The Minnesota Idea Open, a venture of Minnesota Community Foundation, has just announced the five finalists for Challenge III. The leading five offered up the brightest ideas on building bonds that get Minnesotans working together across cultures and faiths. They include:
- Paul Maeker for Questions from the Future of Minnesota, a kid-friendly format for intercultural and interfaith dialogue about the future of our state.
- Margaret Michaletz’s United by History, an idea to record the oral history of individuals who migrated to Steele County over the past 75 years.
- Fatuma Mohamed’s idea for the Hidden Pearls 7-Step Summer Challenge, an initiative with a group of young, female, Minnesota Muslims to break stereotypes.
- Ellen Kennedy and Margo O’Dell for a “Tents of Witness: Genocide and Conflict” exhibit that would share the stories of thousands of refugees living in Minnesota.
- Jim Rettew’s Multicultural Barn Raisings, which would bring people of different faiths and backgrounds together to build up their communities.
Your Turn to Vote
The Minnesota Idea Open will launch statewide voting May 15. The top three vote-getters will be awarded $15,000 to help implement their ideas, while the two runners-up will each receive $5,000. Voting takes place online, by phone and at several select in-person locations, including a sneak peek voting session at the MayDay Parade on May 6.
Have a good look and pick out your favorites now, then stay tuned to www.mnideaopen.org for voting details!
