The Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort is a year-long curated cohort experience for Core Teams based in rural Minnesota.
Core Teams are made up of 3-5 rural community artists/cultural workers, community activators, and civic leaders. Selected Core Teams will spend twelve months developing creative strategies for civic engagement in their communities, with resources and guidance from DoPT staff. Project funding will support the implementation of those strategies, and cohort members will participate in project check-ins, exchange visits, workshops, and gatherings with fellow cohort members, featured guests, and DoPT staff. Program offerings will be adapted for the unique cultural, economic, and social needs of each participating community. This program is application-based, and participation will be at no cost to selected cohort members.
For the 2026-2027 cohort, DoPT will select 5 Core Teams who are based in rural communities with a population under 20,000 residents in Minnesota and the Native nations that share that geography.
Applications CLOSED on June 17, 2026 at 11:59 pm CT.
Five Rural Minnesota Communities Selected for the 2026–2027 Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort
Five rural Minnesota communities have been selected for the 2026–2027 Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort, where they will develop creative, arts-based strategies to strengthen civic engagement and community connection. Meet the teams from Braham, Carlton and Fond du Lac Reservation, Fairfax, Lanesboro, and Pelican Rapids and learn more about the issues they’ll explore over the coming year.
Pelican Rapids (pop. 2,600) Pelican Rapids’ Core Team includes Pelican Rapids School Board Member, lead advisor for The Youths_PR, and Director of School and Youth Engagement at Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Staci Allmaras; mixed media visual artist, educator, and community organizer, Dr. Kandace Creel Falcón; Project Manager of The Bridge Center, Celeste Koppe; music composer and Facilities Chair of The Bridge Center, Dan Kramer; PRHS graduate, Jackie Mejia; and youth artist, entrepreneur, and Pelican Rapids high student, Willa Munick. All of the Pelican Rapids’ Core Team members collaborate through efforts with The Bridge Center, which was recently formed in response to a student-led request for a youth center.
Carlton and Fond du Lac Reservation (pop. 948 and 4,184) Carlton and Fond du Lac Reservation’s Core Team includes enrolled Fond du Lac Band member and Broken Lands podcast team member, Colleen Bernu; multidisciplinary artist and Chair of the DFL Native People’s Caucus, Nora Louisa Ekstine; healthcare leader and vocal artist, Tegan Johnson; multidisciplinary artist and organizer and Director of the Carlton County Historical Society, Thomlin Swan; business owner and Executive Director for the Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community, Emily Fuerste Swanson; and Anishinaabe mother, great-grandmother, Water Protector, and enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Deb Topping (Nookomis).
Braham (pop. 1,813) Braham’s Core Team includes faith and community engagement leader, Dr. Suzanne Begin; local business owner and founder of the Braham Chamber of Commerce, Mary Lodin; soon-to-be Braham City Council member, Keith Lusk; and artist and children’s book illustrator, Dacia Sjolund. Much of the Core Team has been involved in the Thriving Community-Braham Collaborative.
Lanesboro (pop. 720) Lanesboro’s Core Team includes Executive Director of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Joe Goetzke; business owner and leader of the Lanesboro’s Downtown Business Promotions Group, Alison Leathers; Executive Director of Lanesboro Arts, Kara Maloney; Mayor of Lanesboro, Alicia Rae Pearson; and Program Director of Lanesboro Arts, Leah Steding. Lanesboro’s Core Team members also serve on a wide variety of city boards and commissions, including the Lanesboro Entrepreneurial Action Network (L.E.A.N.).
Fairfax (pop. 1,200) Fairfax’s Core Team includes business owner, Fairfax Civic & Commerce Association board officer, and multidisciplinary artist, Tina Castillo; founding board member of TriCommunity Arts, musical director, and piano teacher, Maria Cuff; Fairfax and Renville County HRA/EDA, Fairfax Civic & Commerce and TriCommunity Arts board member, Sheila Prax; and TriCommunity Arts board member, theatre artistic director, and actor, Joe Vos.
THE COHORT EXPERIENCE
About Department of Public Transformation and Engage Rural
Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) believes that rural people and places have the answers they need to address challenges and opportunities. We champion art and artists as vital contributors to economic, community, civic, and social life, and we support rural communities in leveraging creative, cross-disciplinary, and asset-based approaches to build resilient rural futures.
DoPT’s Engage Rural program provides resources, guidance, and connection for rural community artists and leaders as they develop creative strategies for civic engagement. Such strategies can break down barriers to civic participation and strengthen local leadership.
This program is generously supported by the Blandin Foundation.