I am honored to be invited to talk about my memoir, Wild Things: A Trans-Glam-Punk-Rock Love Story, with my spouse Venus de Mars on Transgender Day of Visibility. The book chronicles our personal stories of what it was like to be trans in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, before…
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As a historian of Black history, I have spent much of my career drawing attention to people, places, and events that get left out of the textbooks. While I am happy to talk off anyone’s ear who will listen, my job is made exponentially easier by having options for sharing…
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In October of 2022, MHC partnered with Robin Hickman-Winfield of SoulTouch Productions and The Ordway Theater to form A Vision Trust of Black Men. Robin’s vision is a group of Black men committed to uplifting the Black community and embracing the legacies of Black Veterans. In February 2023, The Ordway will…
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In October of 2022, MHC partnered with Robin Hickman-Winfield of SoulTouch Productions and The Ordway Theater to form A Vision Trust of Black Men. Robin’s vision is a group of Black men committed to uplifting the Black community and embracing the legacies of Black Veterans. In February 2023, The Ordway…
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Háŋ! Boozhoo! Welcome to Native American Heritage Month! This period of recognition, reflection, and celebration is set aside by the U.S. Federal government to recognize the Indigenous peoples of this place, who governed themselves as citizens of many sovereign nations, long before European colonizers were intent upon living here. In…
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I am excited about Minnesota Humanities Center leadership and for making the We Are Water MN (WAW) program available to partner-host sites across the state. I want to share a bit about our experience at UMN Morris. The We Are Water program was an important catalyst for our community to…
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A learning pair at the Jane Addams School Social movements don’t gain momentum automatically. People must be equipped for leadership and action. Too often this formative work is overshadowed by the headline-making events it makes possible. Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on women democracy educators…
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“Most students report that they want their post-college lives to be personally rewarding and publicly meaningful.” What does it mean to live in a democracy? This question confronts all peoples aspiring to a life of liberty, security, and dignity. For those living in a political…
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The nation witnessed in horror and heard Mr. George Floyd’s plea, “I can’t breathe” and with his last dying breath, his call out for his “Mama.” That was May 2020 and all eyes were on Minnesota. At Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC), we struggled with how and even when to respond…
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James L. Peterson, who served on the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) Board of Directors from 2009 to 2018, died on October 30, 2021. In May 2018 he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and lived an almost unheard-of additional three and a half years. Jim brought to the MHC…
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