[Minnesota Rising Dispatch] April 2013

[#mnrising Dispatch] April 2013 The seasonal pictures in our elementary school calendars taught us that it rains in March and flowers blossom in April. As we've grown older and wiser, we Minnesotans have learned that things don't always go as our teachers, parents, or politicians have taught us to expect. So we've learned to work with what we're given - rain or shine. Whether it's tanning on the beach of a half-frozen lake, or starting a community-driven initiative when our day jobs don't fulfill every last one of our needs and desires, it's the Millennial way to be adaptive and make the best of what's available. In this way, we learn how to reframe what might be considered a challenge or failure into an obstacle we overcame or something that was ultimately the first step on a new path to a more abundant life story. Interested in thinking more about bouncing back from failure? Join us this weekend: Minnesota Rising Fail Lab: Failing Into the Future Saturday, May 4, 2013 | 1:00pm - 5:00pm Rondo Community Outreach Library Register online by May 1 We invite you to join us at this highly interactive event as we spend time redefining and drawing value from failure, actively practice failing in small and safe ways, sharing and exploring stories of past failure, and considering how we can leverage the individual and collective lessons in failure for improving the future of Minnesota and our communities! 1st Annual Hmong American Day Celebration Tiffany Xiong, Minnesota Rising Contributor Governor Mark Dayton is honoring the heroic sacrifices of the Hmong people in the Vietnam War by proclaiming May 14th Hmong American Day in Minnesota. The 1st Annual Hmong American Day Celebration will be held on May 12th, 2013, from 12:00pm - 8:00pm at Lao Family Community of Minnesota. Hmong American Day, above all else, is a day to honor our veterans and elders. Year after year, we hope to take time on Hmong American Day to celebrate our elders' legacy of courage during the war and stewardship of generations of Hmong American achievements. We are asking that you help support Hmong American Day by donating $50, or whatever amount you are able, to help cover event food costs and the Hmong Odyssey show that depicts the difficult journey the Hmong people undertook to come to the United States. Make a contribution viaEventbrite to become a Hmong American Day Ally! Recognizing leadership: Because we're worth it Kelly Rowan, YNPN-TC Blog Over brunch with some wonderful YNPN members recently, we had a lively discussion about the importance of taking the time to recognize and celebrate the excellent work and leadership of our peers. This is one of the things I've been trying to be more mindful of in all areas of my life. We could all benefit from being more thoughtful and intentional in taking the time to do this - in ways big and small. We can put a little more effort in hand-written thank you notes, serve as references and write letters of recommendation for our colleagues when they are posed for their next stride forward, or simply show genuine interest in work that is outside of what we usually immerse ourselves in. [Read more.] From Convening to Transforming Social Innovation Lab In the past few years in Minnesota there has been an explosion of groups hosting community conversations and dialogue with an intention of building stronger communities. In this Social Innovation Lab, we invite a critical and generative conversation about the impact of this approach to community change. Join us exploring these wicked questions: What does it take to move from convening conversations to transforming communities? How do we move from talking to action that makes a difference? Given the depth of experience in Minnesota with convening and hosting, the Lab Leadership Team sees this as a pivotal time to reflect on this kind of conversational leadership to honestly look at benefits, limitations, and opportunities from these approaches. From Convening to Transforming - The Lab will occur May 9th from 1:00pm - 5:00pm at Kagin Commons at Macalester College. [Read more.] Accepting Applications: 2013-2014 Humphrey Policy Fellows Center for the Study of Politics and Governance Now approaching its 24th year, the Policy Fellows program brings together emerging and mid-career leaders from business, government, and nonprofit sectors to hone their leadership skills, build their professional networks, and learn how to tackle the "common good" challenges facing our state and nation. As part of a 35-person cohort, Fellows meet monthly between September and June for full-day workshops and seminars; design and implement group projects on topics of their choosing; and participate in a three-day study trip to Washington, D.C.  The nine-month leadership and professional development experience equips participants with core leadership competencies to inspire, organize, and work effectively with others to advance the public good. Since its inception in 1990, the Policy Fellows program has trained over 600 Minnesotans, many of whom are now influential figures in their communities and around the world. [Read more.] Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend News from the Network Updates and events with our esteemed network partners and collaborators! Network Buzz celebrates the Citizens League's 60th Anniversary Wednesday, May 1, 2013 6:00 - 8:30pm Stella's Fish Cafe $15.00  SMBMSP #55: LinkedIn with Paul DeBettignies Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis/St. Paul Friday, May 3, 2013 8:00am - 10:00am 514 Studios Red, White & Brew: Let's Drink to the Constitution! TPT Open Air and The Theater of Public Policy May 8 and 22, 2013 Amsterdam Bar & Hall St. Paul Pop Quiz: Your Community Connection Style  Torch Community Wednesday, May 15, 2013 5:30pm - 8:30pm Minneapolis Club Words from the World Wide Web April 2013 Edition Millennials are tech savvy, tightfisted savers | April 24, 2013 | USA Today The millennial generation, which ranges in age from 18 to 34, has been raised during the stock market crash and the Great Recession. Now 43 percent of them describe themselves as conservative investors, according to a study released in February by management consulting firm Accenture. The Unluckiest Generation: What Will Become of Millennials? | April 26, 2013 | The Atlantic Coming of age in a recession has set back Millennials for decades. The good news? In the age of abundance, they could turn out to be pretty great decades, anyway.  Post-Election Partisanship Among Millennials Deepens, Harvard Poll Finds | April 30, 2013 | Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) A new national poll of America's 18-to 29- year-olds by Harvard's Institute of Politics (IOP), located at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, finds a slight majority (52%) of Millennials overall continuing to approve of the job Barack Obama is doing as President. The poll also finds at no time have young Democrats and Republicans been more divided on President Obama's job performance.    Making Our #MNRising Mark! Don't forget to tag your upcoming emerging leader events, thoughts, musings, and more,#mnrising, on Twitter and Facebook. Let's aggregate and organize ourselves for increased interaction and potential for collaboration!

