It’s an eternal question: How do you make elementary school kids more excited about being at school than on vacation?

Many would say there is no answer, or that it’s a trick question, but thanks to Liz Collin, a teacher at Barton Elementary School in Minneapolis, an answer has finally been discovered: You bring COMPAS teaching artist Kashimana Ahua into your school to lead a songwriting residency.

What happens when a COMPAS Teaching Artist, who also happens to be a singing ranger, revered folk musician, master storyteller, and true Minnesota legend, hits the road for a tour of Greater Minnesota? In the latest episode of the COMPAS Creativity on Tap podcast, COMPAS TA Charlie Maguire chats with host Frank Sentwali about his recent tour of northern Minnesota for his show Going to Bartalina. This blog post shares a few highlights from their conversation. Check it out, and then listen to the podcast for all the music, memories, and meaning. (Also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.)

“I’ve been making hip-hop therapy, in a way,” said Jelani Osiname, 21, who raps under the name Boogie. “There was this vulnerability to it, where I could talk without being judged.”

What if we’re living at the start of a new renaissance, and we don’t even know it yet?

That may sound like a big claim, but if you look around, the signs are there. The world has been through a lot. A global pandemic. Widespread instability. Technology that seems to be changing faster than we can keep up. People are tired, but also restless. They want something different. Something better. And historically, that is exactly when renaissances begin. These are the kinds of conditions that have always come before a creative shift—when the old ways stop working, and people start reaching for something new.

Tucked along the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior in Silver Bay, Minnesota, something quietly transformational happened. It did not arrive with fanfare or flashy headlines, but rather in the charged silence that follows when a teenager stands up and shares their truth.

Our roster of amazing teaching artists expanded this year, and we couldn’t be more excited! In our latest Teaching Artist Spotlight, get to know visual artist and storyteller Linda Brant-Malm.

This spring, COMPAS is out in the community, creating space for young voices, building local connections, and inspiring artful expression across Minnesota. We’re excited to share several standout events that reflect this work in action. The best part? You can participate in all of them!