Wellness and Creativity Activities

While MCN is excited to have such a wide array of learning opportunities at this year’s conference, we also recognize the need for each of us to smile, be well, reflect, and flex our creativity muscles. To that end, we’re pleased to offer the following Wellness and Creativity stops throughout both days of the conference.

When you’re not building skills, establishing friendships, and finding solutions for your work, we hope you’ll take some time to have some fun and practice self-care!

Pre-conference Guided Tour of Chief Buffalo Memorial Mural at Gitchi-Ode' Aiing Park (A Grand Heart Place)  

Wednesday, September 20, 10-10:45 a.m. 

Before making your way to the conference registration table, join Duluth artist and the program manager for the Chief Buffalo Memorial Mural Moira Villiard for a morning of learning the history and present-day impact of Chief Buffalo and the Treaty of 1854 on the preservation of Ojibwe homelands and Native and non-Native people’s access to the land on which Duluth rests. Villiard will shed light on the collaborative team of Indigenous artists, nonprofits, and Tribal entities that supported the eventual blossoming of the mural while also speaking to the power and challenges of making public art in Duluth and beyond. 

The tour will begin at the Duluth Lakewalk at Gichi-ode’ Akiing Park. There will be an MCN staff or conference committee member greeting people with a sign and smile. The site is accessible on foot or by wheelchair and is an approximately 11-minute walk/roll to the Duluth Entertainment and Conference Center (DECC), or a 3-minute drive.  

Registration is required, and participation is limited to 40 people. To RSVP, please follow the link in your registration confirmation email or register on the conference website. 

Open Space Networking Session  

Wednesday, September 20, 3:45-5:00 p.m. during Round II breakouts, Saint Louis River Room 

Are you hungry for opportunities to network but intimidated by a blank page? Try Open Space! Open Space is a liberating structure that allows the content and construction to emerge organically, rather than in a prescribed manner.  

The rules are very simple: 

  • Whoever comes are the right people. 

  • Whatever happens is the only thing that could have. 

  • Whenever it starts is the right time. 

  • Whenever it's over, it's over. 

  • Wherever it happens is the right place. 

Under the broad theme of "Making Waves, Breaking Barriers", you'll be given the opportunity to surface topics and gather in discussion groups to create connections and forge alliances. The goal is to spark conversation rather than complete a unit of work.  

Kick off your social hour early with table topics of your own making and let the magic happen! 

For more information about Open Space Technology, visit: artofhosting.org/what-is-aoh/methods/open-space-technology/ 

Movement and Energy: Qigong with Seth Currier 

Wednesday, September 20, 1:30-1:50 p.m. & Thursday, September 21, 8:30-8:50 a.m. and 1:30-1:50 p.m., Saint Louis River Room 

Join Seth Currier, certified qigong practice group leader and the executive director of the Damiano Center in Duluth for a 20-minute qigong session. These short sessions will assist you in re-centering, breathing, and gently moving your body in order to help regulate in between sessions. No experience is necessary, and you may choose to practice standing or seated in a chair or on the floor.  

For more information about the presenter, visit www.svalja.yoga/yogaguides. 

For more information about qigong, visit www.springforestqigong.com/what-is-qigong

Drop-in Artmaking Activity 

Thursday, September 21, 12–4:30 p.m., Exhibitor Showcase

Join a local artist for an all-levels-welcome artmaking activity that you can dip in and out of during the second day of the conference if you desire a change of pace and would like to light up your brain outside the breakout session space. 

Briand Morrison Live  

Wednesday, September 20, 5-6 p.m., Social Hour  

As we wrap up the first day of the conference, we will be serenaded by Grand Portage jazz great Briand Morrison who will play a set during the evening social hour. Grab a beverage, have some food, and move between listening to Morrison’s music and talking with new or longtime friends. 

For more information about Briand Morrison, visit www.briandmorrison.com.

Canal Park with Cam! 

Wednesday, September 20, 6:10 – 8:45 p.m., Various locations 

The social hour is over, but you are still feeling social. You are in luck! Join Cam Kruger, for a “pub and grub crawl or roll” in the Canal Park District. If you’d like to hit the pavement with a few of your new best friends, gather in the DECC’s lobby by the conference registration table at 6:10 p.m. on Wednesday following the social hour and begin your adventure with Duluthian and nonprofit enthusiast Cam. The evening will include three stops before returning to the DECC at 8:45 p.m. All told, you will cover about 1.6 miles on your journey, which will unfold as follows: 

  • 6:10 p.m. - Gather in the DECC's lobby by the Conference Registration Table 

  • 6:30 - 7 p.m. - Vikre Distillery, 525 S Lake Ave #102, Duluth, MN 55802 

  • 7:10 - 7:40 p.m. - Hoops Brewing, 325 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802 

  • 7:45 - 8:30 p.m. - Canal Park Brewing, 300 Canal Park Dr, Duluth, MN 55802 

  • 8:45 p.m. Arrive back at the DECC 

 
Participants will need to cover their own food and beverage. Walking directions map is here:  https://goo.gl/maps/QdWCtu8EiagvgWki7

Quiet Time Please 

Wednesday, September 20 & Thursday, September 21 (Drop-in) 

There will be several areas reserved for quiet down time. If you need a break, please take one.