Creative Community Leadership Institute announces 2022 cohort with 55 participants from 36 communities

Saint Paul & Fergus Falls, MN, Rapid City, SD – Racing Magpie and Springboard for the Arts are excited to announce the 2022 cohort of the Creative Community Leadership Institute (CCLI). CCLI is an intensive, in-person, cohort-based training program with real-world practice for artists, culture bearers, community organizers, community development practitioners, and other leaders seeking to deepen their impact in creative community building. This new group has 55 participants from 36 communities across Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and the 23 Native Nations that share that same geography.

Participants are in three cohorts to support their learning and development. Cohorts begin meeting in May 2022 and will meet throughout the year, in-person twice and once virtually. The West Cohort specifically supports Native participants in part by being located in Native communities, nations, or tribal land.

“Our region is full of incredible leaders,” says Racing Magpie Director Peter Strong. “It is so exciting to see this latest group of them coming together to center artists, creativity, and a critical lens in rethinking community change and growth in their communities. The CCLI experience is offered so that each of them will feel better equipped and connected to succeed.”

“What a wonderful thing it is to assemble these diverse groups of creatives, artists, and organizers,” notes Ricardo Beaird, Springboard for the Arts Community Development Director. “This learning space provides inspiration, connection, and resources for these creative leaders to make powerful impacts in their communities.”

CCLI is co-led by Racing Magpie (Rapid City, SD) and Springboard for the Arts (St. Paul and Fergus Falls, MN). CCLI is made possible through generous support from the Bush Foundation. See the full list of participants below, or read more on the CCLI website: https://www.creativecommunityinstitute.org/meet-the-2022-cohorts

For more information, contact ccli@springboardforthearts.org, or to arrange interviews or other media availability, please contact Carl Atiya Swanson, Associate Director, Operations & Communications at 651-292-3205 or carl@springboardforthearts.org.

PARTICIPANT LIST

East Cohort – hosted at the Cloquet Forestry Center

Amanda Strauss, Fargo, ND

Amir Najam, Duluth, MN

Andi Cheney, South Minneapolis, MN

Dawn Tevis, Winona, MN

Diana Oestreich, Duluth, MN

Falcon Gott, Minneapolis, MN

Hillary Lor, The East Side of Saint Paul, MN

Katey DeCelle, St. Paul, MN

Lisa Poje Angelos

Luke Viscusi, Duluth, MN

Marcia Ratliff, Winona, MN

Mary Taris, North Minneapolis, MN

Michelle de Leon, Center, ND

Moira (Miri) Villiard, Duluth, MN

Narate Keys, Saint Paul, MN

O. Robinson / Mixologist, Camden Neighborhood, MN

Priscilla Mayowa, Brooklyn Park, MN

Purpose Madison, Saint Paul, MN

Sharon Mansur, Winona/Keoxa, Mni Sota Makoce, Dakota land

Wisdom Young, Minneapolis, MN

Central Cohort – hosted at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks

Alanna Morris, Saint Paul, MN

Allison Jones, Saint Paul, MN

Angela Zonunpari, Sioux Falls, SD

Awanigiizhik Bruce, Mikinaak-Wajiw Anishinaabe Ishkoniganing indoonjibaa, Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation

Azania Tripp, Saint Cloud & Minneapolis, MN

Christy M Goulet, Dilworth, MN

Dustina Gill, Lake Traverse Reservation

Elliza Mollman, Near Vermillion, SD

Geraldine Ambe, Bismark, ND

Gunnar Carlson, Minneapolis, MN

Hedy Tripp, Saint Cloud, MN

Jeni O'Malley, Central Rondo Neighborhood of Saint Paul, MN

Jt ShiningOne Side, Turtle Mountain reservation. Dunseith, North Dakota

Judy Larson, Lemmon, SD and Adams County, ND

Kayla Schmidt, Bismarck, ND

Kurtis L Moose, Dilworth, MN

Lindsey Audrey, Hibbing, MN

Maria Ervasti, Central Minnesota

Matthew Wuorinen, West Fargo, ND

Nancy Devine, Grand Forks, ND

Not_hideuhs, West Fargo, ND

Seraphia Gravelle (Aguallo), Chisholm, MN

Shawna Marion, Flasher, ND

Steven Lemke, Saint Joseph, MN

West Cohort – hosted at Racing Magpie, Rapid City

Chance Renville, Martin, SD

Dakota Eagle, Cannonball, ND

Danny Grassrope, Lower Brule, SD

Dawn Moves Camp, Wanblee, SD

Gusti Rattling Hawk, Wambli, SD

Jaida Grey Eagle, St. Paul, MN

Josie Green, Martin, SD

Kyle Mesteth, The Pine Ridge Rez

Kolette Medicine, Fort Yates, ND

Lora Catches, Pine Ridge, SD

Marie "Shasha" Zephier, Pine Ridge, SD

Melanie Moniz (Mapaakookoohka'Miihe - Butterfly Woman), Twin Buttes, MHA Nation (ND)

Ramona Herrington, Rapid City SD

Randy Hughes, Rapid City SD

Robert Bordeaux, Ikpisaƞla Wakpa Community (Mission) on the Rosebud Reservation

Santana Young Man Afraid Of His Horses, Pine Ridge Reservation

Selena Olvera, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

Sky Bird Woman Black Owl, Sicangu Makoce

Tatanka Maza, Standing Rock

Teri Bauerly, Belle Fourche, SD

Thomasina TopBear, Minneapolis, MN

Viola Waln, Parmelee, SD

About the host organizations

Racing Magpie is a Lakota-centric arts and culture organization, founded in 2015 in Rapid City, South Dakota, to center the Lakota practice of being a good relative in everything that one does. Racing Magpie's work is focused on elevating and amplifying the ongoing work of community-based artists and culture bearers. Racing Magpie operates on a firm philosophy that art is the nexus and engine for all sorts of quality human engagement - difficult conversations, cultural understanding, physical and emotional healing, community building, creativity, and the enhancement of everyday life.

Springboard for the Arts is a national leader in creative community development. Our approach is rooted in the principles of community organizing and focuses on a "lots of little" strategy that surfaces unrecognized leaders in communities, builds public narratives from a multiplicity of perspectives and voices; and creates low-risk opportunities for collaboration. This equity-based model centers the lives and experiences of the people in and of the place; values the relationships, partnerships, and creative capacity that artists and communities build together and aims to build power and agency for individuals, neighborhoods and communities. We deliver programs locally and catalyze action nationally by sharing our adaptable strategies through free toolkits, consulting services, workshops and trainings.