Spice Conference Sessions 

We are offering three breakout sessions, with three offerings for each session.  

  Click here to see our speaker bios.

8:20am-9:20am 

Let’s Get Political

Abortion Funds 101- Our Justice   - Shayla Walker and Leah Soule       

Shayla and Leah from Our Justice, the Minnesota abortion fund, will give an overview of how we support people accessing abortion in Minnesota and will tell you how you can find and support your local abortion fund. We'll talk about how abortion funds address the barriers people face in accessing reproductive care, and what systemic changes are needed to bring about reproductive justice.

Community Building

Why Faith? Why Church? – Rev Dr Emily Holladay and Rev Natalia Terfa
If you've been longing for a conversation about what it means to be a person of faith in a world where faith has been co-opted by less-than-faithful people or pushed to the side as somewhat of a pipe dream, this session is for you! Join progressive pastors Rev. Dr Emily Holladay and Rev. Natalia Terfa for a conversation about how they remain hopeful and faithful in such a time as this. 

Outside of Politics 

RSS: Control Your News, Cut the Noise – Norma Stary

You want to stay informed, but you don't want algorithms to control what news reaches you. You also don't want to spend time every day searching through multiple websites and news sources to figure out what's going on. Why not let the news–and so much more–come to you? Real Simple Syndication can streamline your daily reading and help you organize your digital reading life. Learn how RSS works and how to make it work for you.

9:40am-10:40am 

Let’s Get Political

Cultivating Collective Liberation – Dana Johnson

Spend an hour with Minneapolis local Dana Johnson, a multifaceted thought leader and social impact entrepreneur, Regenerative Ag expert, accomplished restaurateur and innovator, as she shares her work in social justice through food sovereignty, plant medicine and building the industrial hemp supply chain nationally.   This session will help you find hope in climate, connection to the earth, and grounding.

Community Building 

Creativity, Community and Crisis – Emily Olson, Yvette Vandermolen and Caitlin Lowans

Go behind the scenes with local theater representatives who helped guide their organizations through Operation Metro Surge and the federal occupation of the Twin Cities. Hear what their theaters and communities encountered this past year, how they supported one another through it, and what they see ahead for the theater community. The conversation will close by widening the lens beyond Minneapolis to explore what lessons this moment offers for artists and communities everywhere.

Outside of Politics 

Belonging Redefined – Jen Saraceno

Drawing on several years working for the U.S. House of Representatives and 25 years of military service, leadership coach and Pantsuit Politics Executive Producer Jen Saraceno will explore how her sense of self evolved as part of institutions much larger than herself—and how that evolution continues today. Through stories from the campaign trail and the halls of Congress to combat zones and conference rooms, she’ll examine how the institutions and communities we belong to shape who we become—and how we continue to evolve within them and beyond them.  

11:00am-12:00pm 

Let’s Get Political

Water, Land and Legacy -Janille Baker  

Baker Ranches has supplied hay for the National Finals Rodeo for years but keeping that operation running depends on two things most consumers never think about: water and the workforce to use it. Janille Baker, Controller of her family's multi-generational cattle and hay operation in rural Nevada, will speak to the realities of ranching through the West's ongoing drought and labor challenges.

Community Building 

A Peak Behind the Stacks- Lisa McLaughlin, Callie Ann Starkey and Sarah Steward Holland

Step behind the counter and into the stacks with booksellers and librarians. This conversation dives into the daily realities of curating what a community reads, building genuine connection in an increasingly isolated world, and navigating the rising tide of book bans and censorship. Come away with book recommendations for the moment, concrete ways to support your local indie bookstore or library, and a real sense of hope for the future of these vital community spaces. 

Outside of Politics 

Your Money Questions Answered - Elizabeth Pennington, CFP®      

Do you have random money questions that you've always wanted to ask a professional? Now is your chance! Elizabeth with Fearless Finance will be fielding audience questions in this AMA-style session. Please note that information given is for educational and entertainment purposes only and Elizabeth cannot provide specific financial advice unless under engagement