Copyright © 2013 Minnesota Rising, All rights reserved.

Multitudes

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos 

"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes." 

-Walt Whitman

You're Invited | Social Innovation Lab: From Convening to Transforming

Across Minnesota, there are myriad groups hosting community conversations in effort to build stronger communities. At the upcoming Social Innovation Lab, the discussion will focus on the impact of this approach to community change.What is needed to build on these strategies to lead to powerful and effective action? How can we, as individuals and organizations, build on the convening approach and take it to the next level of impact? Explore these questions and more on with others at the Lab on May 9!

At The Social Innovation Lab Join us in exploring these wicked questions: What does it take to move from convening conversations to transforming communities? How do we move from talking to action that makes a difference? With everything we do at the Lab lately - in meetings, emails, the networking event, informal discussions sitting around a coworking table - these questions have been compelling us. We invite you to join in that discussion, it will be the main focus of the May 9th Lab.

May 9: From Convening to Transforming What does it take to move from convening conversations to transforming communities? How do we move from talking to action that makes a difference? In the past few years in Minnesota there has been an explosion of groups hosting community conversations and dialogue with an intention of building stronger communities. In this Social Innovation Lab, we invite a critical and generative conversation about the impact of this approach to community change. What impact has this kind of conversational leadership led to? What is needed to build on convening to lead to powerful and effective action? For the ecosystem of social innovation in Minnesota, what are next steps in our evolution, that build on the convening approach and take it to the next level of impact?  How can each of us as individuals, organizations and communities move from convening to effective action in our work? What does this mean for whether we convene, and how we convene? Given the depth of experience in Minnesota with convening and hosting, the Lab Leadership Team sees this as a pivotal time to reflect on this kind of conversational leadership to honestly look at benefits, limitations, and opportunities from these approaches. This Lab is for community change makers building sustainable and just communities in Minnesota. All perspectives are needed–from businesses, neighborhoods, the arts, families, spiritual communities, nonprofits, tech, entrepreneurs, policy, and more. We are seeking a combination of long-time social innovators and those who are curious and new to the idea. From Convening to Transforming - The Lab will occur on May 9th from 1:00 to 5 pm at Kagin Commons at Macalester College. Register

Copyright © 2013 Social Innovation Lab, All rights reserved.

You're Invited: Network Buzz Celebrates the Citizens League 60th Anniversary!

Network Buzz is doing what it does best: supporting and connecting great people and great organizations! Join the fun on May 1 to celebrate the Citizens League's 60 years of innovation and imagination for the common good in Minnesota. There'll be cake, games, and plenty of opportunity to make new friends!

To kick off a summer of fun and exploration, Network Buzz Events is hosting an event on May 1, 2013, for local organization Citizens League, as they celebrate 60 years of driving change for the common good in Minnesota. Along with enjoying some birthday cake, we'll learn more about the organization through an interactive game about health in Minnesota, building on a series of workshops that the Citizens League and the Bush Foundation partnered on in 2012. We'll also celebrate our community, and share our thoughts and insights on some of the issues that affect Minnesotans--issues that the Citizens League has been working on for the past sixty years. If you've ever attended a previous event, you know they are fun, engaging, enlightening and informative. We're excited to bring this organization to Network Buzz! We hope you'll join us for this fun and engaging evening. For more information, see the links at the left. And remember: latecomers are always welcome!

