“Changing the Narrative: Empowering Stories”
MnWE 2022
Minnesota Writing & English (www.MnWE.org) is partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) for our 2022 conference, so this year’s theme, “Changing the Narrative: Empowering Stories,” spotlights the Humanities. Whether we teach Composition, Literature, or Creative Writing–or we serve students in tutoring centers or libraries–stories frame student and teacher identities, infuse the texts we explore, and inspire our students' and our own writing.
Recent events–from the pandemic and its economic dislocations, social injustices and responses to them, to disruptions of our sense of America in both domestic and foreign arenas–we are compelled to reassess our controlling cultural narratives and forge new stories to shape paths forward. How are you and your students and/or colleagues transforming personal, professional, or communal narratives?
Last year’s online-only conference was a great success. We’d like to repeat that and also enjoy the opportunities of meeting in a physical space. As a result, we are organizing a conference that is both online and in-person. In addition, we plan on using, once again, the discussion-intensive roundtable breakouts and plenaries that worked so well last year.
Recent events–from the pandemic and its economic dislocations, social injustices and responses to them, to disruptions of our sense of America in both domestic and foreign arenas–we are compelled to reassess our controlling cultural narratives and forge new stories to shape paths forward. How are you and your students and/or colleagues transforming personal, professional, or communal narratives?
Last year’s online-only conference was a great success. We’d like to repeat that and also enjoy the opportunities of meeting in a physical space. As a result, we are organizing a conference that is both online and in-person. In addition, we plan on using, once again, the discussion-intensive roundtable breakouts and plenaries that worked so well last year.
2022 Schedule
THURSDAY, APRIL 7
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome and Coffee Klatch
10:30 – 11:45 PLENARY: We are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice Authors
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:15 – 2:30 Breakout Session A
2:45 – 4:00 Breakout Session B
4:10 – 5:00 Walking tour of St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner at Minnesota Humanities Commission
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
9:00 – 9:30 Welcome and Coffee Klatch
9:40 – 10:55 Breakout Session C
11:00 – 12:15 PLENARY: Changing the Narrative through Generational Lenses
12:20 – 1:20 Lunch and Poetry Reading
1:30 – 2:45 Breakout Session D
2:55 – 4:10 Breakout Session E
4:15 – 5:00 Closing Session & MnWE Meeting
5:00 – 6:00 Order-in Pizza at MHC (all welcome!)
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome and Coffee Klatch
10:30 – 11:45 PLENARY: We are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice Authors
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:15 – 2:30 Breakout Session A
2:45 – 4:00 Breakout Session B
4:10 – 5:00 Walking tour of St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner at Minnesota Humanities Commission
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
9:00 – 9:30 Welcome and Coffee Klatch
9:40 – 10:55 Breakout Session C
11:00 – 12:15 PLENARY: Changing the Narrative through Generational Lenses
12:20 – 1:20 Lunch and Poetry Reading
1:30 – 2:45 Breakout Session D
2:55 – 4:10 Breakout Session E
4:15 – 5:00 Closing Session & MnWE Meeting
5:00 – 6:00 Order-in Pizza at MHC (all welcome!)
The Minnesota Writing and English Volunteer Committee
David Beard, UMD Advisor, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Heidi Burns, Web & Docs Coordinator, Minn. State University-Mankato
Mary Ellen Daniloff-Merrill, SMSU Advisor, Southwest Minn. State Univ.
Casey DeMarais, 2022 Site Coordinator, Minn. Humanities Center
Edward Hahn, Registration Coordinator, North Hennepin College
Ryuto Hashimoto, International Co-Leader, Minn. State Univ.-Mankato
Danielle Hinrichs, Program Coordinator, Metropolitan State University
Richard Jewell, Gen. Coord. and News Ed., Inver Hills Coll. (Emeritus)
Yanmei Jiang, Equity Co-Leader, Century College
Linda O’Malley, Volunteer Coordinator, Metropolitan State University
Kerrie Patterson, Treasurer, Hennepin Technical College
Gordon Pueschner, Secretary & Conf. Floor Co-Manager, Century Coll.
Beata Pueschner, Conference Floor Co-Manager, North Hennepin Coll.
Jana Rieck, Communications Coordinator, Champlin Park High School
Donald Ross, Co-Founder and UMN Advisor, University of Minnesota
Kako Shintani, International Co-Leader, University of Leeds
Larry Sklaney, Conference & Cost Center Coordinator, Century College
Mary Taris, Equity Co-Leader, Strive Community Publishing
MnWE Journal Editorial Brd.: David Beard, Yanmei Jiang, & Mary Taris