Metropolitan Library Service Agency Legacy Grant SFY 2020-SFY 2021

Impressionistic Drawing: Winter Landscapes: Participants in this virtual drawing class with Anoka County Library learned about the history of charcoal and pencil drawing before trying their hands at a winter landscape of their very own. This relaxed class allowed participants to experiment with different techniques, including how to create light and movement and represent perspective, proportion, and depth. One attendee said, “I liked being able to do three separate drawings concentrating on three different ideas or techniques. This way we got to sample 3 types of drawing.”

Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences Series: Dakota County Library hosted a series of nine virtual programs dedicated to uplifting diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) experiences and voices. The programs were designed to help attendees gain an understanding of how the contributions of AAPI community make a positive difference in Minnesota and beyond and learn of the ongoing movement for Asian American civil rights and the fight for acceptance and belonging. 97% of respondents to the library’s program surveys reporting that they learned something new as a result of attending the program.

Dakota County Library co-created these programs with a diverse group of AAPI presenters. The series included: • Music and dance presented by COMPAS teaching artists:
“Carnatic Music” with Nirmala Rajasekar featured the classical music of South India. Nirmala also demonstrated and performed the Saraswathi veena, a seven-stringed lute from South India.
“Gamelan Music of Java” with Sumunar featured the traditional music of Indonesia. The orchestra included bronze gongs, metallophones and other musical traditions of southeast Asia.
“Katha Dance” with Katha Dance Theater featured the traditional ancient storytelling and dance of India with rhythmic footwork, expressive movements, turns and stances.

Author talks and literature presentations:
“The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement”: Paula Yoo discussed her new book and the civil rights history surrounding the pivotal moment when Vincent Chin, a Chinese American, was killed in 1982 as a result of an anti-Asian race-based hate crime.
“An Na: Writing About Mental Illness and the Asian American Experience” featured stories of the author’s personal lived experience that inspired her to write novels that address mental health and illness in the Asian American community.
“Kao Kalia Yang: Somewhere in the Unknown World” featured a reading and discussion of the author’s newest memoir—a book of fourteen different refugee stories.
“V.T. Bidania: Representation Matters” featured information about Hmong culture and reading excerpts from the author’s new chapter book series Astrid and Apollo, an early chapter book series about Hmong American twins.
“Asian American Adoptees in Children’s Literature” presented by poet, educator, and Korean adoptee Sun-Yung Shin along with library science professor and adoption scholar Dr. Sarah Park Dahlen, discussed transracial Korean adoption in Minnesota and the politics of representation in youth literature and library programming.
“Life in a Japanese American Incarceration Camp,” presented by historian, librarian, and descendant of two Japanese American internees Sarah Okner, featured an in-depth historical overview of the interment of over 120,000 Japanese American adults and children during World War II.
“#MinneAsianStories: Voices & Stories from Minnesota's Asian American Community,” presented by the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) aimed at uplifting rich and diverse stories from Minnesota's Asian American community and honoring the legacy of storytelling and oral traditions.
Juneteenth: Hennepin County Library hosted live virtual and on-demand video programs celebrating Juneteenth, including interactive art projects, drumming, singing, storytelling, and dance performances that offered opportunities to learn about African American history and culture. 100% of survey respondents reported they felt the event they attended honored Black culture and history. One participant said: “Good content and messaging. I think performances like [Storytelling with Auntie Beverly] help grab the attention of both the young and old. I was learning about blackness/history while also being entertained. Thank you for offering this experience!”

Cozy Up Make-It Activities for Adults: These art programs were essential elements of a larger program, Cozy Up: Winter At-Home Activities for Adults, that mailed and delivered over 1400 packets to adults at risk of social isolation due to the pandemic. Scott County Library partnered with Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), as well as senior living, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities for promotion and delivery of the initial packets. Project materials were also translated into Spanish to expand the reach of the program to Spanish-speaking communities. Six local and regional artists created and delivered mailable art projects. Along with expressions of gratitude, several participants elaborated on how they shared the project results and booklet activities with other family and friends, demonstrating how the project enabled participants to stay connected including: “The Cozy Up projects were welcomed over the long winter months. I even introduced my grandson to origami”, “I enjoyed the sun print art and shared the idea with friends + coworkers,” and “The book encouraged me to try different things + learn.”

Acrylic Painting with Creative Pastels: Ramsey County Library continued its series with local arts instructor Karen Tan of Creative Pastels with a live online instruction and take-home-kit model during the pandemic. Participants learned the basics of painting with acrylic on canvas. Participants commented "I learned the basic techniques of using acrylic paints… I learned how to hold the brush, how to mix colors, how to show shadows, how to use proportion and so on" and "This course was amazing. 100% more than I expected. I couldn't believe that this was an offering from the library. I tried painting which I've never done before. The teacher was excellent, and I loved the scheduled zoom format. It really had a sense of community by all of us doing it together rather than following along a pre-recorded video. I'm so grateful for this opportunity."