July 2024 News & Updates

Our region and state are made stronger by the powerful and creative artists and culture bearers who help us envision and move us toward a more just and connected future. ?Even at a young age, as a Vietnamese American growing up in Minnesota, there was an unease regarding the great books and comics I and my friends read, or the plays I saw, which didn’t represent or include people like me and my family. I didn’t have the tools or vocabulary to articulate or understand this discomfort.

Ethnically-specific arts and culture organizations like Theater Mu are are helping change that. They are not just about representation. They’re about an intervention—creating space for difficult conversations and complex stories, nurturing Asian American art and artists, and broadening the lens of what it means to be Asian American.

By providing space and support for Asian American artists like me to write, produce, and act in Asian American stories, they are modeling a pathway forward for a more sustainable, vibrant, and expansive arts ecosystem for all across our region and beyond.

We’re excited to highlight Theater Mu and their incredible work in our recent story, Theater Mu’s Stage of Justice, Power, and Community (featured below).

In collaboration,

Bao Phi

Program Officer

Arts & Culture

Theater Mu’s Stage of Justice, Power, and Community

For over three decades, Theater Mu has occupied a critical space in the landscape of arts and culture across the Twin Cities: producing, funding, and cultivating art situated at the heart of the Asian American experience. See the story.

With New Roles, McKnight Program Team Members Sharpen Opportunities for Impact

We are excited to announce that?Ben Goldfarb, Sarah Christiansen, and Ben Passer are assuming new positions within the Foundation to enhance our ability to deliver on our highest expression of mission at the intersection of climate change and racial equity. Learn more.

McKnight Welcomes Liz Olson as Senior Program Officer, Strengthening Democratic Participation

We are pleased to announce that Liz Olson (she/her) has joined the McKnight Foundation as our new Strengthening Democratic Participation senior program officer. Liz’s role will be pivotal in integrating democratic participation as a key factor in all areas of our work, ensuring strategic alignment across the Foundation in our efforts to create durable systems change in Minnesota and beyond for people and our planet. Read more about Liz.

Press Forward Minnesota Launches to Strengthen Local News and Journalism

We were thrilled to host the launch event for Press Forward Minnesota last week, marking our collective commitment to fostering robust local journalism across our state. With $6 million already secured, Press Forward is building significant momentum. We're grateful to each of the community partners, collaborators, funders, and courageous characters making this work possible. Learn more.

News & Updates

FEDERAL CLIMATE SYMPOSIUM: McKnight VP of Programs Neeraj Mehta on How Philanthropy Can Help Transform the Transportation Sector

REPORT: Standing in the Gap: The Case for Family Sustaining Wages in Minnesota

NEUROSCIENCE AWARDS: McKnight Announces 2024 McKnight Scholar Awards

NEUROSCIENCE AWARDS: McKnight Announces 2024 Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Awards

GRANT HIGHLIGHTS: Check out some of the powerful organizations we supported recently

SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow McKnight Foundation on Instagram!

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