You're Invited | Overcoming the Cultural Divide: Donors, Beneficiaries, and Co-Workers

Balancing clients and donors around the globe with varied socioeconomic levels and expectations makes for complex operating environments for international NGOs. In this upcoming MINN workshop, Tyler Zabriskie will host a conversation on managing these different contexts to develop cultural coherence and trust across organizations. Join in to learn more about balancing the needs of all stakeholders in this critical work!

MINN Event: Leading Strategy & Change in Culturally Complex Contexts (4/30)

In this interactive workshop, Tyler Zabriskie will facilitate a lively conversation on leading strategy and change in culturally diverse NGOs. Zabriskie, a senior leader formerly with World Vision and American Refugee Committee, will introduce valuable frameworks for understanding the value proposition for NGOs and for analyzing sub cultures that function within NGOs. This is a must-attend event for anyone that has felt the cultural divide between catering to donor expectations and beneficiary needs.

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You're Invited: MYPEG Happy Hour at Pizza Luce

Join MYPEG at their monthly happy hour and speaker series featuring Anna Kerr of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Celebrate Earth Day by connecting with environmentally-conscious and passionate young professionals, and learn what it takes to turn your passion for the environment into meaningful work!

Our monthly MYPEG happy hour and speaker series is happening  Wednesday, April 24th! Join us at Pizza Luce downtown for cheap drinks and tasty food, and learn more about what it takes to turn your passion for the environment into a job.   April 24th, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.    April Speaker Highlight Anna Kerr, Stormwater-TMDL Coordinator, MPCA Anna has worked for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the past eight years. In her current role she provides regulatory and technical assistance to municipalities on stormwater management geared at achieving the goals of the Clean Water Act. She is also involved in the development and review of Total Maximum Daily Load studies which provide a framework of the actions needed to protect and restore Minnesota's lakes, rivers and streams through the implementation of best management practices. Anna earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science as well as an Associate of Science in Chemical Technology from Lake Superior State University, located in Michigan. Prior to working for the MPCA, Anna worked on emergency response planning, specifically with tribal communities in Minnesota; she also worked as an environmental field chemist focusing on hazardous waste clean-up and disposal. RSVP Today! What: MYPEG April Happy Hour & Speaker When: April 24th, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Where: Pizza Luce Downtown, 119 N 4th Street, 55401                            Save your spot by signing up on our Facebook event! What is MYPEG? We're a group formed to provide opportunities for young, environmentally-minded professionals to get together, network, and have a good time. Join us at our monthly events where environmentally-conscious and passionate people gather to discuss various environmental subjects and hear from colleagues and friends about their work. Together we work to further the issues we care about. We also aim to have a good time while doing it. April MYPEG Happy Hour     Like us on Facebook!

Borrow the earth

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos 

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."

 -Native American Proverb

Accepting Applications: 2013 MCN Annual Conference Call for Proposals

"Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach." -Aristotle. Bring what you know together with what you can teach at the 2013 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Conference. See below for the Call for Proposals and consider what insights and information you can share with your nonprofit colleagues. As an added incentive, your selection as a workshop presenter provides you gratis admission to the North Star Nonprofits: Charting Our True Direction conference!

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) welcomes your proposals for sessions during our 2013 Annual Conference, to be held on October 24-25, 2013, at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) in Duluth, MN.  Submitting a proposal is easy! Simply complete the online proposal form. The deadline to submit a proposal to present at the conference is Friday, April 26, at 5 p.m. About the Conference The 2013 conference theme is North Star Nonprofits: Charting Our True Direction. Minnesota, the North Star State, has long been a national center of nonprofit activity and leadership. Whether finding solutions to entrenched local problems, building community through activism and arts, protecting and restoring the environment, promoting the health and education of underserved citizens or engaging in other charitable activities -- Minnesota's nonprofits are helping the state to chart a path forward. It's the nonprofit community that gives voice to our aspirations and ensures that we, collectively, chart our true direction. This conference will bring together nonprofit leaders and our allies to focus on ways we can embrace inclusion as a powerful strategy for building a stronger Minnesota together. You'll leave with new networks, renewed energy and powerful tools to work in our increasingly complicated world. Information for Presenters As an incentive to encourage your broad participation at the full conference, workshop presenters will be registered for the full conference for free (maximum 3 presenters per session). MCN strongly encourages a maximum of 3 presenters (inclusive of any moderator). Any additional presenters will be required to pay the full conference registration fee, whether or not they attend the full conference. Please note that MCN seeks dynamic workshops that include valuable insights from nonprofit leaders. Workshop proposals from our allies in government agencies and for-profit companies are welcome. However, please note that significant preference will be given to sessions that demonstrate active involvement of nonprofit professionals as session presenters or co-presenters. In order to ensure the highest quality sessions for the conference, the planning committee will place priority on session criteria. Please review the session criteria, available online. Questions? If you have questions about submitting a proposal for the 2013 MCN Annual Conference, please contact Paul Masiarchin, Program Director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits at 651-757-3087 or pmasiarchin@minnesotanonprofits.org. Thank you! Paul Masiarchin Program Director Minnesota Council of Nonprofits  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, All rights reserved.

