Join colleagues from Minnesota and Iowa for connection, resource-sharing, and idea generation around civic and community engagement.
This gathering brought together community leaders and civic engagement professionals to learn skills and techniques for helping students to connect across differences, and to facilitate inclusive and participatory problem-solving.
Sue Rivera, President, Macalester College
Our network gatherings focus on bringing our coalition together to participate in workshops or facilitated discussions while also creating an informal space to learn from and share with peers. Our coalition has voiced that these informal connection spaces are one of the most valuable aspects of their membership and have generated partnerships, ideas, and ongoing conversations across our network. Gatherings are open to faculty, staff, students, and campus and community partners. They are coordinated in both states as well as online during the winter months, and typically include the option for a catered lunch when held in person.
Upcoming Gatherings
The Seed Coalition board and staff have committed to holding conversations and working groups this fall focused on the 2024 election. Our scheduled conversations are an opportunity for everyone on our member campuses to come together, share best practices, prepare, and react.
For Senior Leaders
The Seed Coalition board will lead a series of three discussions intended for presidents, chancellors, and other senior leaders on our member campuses. All sessions will take place on Zoom.
- August 8 at 10:00 AM – Register Here: This session will highlight the stories of a diverse set of Seed Coalition campuses and how they are preparing to engage their campuses for the 2024 elections. There will also be significant time for discussion.
- September 12 at 4:00 PM – Register Here: This session is an opportunity to share and discuss what leaders are observing within their campus community early in semester.
- November 19 at 3:00 PM – Register Here: Attendees will reflect with their peers on what happened on their campuses, what we learned, and how we prepare for the 2026 election.
For Staff and Faculty
Seed Coalition staff will facilitate discussions intended to support faculty and staff who are engaging with students during this election season. The sessions, designed to offer concrete strategies and takeaways, will build on one another but each are also relevant on their own.
All sessions will take place on Zoom.
- August 9 at 10:00 AM – Register Here: This session will provide time to reflect more deeply on how we want to show up as leaders and educators during this challenging season.
- August 13 at 10:00 AM – Register Here: This session will be focused on a planning exercise for turning ideas and goals into a clear path forward for the semester.
- September 19 at 3:00 PM – Register Here: This session will provide a space to discuss concrete strategies and tools for helping students think critically about where they get their information and how they form opinions.
We anticipate adding additional sessions in the future. If you have ideas for topics, please
reach out to Kara Trebil-Smith.
You can find more information and resources on the 2024 Election page.
If you have questions about this event or would like to suggest ideas for future network gatherings, please reach out to Kara Trebil-Smith.
