Ashoka Summer Series with InCommons

For four nights this summer, a collection of the Twin Cities’ most energetic and innovative thinkers will speak and engage participants in interactive activities, storytelling and practical approaches for understanding changemaking within the context of four critical spheres:

Self, Family & Friends, Neighborhood and Institutions.

Through evenings fueled by food, drinks and conversation, participants will leave with new insights, actionable resources and concrete tools to help you catalyze changemaking within your own circles of influence.

Heavy appetizers and two drink tickets per person are included with registration.

One session: $10.00

Bundle price for all 4 sessions: $30.00 (Bonus: You will be entered to win a copy of Ashoka's new book Rippling!)

Want to attend for free?  We're open to a swap, skillshare or volunteer arrangement.  Email smyers@ashoka.org.

 Self: Finding the Changemaker Within (Completed)

Tuesday July 10th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

What does it take to bring big and small solutions to life in a rapidly changing world? Self: Finding the Changemaker Within will feature personal stories from local leaders who have developed powerful solutions from their own life experiences. Through conversation and interactive activites, they'll challenge you to imagine and contribute to change. Featuring:

Hussein Samatar, Founder of the African Development Center of Minnesota.

Sona Mehring, Founder and CEO of CaringBridge 

Danny Schwartzman, Founder of Common Roots Cafe

Rose McGee, Professional Storyteller and Educator with the Minnesota Humanities Center

Family & Friends: Cultivating Changemaker Circles (Completed)

Tuesday, July 17th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Have your friends and family caught the changemaking bug? Family & Friends: Changemaker Circles will provide insights into ways each of us can build relationships on a foundation of empathy and work to cultivate changemaking in our own circle of family and/or friends. Featuring:

Irene Fernando & Brian Peterson, Co-Founders of Students Today Leaders Forever

Kate Towle, Freesia Towle and Kiah Zellner-Smith, Co-Founders of Project s.t.a.r.t. Leadership

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer Assistant Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas

Terrie Rose, Ashoka Fellow and Founder of Baby's Space

Neighborhood: Unleashing Changemaker Communities (Completed)

Tuesday, July 24th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and make an impact in your own backyard? Neighborhood: Unleashing Changemaker Communities will feature storytellers from the Powderhorn neighborhood and reveal ways to spark and sustain a culture of changemaking in the places we live. Featuring:

Loren Niemi, Executive Director of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

Wing Young Huie, Photographer, The University Avenue Project, Lake Street USA

Ephraim Eusebio, Artist and Realtor, Powderhorn Park

Becky Timm, Executive Director, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association

Jay Walljasper, Author of The Great Neighborhood Book

Institutions: Changemaking from the Inside Out

Tuesday, July 31st  from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

How do the institutions you care about empower their stakeholders to act as changemakers? Institutions: Changemaking from the Inside Out will include stories and insights into how to lead change within organizations and systems (e.g., business, education, faith communities, or local government) as a 'social intrapreneur.'  Featuring:

Angela Watts, Project Director of the Minneapolis Department of Health & Family Support, Twin Cities Healthy Start

Pam Moret, President and CEO of brightpeak financial and Senior Vice President at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Brian Rusche, Executive Director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition

 in partnership with

Beer provided by Finnegans