EDTalks is taking a break!
After 12 successful seasons, EDTalks is taking a pause and will not be hosting a regular season during the 2024-25 academic year.
We'll be using this break to create space to step back and explore the kinds of topics, presenters, formats and experiences that would be of greatest interest and usefulness for our community today.
Stay tuned for more details, and during this hiatus, we encourage you to revisit and share our remarkable collection of 12 years of EDTalks videos, which can be found below. For more information, reach out to us at events@achievetwincities.org.
A brief EDTalks history
EDTalks was launched in fall 2012 at Honey on north Hennepin Avenue. This new event series was created to provide a fresh approach to engaging younger audiences on issues impacting public education and students. After being held at a variety of venues, EDTalks moved to Icehouse Minneapolis in April 2015. EDTalks hosted over 60 events during 12 seasons, with 150+ presenters from a wide range of expertise and backgrounds. EDTalks videos and podcasts are enjoyed by thousands of people around the world.
We're thankful for EDTalks' many dedicated funders, including Graves Ventures (a project of Graves Foundation), the Bush Foundation and the Verne C. Johnson Family Foundation, and program partners Grave Ventures, Citizens League, Pollen Midwest, TPT – Twin Cities PBS, Indigo Education, Minneapolis Regional Chamber Emerging Leaders and Twin Cities Young Education Professionals. Each played a significant role in shaping and supporting EDTalks during its first 12 seasons.
Explore our EDTalks video library:
Transforming Education for a Changing World | Presenters: Anne Soto, Executive Director, Midwest Region, World Savvy and Cole Stevens, Chief Impact Officer, Bridgemakers | May 6, 2024 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
Change their Minds, Change Their Lives on the Court and in the Classroom | Presenter: Coach Larry McKenzie, Coach and Educator, ABOVE The Rim Youth Sports Foundation | February 26, 2024 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
What High School Debate Can Teach Us about the Power of Abolitionist Education | Presenter: Sandy Bolton Barrientos, Community Coach, South High School Debate Team | February 26, 2024 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
Shifting the Narrative About the Teaching Profession | Presenter: Dr. Rose Wan-Mui Chu, Educator, Consultant and Project Lead, Elevate Teaching | November 12, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis.
What’s Keeping Teachers of Color Out of Minnesota Classrooms and How We Can Fix It | Presenters: Joshua Crosson, Executive Director, EdAllies, Haben Ghebregergish, Lead Math Facilitator, High School for Recording Arts and Jocelyn McQuirter, Engagement Manager in local government | November 13, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis.
Big Challenges, Realistic Solutions: Confronting a Potential Financial Crisis for Minneapolis Public Schools | Presenters: Rochelle Cox, Interim Superintendent for MPS and Ibrahima Diop, MPS Senior Officer of Finance and Operations | October 6, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis.
The Power of Informed Parents | Presenters: Natty B. Hels, Youth Programs Director, Centro Tyrone Guzman and Rosie Lais, Director of Community Resources, Great MN Schools | May 8, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
Teachers and Parents: An Unstoppable Team | Presenter: Paula Cole, Executive Director, Educators for Excellence-Minnesota | May 8, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
Youth Artistic Expression and Social Change | Presenter: Frank Sentwali, Educator and Teaching Artist | April 19, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
Addressing Ableism in Education | Presenter: Maren Christensen Hofer, Executive Director, Multicultural Autism Action Network | April 19, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
10th Anniversary Celebration Retrospective | Panelists: Dr. Keith Brooks, Former Student Services Director, Anoka-Hennepin School District; Jason Bucklin, LGTBQ Education Specialist at the Minnesota Dept of Education; Dave Eisenmann, Director of Technology, Minnehaha Academy; Salma Hussein, Principal, Gideon Pond Elementary; and Erin Walsh, Co-Founder, Spark and Stitch Institute. | March 8, 2023 | In-person at Icehouse Minneapolis
Supporting Our Educators in a Post-COVID World | Presenter: Dr. Tim Brown, Principal, American Indian Magnet School | December 5, 2022 | In-person at Sisyphus Brewing
Teacher-Powered Schools: Sharing Power with Educators, Students and Families | Presenter: Amy Junge, Director, Teacher-Powered Schools at Education Evolving | December 5, 2022 | In-person at Sisyphus Brewing
Strategies for Rediscovering Our Common Humanity | Presenter: Dr. Jackie Vertigan, Critical Incident Team Lead, Minneapolis Public Schools | October 27, 2022 | In-person at Sisyphus Brewing
Joy as Catalyst: Utilizing Healing Centered Practices for Adaptive Change | Presenters: The Collaborative Affect (Faiza Bharmal, Jason Bucklin, Nikkia Hines, Matthew Myrold and Jewell Reichenberger) | October 27, 2022 | In-person at Sisyphus Brewing
