Minneapolis Public Schools

This is a fact-based lecture history of African Americans in the U.S. since 1619. Class is participatory, examining contemporary problems of American history most of us were never taught. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist as we will likely add additional sections.

Join us for our first book club session with Historian, Civil Rights Attorney and Author Dr. Artika Tyner as we discuss "Ghana - A Place I Call Home" and Dr. Tyner's book "Amazing Africa A to Z". "Ghana - A Place I Call Home": Through the power of storytelling, Samuel and his grandpa experience the essence of Sankofa. Sankofa means “go back and fetch it.” It also means “we must return to the source.” In Ghana: A Place I Call Home, Samuel embarks on a journey of self-discovery. His grandpa teaches him about his home, Ghana, and shares key lessons about history and culture. Written by Monica Habia, award-winning author and proud Ghanaian. Ghana: A Place I Call Home is the inspiring story of a young boy embracing his cultural history, heritage, and roots. Dr. Tyner will also share about her work in Ghana. Here is the link to her upcoming trip this summer to Ghana 2026: Back to My Roots. July 2-11 for those who are interested in joining her! "Amazing Africa: A to Z": Amazing Africa: A to Z is a fun and resourceful book that takes children and even adults on a visual journey throughout the continent of Africa. Readers will visit the pinnacle of Mount Kilimanjaro, learn a few new words in Swahili and Twi while exploring Africa’s rich natural resources. The purpose of the book is to aid in learning about the most important and intriguing facts about Africa. With the turn of each page, the authors help to bridge the knowledge gap that exists about the continent. Each page is filled with key facts about the fastest growing population in the world. The book will inspire the next generation to learn more about Amazing Africa and become global citizens. Books available to purchase through Dr. Tyner's non-profit Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute. If the event is sold out, please add your name to the waitlist. We will let you know if spots become available.

Join us for our second book club session with Historian, Civil Rights Attorney and Author Dr. Artika Tyner as we discuss "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Link to purchase the book. Link to Dr. Tyner's non-profit Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute. If the event is sold out, please add your name to the waitlist. We will let you know if spots become available.

Do you dream of strolling through Claude Monet’s garden? Are you moved by Mary Cassatt’s tender depictions of mothers with their children? Do the ballerina paintings of Edgar Degas make you want to get up dance? We will break down what makes Impressionism so special and how it paved the way for Modern Art. We’ll also discuss why the Impressionists were despised in their own time, only to become beloved heroes of art history.

Film is art (and entertainment). You'll watch great films at home, directed by men and women, modern, black and white, American, foreign, and then meet to discuss the story, themes, and cinematic technique. A subscription to Criterion Collection streaming service will be required. 1st movie to watch ahead of class will be sent a week prior to the beginning of class.

Come join in an evening examination about sustainable community organizing methods methods and practices. Learn about different organizing styles that highlight different tools in the toolkit that could be applied to current efforts. This class is participatory so bring your best thinking on how to grow community strength and power. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

This four-part class will examine “How do we effectively bring our community together to achieve our mutual goals? How can we sustain community effectiveness over time?” Come join our class to learn different community organizing methods and practices. Grounded in the philosophy that “we are all teachers and we are all learners,” each participant will come with a project in mind that they want to apply new skills to, whether that is a block club, a mutual aid project, a community event, or a community organizing campaign. Each session will include participatory exercises that practice a skill such as community organizing plan, 1-on-1s, issue identification, root cause analysis, and figuring out systems. Each session will include participants sharing their community organizing concepts and/or project. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available. This class is priced on a sliding fee scale. Please pay the price you are able. This helps to ensure that Community Education can provide quality opportunities for all of our participants.

Slide into the history of America's Pastime. Learn the stories that made baseball what it is today and how that history reflects and has shaped our country. Through videos and discussion, chart the course of the sport from Abner Doubleday to Shohei Otani.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s in Ft. Pierce, Florida, a group of African American artists emerged who traveled the state selling their paintings out of the trunks of their cars. Mostly self-taught, these painters were not only talented in their craft but also in the art of sales and marketing. This very special presentation celebrates The Highwaymen, a group of 25 men and one woman, who revolutionized the way art was made and sold in the 20th century. With a focus on the unique, dream-like Florida environment, these artists used bold colors and dramatic brushwork to convey deep emotions, creating a lasting nostalgia for a land lost to time and memory. Note: The date in the printed catalog is incorrect. The correct date is March 9th.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery City bus to a white person. Park's arrest and prosecution led to the years-long Montgomery Bus Boycott. A young preacher, Martin Luther King Jr. headed the Montgomery Improvement Association which organized the boycott. By February the boycott was having a financial impact on the city. To blunt the boycott's effect the city indicted Martin Luther King Jr. and 88 others for interfering in the lawful operation of business. Represented by Fred Gray and a team of Montgomery attorneys, King contested his prosecution. Governor John Patterson, a vocal segregationist, angry at the outcome of the boycott had King investigated for income tax evasion. In 1960, the state of Alabama tried Martin Luther King, Jr. for income tax evasion. This little known but spiteful prosecution's purpose was to bring down the civil rights leader. Presenter: James Fleming practiced law in Minnesota for 35 years before his recent retirement, 22 of those years as a public defender. He served as the chief public defender for the 15 counties of the Fifth Judicial District in southwest Minnesota, based in Mankato, and later for the Second Judicial District (Ramsey County).

Portraits do more than depict a person… they send a message. Together we will demystify the self-portraits of some of the world’s most fascinating painters, including Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Frida Kahlo. We’ll also uncover mysteries hidden in the portraits of powerful people from history including Marie Antoinette, Andy Warhol, and Michelle Obama. Some of the artists we’ll discuss will include Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, Alice Neel, Amy Sherald, and more!

Curious about how finance works in the Muslim world? Get an accessible introduction to the principles, history, and modern practice of Islamic Finance. Explore how Islamic law shapes banking, investment, and everyday money management. Whether you’re interested in global business, interfaith understanding, or just want to learn something new, this session will help you appreciate the unique values and practical tools of Islamic Finance in today’s world.