Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation的动态

Teens in Montana are reimagining their relationship with public spaces – and their communities are benefitting as a result. Last week at the National Humanities Conference in Providence, I learned about a wonderful project where young people restored a local park, incorporating native grasses and deepening connections to their Dakota/Nakota heritage. This is just one example from the nonpartisan Democracy Project, an initiative supported by Humanities Montana. In libraries across the state teens develop, research, iterate, and execute projects to improve their communities. Librarians such as Alia Hanson and Lori Smoker, who both shared stories during the session of what "their" kids have achieved, receive training and support from folks like Jenny Bevill and John Knight from Humanities Montana. Their presentation was full of joy and respect for teens and their energy, drive, perseverance, and collaboration. There are two elements of this initiative that I find most important: first, teens are given complete agency to decide on their project. The librarians help and support but do not direct the projects; and second, the networking and collaboration among librarians with support from Montana Humanities has enabled the program to spread to all four corners of the state. These are not hugely expensive programs to design or run, yet they have enormous impact on the teens involved as well as the communities who benefit from the teens' work. it seems like a no-brainer: every state should be doing this! There was one question mark. Where are the boys? Most of the teens who sign up for the projects are girls. The gender imbalance in civic engagement programs like this one reflects a broader, national pattern of civic disengagement among young men. While teens in The Democracy Project have complete freedom to design their own initiatives--from park restoration to technology solutions-- the challenge lies in getting more young men through the library doors in the first place. Meeting them where they already gather might help. I’m thinking, for instance, that? sports coaches or local veterans might be more effective at recruiting boys than a library flyer alone. Boys might also be swayed if they learn that the program could have practical benefits for themselves, not just their communities, such as that it could help them land a job or improve their college applications.? What other ideas do people have for engaging teen boys in civic life? National Humanities Alliance Federation of State Humanities Councils Rhode Island Council for the Humanities? #studentagency #democracy #pbl #projectbasedlearning

How does history move you? Introducing: History Moves Us Forward! I'm proud to be a part of the National Civil Rights Museum;s next chapter, inspired by MLK's timeless words: "If you can't fly, then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward." History moves me forward by igniting a fire within me to stand up for what's right, even when it's hard. But this isn't just about us—we're proud to include everyone in this journey. Calling all history enthusiasts, activists, educators, journalists—your stories matter. Share your experiences using #HistoryMovesUsForward and tag National Civil Rights Museum. Let's shape the future together. This video is just a snippet! To see the full version, run—don't walk—to the National Civil Rights Museum page! #HistoryMovesUsForward #NCRM

Youth in Civic Spaces project @1. The platform championing meaningful involvement of young people in public life. Making the voices and feelings of young people count in how they are governed by ensuring they are part and parcel of governance and decision making processes. As the architects of tomorrow’s world, young people must be supported to pursue their dreams relentlessly. There's no doubt that those dreams can revolutionalise the world because every young person carries the potential for greatness. Therefore if we truly believe in the adage, the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams then we have a duty to nudge them into the path of excellence.

I am really amazed this is free! Awesome lineup of speakers and topics from the Smithsonian Institution for educators!! For my #sustainability educators and #GreenSchools, check out the following sessions you can attend virtually for free: ??Educating for sustainable development: a teacher’s perspective ??Inclusivity in environmental education ??Environmental justice: leaders through community ??Stories of women in STEM ??Youth as agents of change in their community ??Cross-content approaches to youth climate action

The ARTS are integral to all our lives: in education, spARTS (sports), business, manufacturing, science, social services AND justice, youth development, health/wellness- register now for The Business of Art Conference III while the price is super low for 2.5 days to add Fuel to the Fire: Imagine. Create. Execute. March 9, Friday opening Keynote Address from Dr. Roberto Rivera Turning Pain to Propane: Art and Activism as Vehicles for Post Traumatic Growth In this talk Dr. Rivera discusses the current historical moment and how there is an increase in traumatic stress due to COVID 19 and racial injustice. He discusses how research in post traumatic growth points to the importance for individuals and communities to engage in storytelling, artistic expression, and community organizing to help them turn painful experiences into purpose and growth. Using a combination of research and his own storytelling, Dr. Rivera will leave audience members informed and inspired. www.dablmarket.com

"Museums can play a vital role in creating 'age-friendly' communities that support physical activity, social connection, and intellectual stimulation, as well as providing pathways for elders to con-tribute to their communities and to following generations." That being said, museums can also help us confront and disrupt ageism by creating exhibits showing how age has been depicted in art throughout cultures and history, helping us to question if our traditional perceptions have been valid or need reexamination and reform. https://lnkd.in/giVzz5wR

This afternoon I sat in virtually on the "Leveraging Digital Media to Promote Civic Dialogue" session at the Smithsonian National Education Summit. It was inspiring to learn about the Digital Democratic Dialogue Project where classrooms of high school students in different parts of the country join together to learn about each other with the goal of having civic conversations. https://lnkd.in/ei3Mq6WQ The presenters shared that a key to the success of the program is that they build in time up front for students to really get to know each other and talk about personal interests before diving into civic topics. This creates a safer space to open up and share thoughts. The "Dialogue Supports" mentioned in the session sound like ones we can all use in museum education classrooms and everyday life: When talking with someone, try using the "4 C's" for better conversations: Care Connection Community Curiosity Gratitude: What are you thankful your group member shared? Bridge: How did this make you think about similarities or differences between your life and your group member's life? Question: What do you want to ask your group member?

?Research on camp! ??? Research in the camp space can teach us so much about how to evaluate program quality and foster positive development in youth. ???? I had the opportunity to see Victoria Povilaitis, PhD at work during my time at Tims Camps. It's been great to follow the development of her research. Camps and out of school programming can have such a transformational impact on youth. It's exciting to see that intentional steps are being taken to better understand this impact, it's limits, and how to break down key concepts of camp like "hope" and "fun". ???? The knowledge we gain from researching camp can inform all kinds of program building...I will definitely be tuning into this podcast to learn more. ???? #programquality #camp

#BreakingNews ?? The 'Reimagine Libraries Roundtable: Sparking Collaboration for Innovation to Tackle Libraries’ 21st Century Challenges' is now available to watch online on our #YouTube channel! Get ready to learn why #libraries are much more than quiet places for reading and study – they are dynamic cultural institutions that play an essential role in promoting social inclusion, fostering cultural awareness, and supporting sustainable development. As vital hubs of learning, they are uniquely positioned to help tackle some of the most pressing challenges faced by society in the 21st century. These challenges, many of which are shared with other cultural institutions like museums and galleries, demand innovation and collaboration on an unprecedented scale. #librarin_eu

Among the many lessons reinforced over the past few years is the critical role our cultural institutions – from our museums and parks to science centers and the performing arts – play in American life. But with arts, culture, and humanities giving comprising just 5% of total philanthropy in the U.S., organizations must rethink the way they engage their supporters. Read our latest article by Changing Our World's Senior Managing Director, Nicholas Walsh, and learn about the four key trends and tips for arts and culture nonprofits in 2024: https://lnkd.in/eEHAg9cT