Cocktails & Conversation: Access to the Outdoors Helps Children Bloom

729 North Washington Avenue,Minneapolis MN 55413

22 February, 2023

Description

Are you ready for winter to be over? Enjoy of glimpse of spring as Linh Buoen of Arden Oak Flowers & Design shows you how to assemble a beautiful, fresh floral arrangement that you’ll take home. If you’ve been to a paint-and-sip event, this is a similar experience. Then learn how environmental justice applies to early childhood education. You’ll come away with a new appreciation for our beautiful outdoors and some practical ways that you can help ensure that our youngest citizens have access to it. The DetailsTickets - $60 - include you with one floral arrangement, an appetizer buffet with an assortment of items from the restaurants in the food hall and one drink of your choice. Additional food and drinks may be purchased from the restaurants at the North Loop Galley. Ample paid parking is available in an adjacent ramp or on the street. RSVP by February 15. Make a Floral Arrangement and Imagine SpringLinh Buoen, of Arden Oak Flowers & Design, will provide all the materials and instructions to assemble a seasonal arrangement. Whether you’re an experienced florist or have never even put a bloom in a vase, you’ll come away with a creation you’ll be proud to display or share with a friend. Linh started Arden Oak Flowers & Design in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many of us looked to nature and flowers for respite from world events. Linh has always had an eye for design and she’s excited to share her talents with each of us. Children Have a Right to Spend Every Season OutsideAll children have the right to experience the outdoors. Opportunities to do so, however, vary widely and often relate to where a child lives. This issue is so important that the Children’s Cabinet of the State of Minnesota drafted a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights in 2022. The vision is a state where all Minnesota children and families are inspired to engage with the natural world in ways that support physical activity, mental well-being, creativity, and appreciation for nature. To achieve this vision, our state must promote: Access to inclusive outdoor spacesShared stewardship of public landsClean air and waterConnections to the outdoorsOpportunities for environmental education Carrie Johnson, Greater Twin Cities United Way Education Program Officer, explains the importance of a sense of belongingness and personal safety for children in age-appropriate outdoor spaces. One powerful example specific to early childhood is that ½ of preschool children are not taken outside daily. Deb Lund, Executive Director of Baby’s Space, a Women United-funded partner in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis, will share how they ensure that children in their program have appropriate access to the outdoors. Support Women UnitedIf you can't join us, consider making a donation. Simply click on the Ticket link and make a donation instead. Thank you for your generosity! Questions? Contact Anne-Marie Hendrickson with any questions.