You're Invited: Laugh in Peace Tour

Poverty, hunger, and cultural conflicts are grave issues that we have to contend with in our communities. These challenges are to be taken seriously. But just as much as we need critical thinking and compassionate dedication, we also need fun and good humor to be able to sustain ourselves personally and to grow our creativity. Enter the Minnesota Idea Open III and the Laugh in Peace Tour coming to the Varsity Theater next month. Join the rabbi, minister, and Muslim trio that brings a message of peace and unity, and start brainstorming your way to a #MIO3 submission!

So a Rabbi, Minister and Muslim Comedian Walk Into the Varsity... This is no knock-knock joke. The Minnesota Idea Open is proud to bring the Laugh in Peace Tour to Minnesota. Join us on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis for the first-ever Idea Open comedy show! Be prepared for your face to ache as we laugh together across cultures and faiths! Our very special guests are professional stand-up comedians Rabbi Bob Alper, Rev. Susan Sparks and Azhar Usman. Alper founded the Laugh in Peace Tour. To him, the most natural thing to do after serving congregations for 14 years as an ordained rabbi was to become a stand-up comedian. Makes sense to us. He's been doing the latter for more than 20 years, including appearances on Comedy Central and Showtime. An even funnier story is the one about the trial lawyer turned comedian turned Baptist minister. Sparks is senior pastor of the historic Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City and tours nationally with the Laugh in Peace Tour. She also is the author of "Laugh Your Way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor." Alphabetically last but certainly not least is funny man Usman who describes himself as "intellectually White; emotionally Japanese; spiritually Indian; psychically Persian; physically Arab; artistically Southeast Asian; romantically Latino; and psychologically Black." (That's a long title for a business card.) He is co-founder of the comedy show, "Allah Made Me Funny," which features America's top Muslim comedians. Join us for this very special Idea Open event! Click here to get your tickets online. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the show begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10, or $5 with a valid student ID. All tickets include complimentary valet parking. Ages 11 and up are welcome! After the show, join us for light appetizers and a chance to enter the Idea Open and submit your best idea to build bonds and work together across cultures and faiths in your community. Your winning idea could receive $15,000 to become a reality. Volunteer for the Interfaith Build Event We're looking for volunteers with tool belts to participate in a unique interfaith event. Sign up now for the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) and Idea Open event: Building Together Across Cultures and Faiths. TCHFH is hosting several special construction days that bring together volunteers from diverse backgrounds to build homes - and ideas - for the community. There is still room to sign up for a variety of dates between February 28 and March 24. Be sure to spread the word to your friends, family and networks! No building experience required! Learn more at http://blog.tchabitat.org/IdeaOpen. Stay Connected The Idea Open is always cracking jokes on Twitter and Facebook. The Idea Open Challenge III: Working Together Across Cultures and Faiths and Laugh in Peace Tour are made possible by One Nation and three affiliates of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners: Minnesota Community Foundation, Multicultural Endowment and Facing Race. Learn more at onenationfoundation.org and mnpartners.org. Game On. Minnesota Idea Open

A venture of Minnesota Community Foundation