Family & Community Engagement
Back to School - Special Edition September 2026
English
Spanish
Hmong
Vietnamese
Somali
Oromo
Russian
Ukrainian
Check out our flyer here:
Event: Family Fun Day at Lucky Strike Bowling
Date: Saturday, September 19th
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998438698945?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you have any questions, please direct them to our email at Face@district279.org
Somali
Oromo
Spanish
Hmong
Vietnamese
Russian
Ukrainian
Check out our flyer here:
Event: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Date: Friday, September 25th
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998436298766?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you have any questions, please direct them to our email at Face@district279.org
Somali
Oromo
Spanish
Hmong
Vietnamese
Russian
Ukrainian
Family Fun Day at Slick City
The FACE Team had an amazing time hosting families for a fun-filled morning at Slick City! Families enjoyed sliding, laughing, and spending time together while enjoying breakfast and plenty of fun. It was wonderful to see so many of our families come out and make memories with us!
Virtual Family Bingo Night
Last year, the FACE Team brought some of our family events online, and Virtual Bingo Night was a hit! Families joined us from home for an evening of bingo, free pizza, laughter, and prizes. It was a fun and easy way for families to connect, enjoy time together, and build community right from their living rooms!
Virtual Movie Night
The FACE Team brought families together for a cozy night at home with our Virtual Family Movie Night! Families joined us live on our YouTube channel to watch The Long Walk Home together while enjoying free pizza. It was a fun and meaningful evening where families could relax, connect, and enjoy a movie night with our teamt.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
The FACE Team was excited to collaborate with our Multilingual (ML) Department to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our families and community! Families enjoyed free food, amazing scholar and community performances, and a special mariachi band that brought so much energy to the celebration. It was a fun-filled day of music, culture, connection!
Asian Heritage Month Celebration
The FACE Team was proud to host our very first Asian Heritage Month Celebration! Families enjoyed an afternoon filled with amazing scholar and community performances, free food trucks, and fun cultural activities. We also welcomed author Kalia Yang for a special book signing, where families received free copies of her books!
Black History Month Celebration
The FACE Team had an incredible time celebrating Black History Month with our families and community in May! Families enjoyed free food trucks, amazing scholar and community performances, and engaging activations like Rondo Double Dutch and our HBCU Rooms. It was a joyful day filled with culture, connection, and celebration!
Connect With FACE on Facebook
We’re excited to launch our new Facebook page! Follow us to stay up to date on upcoming events, highlights from our schools, and ways to get involved. We invite you to like, follow, and interact with us as we share stories from across our community.
Click here to view our page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558133039674
Connect With FACE on Instagram
Follow us on Instagram! Stay up to date on upcoming events, highlights from our schools, and ways to get involved. We invite you to like, follow, and interact with us as we share stories from across our community.
Click here to view our page: https://www.instagram.com/face_isd279/?hl=en
Visit our Eventbrite Page
Last year, the FACE Team expanded our virtual opportunities for families and started our YouTube Live journey! This year, we’re excited to continue bringing our events to you wherever you are. If you’re unable to attend in person, join us on YouTube Live as we stream our cultural celebrations and Family Fun Day events!
Click here to view our page: https://www.youtube.com/@facedepartment_ISD279
Visit our Eventbrite Page
The FACE Team has streamlined event registration through Eventbrite, making it easier for families to find and sign up for upcoming events. Follow our Eventbrite page to stay up to date and get easy access to the latest event registration links!
Click here to view our page: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/face-120723381344
Vanessa Gill - FACE Coordinator
Email: GillV@District279.org
"And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”
— Marianne Williamson
Suzanne Bengtson _ FACE AESP
Email: BengtsonS@District279.org
"One step at a time. You don't have to be perfect to keep going."
Malee Xiong - Community Liaison
Email: XiongM4@District279.org
" I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
-Maya Angelou
Katrina Perez - Community Liaison
Email: PerezK@District279.org
"Families deserve safe spaces, support, freedom, and a specific kind of excellence that encompasses who they are"
Chris Marinac - Community Liaison
Email: MarinacC@District279.org
“It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand.”
– Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Judge
Three Rivers Park District Resources
Three Rivers Park District is providing experiences for families outdoors!
Bugs, Blankets & Bluegrass:
- Saturday, September 12
- 4 PM - 7 PM
- Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington
- https://go.threeriversparks.org/ThreeRiversWeb/Activities/Details.aspx?session_id=2766
Help collect prairie seeds:
- Various dates, times, and locations
- https://go.threeriversparks.org/ThreeRiversWeb/Activities/search.aspx?search_text=prairie%20seed
Saturday Mornings on the Farm:
- Every Saturday
- 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
- Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista
- https://go.threeriversparks.org/ThreeRiversWeb/Activities/search.aspx?search_text=saturday%20morning
These events are open to anyone who is interested. Registration is encouraged, but not required.
Field Trip: Art and Nature Festival
- Saturday, September 12
- 12 PM - 4 PM
- Silverwood Park, St Anthony
Save The Date for Fall Fest
- Saturday and Sunday, October 3 & 4th
- Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista
These events are open to anyone who is interested. Registration is encouraged, but not required.
International Institute is partnering with Centro Tyrone Guzman for a free citizenship training
The International Institute is partnering with Centro Tyrone Guzman to offer a free citizenship training in Spanish on September 17 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Centro Tyrone Guzman (1915 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404).
This event is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the U.S. citizenship process or is considering applying for citizenship. The training is free, and all are welcome to attend.