Uncovering Indigenous Models of Leadership | Presenter: Dr. Jon Peterson, Founder and President, TE2 Consulting, LLC | June 22, 2022 | In-person at Urban Growler in St Paul
How Young People Can Co Lead the Education Transformation We Need | Presenter: Walter Cortina, President and Co-Founder, Bridgemakers | April 26, 2022 | Virtual
Kids Changing Education Systems vs. Education Systems Changing Kids | Presenters: Kyra, Jamya and Octivious, Young Leaders, St. Paul Youth Services’ YouthPowerMN Leadership Institute | April 26, 2022 | Virtual
Zero Debt College: A New Reality for Fosters | Presenter: Hannah Planalp, Program Manager, Foster Advocates | March 28, 2022 | Virtual
Creating Anti Racist Third Spaces In and Out of the Classroom | Presenter: Jeannine Erickson, Writer's Room Manager, 826 MSP | March 28, 2022 | Virtual
Reframing Music Education: The Key to Closing Minnesota's Opportunity Gap | Presenter: Sara Zara Zanussi, Founder and Former Executive Director of ComMUSICation | February 23, 2022 | Virtual
Exploring the Loss of Language and Identity in Education | Presenter: Laichia Vang, High School Student and Activist, Roseville Area High School | February 23, 2022 | Virtual
PSEO As a Bridge from High School to College | Presenter: Maria Wright, Director of Dual Enrollment, St Cloud State University | January 19, 2022 | Virtual
How PSEO is a Game Changer for High School Students | Presenters: Asiya Browne and Zeke Jackson, University of Minnesota Students and People for PSEO Leaders | January 19, 2022 | Virtual
How Parent Fundraising Perpetuates Racial Disparities in Minneapolis Public Schools | Presenter: Sara Spafford Freeman, Consultant, SFF Strategies and community organizer | December 8, 2021 | Virtual
The Wide-Reaching Impacts of Philanthropy in Education | Presenter: Amal Karim, Impact Officer, The Constellation Fund | December 8, 2021 | Virtual
How to Lead So Adults Will Listen (and Other Lessons from Young People) | Presenter: Mikisha Nation, Executive Director, Teach For America Twin Cities | June 14, 2021 | Virtual
Youth Perspectives on Reimagining Equitable Youth Work | Presenters: Xe Chang, Senam Akyea, Jolie Vu and Paw Gee, Youth Leadership Initiative | June 14, 2021 | Virtual
The Power of Education in Disrupting Generational Poverty | Presenter: Chastity Lord, President & CEO, Jeremiah Program | May 4, 2021 | Virtual
Education and Technology Access - Jim Crow in the New World Order | Presenter: Ini Augustine, Founder, Project Nandi | May 4, 2021 | Virtual
Cultural Responsiveness In and Out of the Classroom | Presenter: Dr. Courtney Bell-Duncan, Educator and Founder of Courtney S. Bell Consulting LLC | February 8, 2021 | Virtual
Let’s Talk About Race in School | Presenter: Derek Francis, Manager of Counseling Services, Minneapolis Public Schools | February 8, 2021 | Virtual
Where is Mental Health in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Work? | Presenter: Jamil Stamschror-Lott, Mental Health Practitioner and Co-founder, Creative Kuponya | January 14, 2021 | Virtual
Developing an Equity Leadership Identity | Presenter: Dr. Lanise Block, Educator, Founder and CEO, Sankore Consulting | January 14, 2021 | Virtual
From "Adequate" to "Quality": A Constitutional Amendment for Minnesota Students | Presenters: Neel Kashkari, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Justice Alan Page, Co-founder of the Page Education Foundation | October 21, 2020 | Virtual
Learn to Read, Learn to Lead | Presenter: Dr. Artika Tyner, Director and Co-Founder of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice at the University of St Thomas School of Law | October 5, 2020 | Virtual
Changing Outcomes for Black Males | Presenter: Michael Walker, Director of the Office of Black Student Achievement, Minneapolis Public Schools | October 5, 2020 | Virtual
Girls Inc.: Creating Pro-Girl Environments | Presenters: Louise and Sophie, Youth Leaders, and Elena Gustafson, After-School Coordinator, Girls Inc. YWCA Minneapolis | March 2, 2020 | Live in-person
The Stars and The Blackness Between Them - Writing About Queer Young Black Love | Presenter: Junauda Petrus-Nasah, Author and Activist | March 2, 2020 | Live in-person
Igniting Civic Engagement Through Service Learning | Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Leadership Council | February 24, 2020 | Live in-person
How to Raise Tech Healthy Kids | Presenter: Dave Eisenmann, Director of Instructional Technology and Media Services for Minnetonka Public Schools | January 13, 2020 | Live in-person
It's Complicated: Students, Social Media and Mental Health | Presenter: Erin Walsh, Co-Founder, Spark & Stitch Institute| January 13, 2020 | Live in-person
Washburn Blackbox Theatre - Creating Change In and Out of the Classroom | Presenters: Crystal Spring, Washburn High School Theatre Teacher Washburn High School Blackbox Theatre students | November 18, 2019 | Live in-person
The Voices Framework - How Student Stories Can Transform Schools | Presenters: Josh Fraser, Principal at Brooklyn Center Middle and High School STEAM Ambar Hanson, Community Relationship Officer for the Mortenson Family Foundation Expanding Opportunities for Children and Families program area | November 18, 2019 | Live in-person
You can find earlier EDTalks seasons on our YouTube channel.
Catch a glimpse of some of our past EDTalks events
