Learn more about the flow of our community-building summit with more exciting details announced in the weeks ahead. This summit is 2 full days of activities, with an optional pre-summit welcome dinner for those who arrive on Wednesday. We can’t wait to gather with you!
Pre-Summit (Optional)
Wednesday, July 22
Welcome Dinner
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Get settled after the journey to the North Shore with an informal gathering to connect with fellow community members.
DAY 1 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 23
Welcome, Grounding, and Ubuntu Circle Opening Reflections
10:00 a.m.
Opening remarks, time for grounding practice, and our first Ubuntu Circle for the day.
Morning Fireside: "I Am (Only) Because We Are"
11:00 a.m.
A conversation with the 2026 Individual Ubuntu Leadership Honorees: Repa Mekha, Kayrn Sciortino Johnson & Ted Chen.
Lunch + Restore & Reflect
12:00 p.m.
Connect with other attendees at this hosted lunch prepared by local food vendors, with some time to gather your reflections from this morning’s conversation.
Breakout Sessions 1 & 2
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
We’ll spend some time working together to strengthen our community of practice in two breakout sessions that will span the afternoon, with time in between to restore & reflect.
Ubuntu Dinner Circle (optional)
6:30 p.m.
Join us for a curated, culturally rooted dinner in small groups, using our Ubuntu circle model to break bread and chew on the learnings of the day! Participants have the option to choose dinner on their own or with their own small groups, but you won’t want to miss these gatherings.
Day 2 | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Friday, July 24
Welcome Back, Grounding, Ubuntu Circle Opening Reflections
9:00 a.m.
Opening remarks, time for grounding practice, and an Ubuntu Circle to start the day.
Morning Fireside: "Community Made"
10:00 a.m.
A conversation with the 2026 Organizational Ubuntu Leadership Award honorees:
Tuleah Palmer, Blandin Foundation
Gloria Perez, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
Bilal Alkatout & Migdalia Loyola Meléndez, Headwaters Foundation for Justice
Celebtrating the 2026 Ubuntu Leadership Award Winners
11:10 a.m.
This year’s honorees reflect our 2026 theme, Rooted and Rising, leaders whose work is grounded in community and whose courage lifts us all.
“What makes these six honorees extraordinary is not simply what they have accomplished. It is as much about who they are. How they lead. With humility, with courage, and with a deep belief that we are community-made. Their leadership reflects the very best of what ubuntu asks of us: to show up for one another as whole humans and to build cultures where everyone belongs, especially when it is hardest to do so. We are better because they are among us.”
— AWALE (WALLY) OSMAN, Director of Organizational Learning and Leadership Development for Equity and Belonging, Minnesota Council on Foundations
Lunch + Restore & Reflect
12:10 p.m.
Connect with other attendees at this hosted lunch after the Ubuntu Leadership Awards presentation with some time to restore and reflect on this morning’s events.
Unity in Action: Drumming As One
2:00 p.m.
Join this interactive drumming experience and co-create new rhythms and soulful sounds!
Closing Exercise: Next Steps & Appreciation
2:50 p.m.
Let’s gather one more time to close out our first Ubuntu Leadership Summit!