Join beloved artists and culture bearers, Carolyn Holbrook and Arleta Little in a wide ranging conversation as they reflect on the paths that led them to where they are today in their lives and careers; paths that have often been lit by unseen and unexpected sources. Embracing our Roots: Rooted and Rising pairs Black artists and arts activist Elders with next-generation arts leaders in conversation, mining the continuum of cultural knowledge and experience that built today’s arts community. It is a partnership between More Than a Single Story, The Givens Collection of African American Literature and Life, and the In Black Ink publishing arts initiative.
Please registerEmbracing Our Roots consists of monthly conversations where young arts leaders will join our elders in conversation about their histories of significant milestones in Minnesota’s literary history within their community. The series started with a collaboration between More Than a Single Story, Black Table Arts, and In Black Ink to highlight conversations between Black artists across generations.
Carolyn Holbrook
Carolyn Holbrook is founder and director or More Than a Single Story. Her memoir, Tell Me Your Names and I Will Testify, won the 2021 Minnesota Book Award in memoir/creative nonfiction. She is co-editor with David Mura of the anthology, We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World (UMN Press) and is co-author with Dr. Josie Johnson and Arleta Little of Hope in the Struggle (UMN Press). Her essays have been published in anthologies including A Good Time For the Truth and Blues Vision: African American Writing from Minnesota. Her 2022 TEDx talk, The Life You Live Is the Legacy You Will Leave, was presented at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Her awards include the Minnesota Book Awards Kay Sexton Award, 2010; Hamline University Exemplary Teacher, 2014; 50 over 50, 2017; Celebrate the Sistahs, 2020; and Flowers Now!, 2024. She is the 2025 McKnight Distinguished Artist.
Arleta Little
Arleta Little is a poet, writer, and culture worker who has made good trouble for nearly 30 years in nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in Minnesota. Arleta’s latest book of poetry, Black Swallowtail, pairs her poetry with paintings by visual artist Ta-coumba T. Aiken. Her poems and essays have appeared in multiple journals and publications including We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World (UMN Press), Blues Vision: African American Writing From Minnesota (MNHS Press), Water-Stone Review, Calyx, and more. She is a co-author along with Josie Johnson and Carolyn Holbrook of Hope in the Struggle: A Memoir (UMN Press). Arleta was the first Executive Director of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature and co-founder of the influential Givens Black Writers Retreat program. She currently serves as the Executive & Artistic Director for the Loft in Minneapolis, serving literary creatives, culture bearers, and changemakers.
What: Embracing Our Roots: Rooted and Rising with Carolyn Holbrook and Arleta Little
When: Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, 1-3 p.m.
Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library, Givens Conference Suite 120, 222 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455 More information and directions | The nearest parking lot is Lot 86. Visit the link for more information and parking rates
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