CommonGround MN participates in national conference
It has been a spring and summer packed with exciting activities for CommonGround Minnesota, with even more events ahead this fall. One of the highlights from the summer was attending the National CommonGround Conference in June.
Fifty CommonGround state staff and volunteers from around the U.S. gathered in St. Louis, Missouri, for three days of networking and brainstorming about the future of CommonGround. From Minnesota, the two state staff members, Kennedy Janssen and Alyssa O’Sullivan, and volunteer Lauren Biegler made the trip.
The few days in St. Louis had a full agenda and included everything from brainstorming sessions to panels.
The Monday they arrived, attendees spent the evening at a panel featuring four inspirational women from diverse backgrounds who talked about their pathways and plans for the future. These women, who represented the agriculture, culinary, STEM, and athletic sectors, shared obstacles they have faced, how they continue to persevere, and how they have adapted to make their dreams come true.
The audience left feeling inspired by the panel members’ stories and encouraged to share their own passions in life.
After the panel concluded, the attendees were treated to impeccable cuisine from Balkan Treat Box, a food truck and restaurant owned by one of the panelists. It was a beautiful evening of developing connections and relationships among the panelists, volunteers, and staff and reflecting upon how the panelists’ advice can apply to CommonGround. Another highlight for attendees was touring the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, a hub for youth programming run by the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation. Joyner-Kersee, a six-time Olympic track and field medalist, was part of the Monday panel, and she graciously allowed the group into her center.
‘The CommonGround staff and volunteers learned about the foundation and what Joyner-Kersee is striving to achieve. They were privileged to have the opportunity to read books about food and host panel discussions about agriculture with the students at the center.
“It was an incredibly impactful couple of days spent surrounded by strong, powerful, resilient, creative women looking to make a difference and share information about food and agriculture,” O’Sullivan said. “With inspirational panels, an eye-opening community activity, and conversations with like-minded women, we left feeling inspired for what’s to come for CommonGround.”
Volunteers and staff members are looking forward to the next National CommonGround Conference, set for January 2023. To learn more about CommonGround Minnesota, visit commongroundminnesota.com.
