FOSSTON, Minn. — The Firefly Center for Art and Wellbeing is looking to create an empowering and interesting trip for about 45 girls with a trip to an exhibit about girlhood at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.
The trip is one many things the center is doing to promote its mission, said Heidi Danos, interim director.
“That would factor into the wellbeing piece of it in that you’re working to empower young girls and give them some history and show them what other women and girls have accomplished and all that good stuff,” she said.
Though the exact plan for the trip is yet undecided, the idea is to hold the trip in early spring and take a bus full of girls from grades 5 or 6 to 8 to the Minnesota History Center. The center is hosting an exhibit called “Girlhood (it’s complicated),” featuring more than 100 artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution, as well as interactive displays and historic photographs. Danos is also planning to have some games for the girls to play on the bus ride. The Firefly Center received a grant for about $3,500 from the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund, a part of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s family of funds, for the trip.
The center has been witnessing the community excitement of having Alluma, a mental health and substance use disorder services provider, in the building. Alluma’s clinic had its
grand opening
in the Firefly Center in July after multiple years of looking for a spot in Fosston. While the Firefly Center itself isn’t involved in Alluma’s operations, the two work together on different projects and events, such as a program that’s in the planning stages for around the end of February or early March. Since Alluma’s opening, Danos said she’s been hearing nothing but positive feedback.
“All the feedback and everything that anybody has to say is positive,” she said. “They are excited to have them in town. We also hear from people, ‘thank you, that was very needed. We definitely need that in town and our area needed this.’”
Other goings-on at the center include an intergenerational class series to connect people from different generations, family or not, and let them get creative as they get to know each other better, Danos said. The Firefly Center also is partnering with Polk County Public Health for an event the morning of Jan. 22, which will be a meeting and breakfast event where attendees can talk about wellness in the workplace and how businesses and community leaders can integrate and implement things in the workplace to improve wellness. Two apartments in the center are still under construction, as well as main community spaces. When those are done, the center will be able to offer more programming, Danos said. The center is also gearing up for Giving Hearts Day, which comes in February.
“(There’s) a lot going on,” she said.
Otto is the region reporter for the Obituary.