Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, Virtual Gatherings
9:30 - 10:45 am | Virtual Session: Minnesota Legal Education and Defense
Insights From Building Organizational & Ecosystem Resilience in a Shifting Landscape will be presented by Lulete Mola, President & Co-Founder, Black Collective Foundation MN; Naima Farah, Director of MN LEAD Initiative; Maya Raghu, National Director, Protecting and Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative, The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Malika Dahir, Executive Director, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE); and Simon Trautmann Cordova, Business Attorney and Partner, Trautmann Martin Law, PLLC.
This session is grounded in the reality that racial justice—including immigration defense—remains legally urgent and increasingly subject to coordinated political and legal attacks as well as prevailing narratives that stereotype entire communities through the lens of fraud and wrongdoing. These narratives shape public perception, increase institutional mistrust, and contribute to patterns of philanthropic redlining that restrict resources for culturally specific organizations at a critical time.
Drawing from MN LEAD’s fieldwork, the session analyzes the legal, political, and narrative landscape shaping race-conscious programming. It examines the challenges organizations face in a hostile climate, where executive actions, litigation threats, and harmful narratives weaken equity-driven efforts.
Participants will learn how MN LEAD equips organizations with legal tools, coordinated defense strategies, and narrative clarity to withstand escalating threats while building resilience. The session will highlight lessons from the field, including how leaders are shifting from fear to strategy, how collective infrastructure reduces isolation, and how organizations navigate risk. The session will feature legal perspectives and on-the-ground insights from civil rights attorneys and local nonprofit leaders who are navigating this moment.
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11:00 - 11:45 am | Virtual Session: Rapid Response: Economic Impact
Join this session, the first of a new series of weekly gatherings hosted by MCF, to coordinate MCF member responses to the needs of the moment due to the increased federal presence in Minnesota. Three new Rapid Response groups will meet weekly to focus on Economic Impact, Basic Needs, and Strategic Response. Join one or all three. Learn more online here.
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12:00 - 1:00 pm | Virtual Keynote: Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State
Across Minnesota and our country communities are facing unprecedented challenges to democratic norms, civic participation, access to information, and more. Nonprofits, community organizations and foundations are also facing challenges in their missions to help people stay informed, engaged, and connected to one another.
Despite this, Minnesotans have a strong tradition of showing up for each other through volunteerism, helping neighbors, and organizing. Year after year Minnesotans show up at the polls leading the nation in voter turnout because we believe participation is a responsibility and right. This is a direct result of investments in our civic infrastructure and a belief that democracy works best when everyone can fully participate. Now, more than ever, we all have a role to play in sustaining that legacy.
Join us in a conversation with Secretary of State Steve Simon regarding the state of democracy and community well-being in Minnesota, the history and power of partnerships, and the everyday actions we can all take to protect and expand our democracy to ensure every Minnesota has access to free and fair representation.
Steve Simon is Minnesota’s 22nd Secretary of State. He partners with township, city, and county officials to organize elections on behalf of Minnesota’s nearly four million eligible voters, and to ensure that the election system is fair. His goals as Minnesota’s Secretary of State are straightforward: expand access to voting, remove barriers to voting, make business services as streamlined as possible, strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence and, most importantly, be a Secretary of State for all Minnesotans. Read more here.
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1:15 - 2:00 pm | Virtual Session: Rapid Response: Basic Needs
Join this session, the first of a new series of weekly gatherings hosted by MCF, to coordinate MCF member responses to the needs of the moment due to the increased federal presence in Minnesota. Three new Rapid Response groups will meet weekly to focus on Economic Impact, Basic Needs, and Strategic Response. Join one or all three. Learn more online here.
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Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, Virtual Gatherings
9:00 - 10:15 am | Virtual Keynote: Hope for the Future: A Conversation About Philanthropy
Join a live recording of the podcast, Ready: Leaders to Know, hosted by Bill Graves, President, The Graves Foundation. During this episode, Bill will be joined in conversation with Steve Grove, CEO and Publisher, The Minnesota Star Tribune, and two young leaders who are participants of Youthprise.
The conversation will delve into themes of optimism and connectedness, rural and urban bridging, and the role of philanthropy in creating future prosperity for all Minnesotans. In this difficult time for our nation, this conversation will remind us that philanthropy, at its best, is “the love of humanity”.
For a decade, Bill Graves has been building relationships with community leaders who have been recognized as ready to lead, who are making a real impact by showing up with courage, care, and conviction. In his podcast, Bill invites listeners to join in conversation with community leaders as they reflect on their leadership journey, share what’s shaped them, and offer insight into what it really means to lead today.
Bill Graves is the founding president of The John and Denise Graves Family Foundation. As President, Bill implements the Graves family’s vision for impact, stewarding the foundation’s resources to better realize its vision. Bill also acts as the face of the foundation, ensuring that it is well understood in our community and that it is building partnerships with other community leaders to expand the foundation’s impact.
Steve Grove is CEO and Publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune, where he leads the company’s operations and directs its strategy. Alongside a new management team, he is leading the transformation of storied Minnesota institution towards a new vision – to become the leading model for local news in America.
Raised in rural MN, Newyouman Gora is a student at Minnesota State University Moorhead, studying Project Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She is the founder of New’s Cup of Delights, a home-based baking business that specializes in dessert cups and brings a creative dessert experience to her community. On campus, Newyouman serves as Vice President of the Black Student Union. Beyond the university, she is involved with MN Seeds of Justice, a nonprofit based in Worthington, MN, and serves on the Youthprise Board of Directors.
De’Jiohn Brooks is a visionary leader and youth advocate dedicated to building safe, empowering spaces for young people to lead change with deep roots on the Eastside of St. Paul. As Co-Founder and CEO of World Youth Connect, he champions equity, healing, and youth voice—helping young leaders turn struggle into strength and purpose into action. Guided by his belief that “real change starts with those closest to the problem,” De’Jiohn continues to challenge systems, build partnerships, and inspire the next generation of changemakers committed to reimagining what safety, healing, and leadership look like for today’s youth.
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2:00 - 2:45 pm | Virtual Session: Rapid Response: Strategic Response
Join this session, the first of a new series of weekly gatherings hosted by MCF, to coordinate MCF member responses to the needs of the moment due to the increased federal presence in Minnesota. Three new Rapid Response groups will meet weekly to focus on Economic Impact, Basic Needs, and Strategic Response. Join one or all three. Learn more online here.