Accepting Applications: 2013 Clinton Global Initiative America Meeting Volunteers

The Clinton Global Initiative is seeking volunteers for their 3rd annual CGI America meeting. An annual event focused on finding solutions that promote economic recovery in the United States, the gathering brings together leaders from business, foundation, nonprofit, and government sectors. If you're interested in supporting the development of solutions that increase employment, advance access to education and skills development, or strengthen energy security, consider applying to be one of 200 volunteers who help make this event a success!

 

Greetings from the team at the Clinton Global Initiative:  

Planning is well underway for our 3^rd CGI America Meeting, which will take place June 13^th-14^th in Chicago at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, and CGI would like to invite you to join us as a volunteer for the event. Each year over 200 volunteers play an integral role in making CGI America a success. To check out testimonials from past volunteers, click here and look for the Testimonials tab. In addition, we'd like to share a video highlighting the overall volunteer experience and invite you to view this video here. 

We encourage you to join us for this exciting opportunity. Apply here to be a 2013 CGI America Meeting Volunteer: 

·         Select "Register Now" (the green button in the upper right hand corner of the website) to begin the application process. 

·         The application deadline is Friday, April 26^th, 2013. 

The 2013 CGI America Meeting focuses on finding solutions that promote economic recovery in the United States. This working meeting will bring together leaders from the business, foundation, NGO, and government sectors to develop solutions that increase employment, advance access to education and skills development, strengthen energy security, and promote an environment for business growth and innovation. To learn more about the 2013 CGI America Meeting, please visit http://www.cgiamerica.org.

Thank you in advance for applying and donating your time, talents and energy in making the 2013 CGI America Meeting a success! We look forward to receiving your application and appreciate your spirit of volunteerism and service.

You're Invited | Networking Recess: An Artful Departure from Business as Usual

Can you come out and play? YNPN-TC invites you to their upcoming Networking Recess, using elements Give & Take programming and focused on connecting with purpose. Join them for respite from the long, hard winter, to check out the inaugural exhibit at Public Functionary, and for a fun way to get away from the everyday!

You are invited to attend: Networking Recess: An Artful Departure from Business as Usual Tuesday, April 30, 2013 from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Register Now re·cess /ˈrēˌses/ n. (American Heritage Dictionary) 1. A temporary cessation of the customary activities of an engagement, occupation, or pursuit. 2. A remote, secret, or secluded place. Often used in the plural. Whether it's March's legislative recess, kickball after lunch, or hiding away in a "remote, secret, or secluded place," we could all use a break from the daily grind every now and then. Networking is no exception. While typically well-intentioned, it can be awkward, exhausting, and completely superficial. But how do we push past that to reclaim and redefine the term? Join YNPN Twin Cities on April 30 as we set aside our business cards and approach networking as a way to connect with purpose. Using elements from Give and Take, we'll play show and tell – giving you the time, space, and structure to share your passions and network in a more meaningful way. Our interactions on the 30th will center around two questions: What do you know? What do you want to know? We'll ask you to answer these questions when you register, and hope you will reflect between now and the 30th on what you're bringing and looking for from this program. Our recess will be hosted at Public Functionary, a new art space in Northeast Minneapolis. Mingle, play, and check out their inaugural exhibit DZINE: Victory featuring the work of Chicago-based Puerto Rican artist, Carlos Rolon. We'll leave Networking Recess having seen some incredible art, and knowing much more about our fellow attendees than their job title and place of employment. Public Functionary 1400 12th Ave NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 (Entrance on Buchanan & Broadway) Parking is available on-street and in an additional public park lot 2 blocks northwest of the space on Fillmore & 13th. Give & Take, launched by Works Progress in 2009, is an interactive program of presentations, hands-on activities, and socially-focused games. Give & Take taps the know-how of participants, sparking conversation and building relationships across disciplines and social silos.  Public Functionary imagines art patronage in a modern context, responding to current technology, communication and culture to cultivate an evolving community around contemporary art. Public Functionary 1400 12th Avenue Northeast Minneapolis, MN 55413 Attend Event Events powered by EventBrite