community and generous Minnesotans, we may well break our record from last year and Give to the Max this November 16, 2010!

The Great Minnesota Give Together

Give to the Max Day returns as a day to inspire unprecedented levels of charitable giving in the state of Minnesota! Our goal is to beat our own record and get 40,000 people to give to their favorite Minnesota charity on November 16. Hundreds of nonprofits will offer the opportunity to double your dollars throughout the 24 hours. Every donation you make gives your favorite organization the chance to win even more money. On November 16 your gift makes a BIG difference.

PARALLEL || POSTS

• Register for the Citizens League 2010 Annual Meeting
• Minnesota's number one rankings: More to the story
• GiveMN launches today to transform the way Minnesotans experience giving

Twin Cities Daily Planet Fall Media Forum and Storytelling Slam: Storytelling and Beyond

Sure, the Twin Cities Daily Planet is hosting their Fall Media Forum on the same day as our upcoming and amazing Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference, but we won't hold it against them. In fact, it's in our nature to collaborate and help highlight the best of what our state has to offer in engaging Minnesotans to become active citizens. If for some unimaginable reason, the Un/Conference isn't the thing for you, we recommend you check out the Fall Media Forum on Saturday, November 13. (But seriously, you should come to the Un/Conference!)

Social media and the web are transforming the age-old process of creating the news, sharing stories and building (or breaking) consensus. The public is invited to the Twin Cities Media Alliance's sixth annual Citizen Media Forum, where we will explore Story Telling and Beyond: New Tools for Participation. Featured presenters include Placeblogger.com founder Lisa Williams, spoken word artist and storyteller Tish Jones, photographer Wing Young Huie, national story slam champion Nancy Donoval, and videographers Chuck Olsen and Allison Herrera.

The forum will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to be followed by a Happy Hour and Storytelling Slam from 3:15 to 5:30 at The Old Pub (formerly Kieran's), 330 2nd Ave. S. Plans for the Happy Hour / Storytelling Slam are not finalized; please check back for details.

To register, click here.

Presented in collaboration with MELSA. This program is funded by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Minnesota High Tech Association Presents ACE Leadership Program

Recently in the news due to their newly selected Executive Director, the first female Speaker of the House in Minnesota, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the Minnesota High Tech Association has developed the ACE Leadership Program to support Minnesota in continuing to develop its high tech, innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership. It's the right kind of program for where our state's innovation and technology should be headed; see the details below to find out if it's the right kind of program for you!

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The purpose of the ACE Leadership Program is to develop and connect our region’s next generation technology leaders, and to assist them in preparing for the important roles that they will play in making and keeping our region globally competitive.

MHTA and ACE Leadership Program advocates believe that effective leaders:

• Are aware of and understand their individual strengths and leadership skills;
• Can communicate their beliefs and use their leadership skills as advocates;
• Collaborate effectively, respecting differences in leadership styles; and
• Create lasting value for their companies and their communities by doing so.

The ACE Leadership Program is designed around these principles, and creates opportunities for participants to:

• Increase awareness of and explore their leadership strengths (and blind spots) in an applied, real-world setting;
• Explore issues that are important to make and keep their companies and our region’s tech-based economy globally competitive;
• Test and improve their ability to communicate and advocate for these issues, and
• Connect and collaborate with regional leaders and other next generation leaders to drive innovation and positively impact their organizations and communities.

The ACE Leadership Program employs a philosophy of leaders teaching leaders. Current senior executives from technology companies, government and education share leadership stories, journeys and philosophies. This provides opportunities for participants to meet with and learn from a number of senior leaders, throughout the course of the program.

Another model employed is action learning. Participants receive and discuss new information, apply it in their own organization and in small groups as they collaborate with fellow participants. The ACE Leadership Program includes mentors and facilitators, to reinforce learning. Homework and small group initiatives/activities create visibility and play a pivotal role in the learning.

2011 PROGRAM COST, LOGISTICS & TIMING

Tuition is $2750 for participants from MHTA member companies and $3750 for participants from non-member companies. Full tuition is due upon acceptance into the program.
2011 ACE Leadership Tuition Includes:
- All meals and one night's hotel accomodations forJanuary 20th and January 21st at Oakridge
- Breakfast, lunch and parking at all sessions
- One free ticket to the April 14, 2010 MHTA Spring Conference

The 2011 ACE Leadership Program will consist of seven full day sessions, an overnight at Oak Ridge Hotel & Conference Center and a few other partial day activities, spread over the course of a year.

Small work groups will meet between some sessions while working on ACE project. There will also be a social gathering in July to allow for continuity during the summer months. The small work groups will present their project/initiative ideas at the October 2011 MHTA board of directors’ meeting, which can then be considered during MHTA's November strategic planning session. A post-program, graduation celebration will be held with program participants, the MHTA board and participant company executives.

SELECTION PROCESS

The 40 participants selected for the ACE Leadership Program will form a diverse group relative to backgrounds and experiences in technology industries/careers, and will come from both emerging and established technology businesses. Potential participants should submit a written application. Application will be accepted July 1, 2010 - November 30, 2010. All applicants will meet or speak with MHTA leadership to ensure fit and that expectations align with program goals. An interview will be scheduled upon receipt of application.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Questions and requests for additional information should be directed to MaryFrances Schurb at mfschurb@mhta.org or 952-230-4241.

Macalester College Hosts "Closing the Achievement Gap" Panel Discussion

Investment in education has long been touted as what has made Minnesota great. From the Minnesota Miracle to the number of Fortune 500 companies settled here to the thriving arts and culture and philanthropic scenes to the most civically engaged population nationwide, our highly educated citizenry makes possible our way of life. Minnesota students traditionally perform at the top on standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT, but what these statewide averages conceal is that students of color consistently score at rates far below their white classmates. This disparity, both in academic performance, as well as fiscal investment, is commonly known as the achievement gap. It occurs all across the United States, but Minnesota's case is particularly interesting, given how wide the gap is, and how despite it, taken as an aggregate, our students remain top performers. For an opportunity to further discuss this issue, and its far-reaching implications on employment, education, economic vitality, and more, attend the panel discussion highlighted below, hosted this Wednesday at Macalester College.

 

Closing the Achievement Gap Panel Discussion What: What are the most important things to be done to close performance gaps linked to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, while still promoting overall progress? Who:

• Carlos Mariani, chair, Minnesota House K-12 Education Committee, 1979 Macalester graduate
• Valeria Silva, superintendent, St. Paul Public Schools
• Mary Cathryn Ricker, president, St. Paul Federation of Teachers
• Bill Wilson, director, Higher Ground Academy, former St. Paul City Council president
• Chris Coleman, mayor, city of St. Paul

When: Wednesday, November 3, 2010, 4:30 pm Where: Macalester College Alexander Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul, Minn.

Contact: Barbara K. Laskin, Macalester College, 651-696-6451

Sponsored by: Macalester’s American Studies, Educational Studies, History, Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Multicultural Life and Political Science Departments, the Civic Engagement Center, and the Center for School Change.

What makes you come alive

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that because that's what the world needs, people who have come alive." 

 -Howard Thurman

PARALLEL || POSTS

• What love looks like in public
• A rising tide raises all boats
• Wanderlust