Past Plank Highlights

Plank 2005

A site visit to the Federal Reserve Bank, where three senior economists gave presentations on economics related to globalization: University of Minnesota professor Dr. Timothy Kehoe presented "Recent Patterns in Trade: Minnesota, the US, and the World;" 2004 Nobel prize winner Dr. Edward Prescott from Arizona State University presented "Overcoming Barriers to Riches;" Dr. Mark Wright of Stanford presented "Developing Country Debt and Default." The piece de resistance was a surprise visit from Art Rolnick, director of research and public affairs, who presented his research on early childhood education and high public return. The teachers reported that the presenters made economics "approachable" and enjoyed the economists' excitement about their areas of expertise.

Visit to the Twin Cities Neighborhood Association, where Executive Director Mihailo Temali, explained his group's work as a community-based nonprofit organization supporting low-income communities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and how immigration continues to change the demographics of many neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities. NDC's programs are designed to help neighborhood entrepreneurs and community groups. Examples of NDC-supported business ventures include Mercado Central, Plaza Verde, and the new Global Market.

Interactive panel discussion moderated by Bill McLaughlin, president and CEO of Select Comfort Corporation. Panelists were Bill Buzenberg, senior vice-president of news at MPR, who had an integral role in the MPR-NPR collaboration on the globalization series broadcast this summer; Ashish Gadnis, a partner at Forward Hindsight, an IT consulting firm; Hussein Samatar, director of the African Development Center, which provides entrepreneurial support services to Somalis and other African groups living in the Twin Cities; Tom Verdoorn, vice president of International Dairy and Proteins at Land O'Lakes, who is passionate about LOL's commitment to provide aid within Third World countries.

Plank 2004

Keynote address by Dr. William McGuire, chairman and CEO of United Health Group: An Insurer's Perspectives on the State of our Health Care System

Site visits to two local grantees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation: Neighborhood House and the Minnesota International Health Volunteers; these agencies provide a variety of community resources to immigrants and families from diverse backgrounds.

Panel discussion with five professionals from a variety of health care-related fields, including Jim Koppel, director of the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, Dr. Ann Vosti, clinical program director of the Eating Disorders Institute at Park Nicollet and Qamar Ibrahim, a Somali community leader and founder of an agency helping African immigrants and refugees access health care, education and employment

Lunch and a tour of The Marsh, a center for wellness in Minnetonka; founder Ruth Stricker discussed the business of wellness.

Read more about the 2004 Plank Institute

Plank 2003

The Minneapolis Foundation presented "Immigration Minnesota," a discussion about human rights and a tour of three agencies serving immigrant communities.

Dick McFarland, retired CEO of RBC Dain Rauscher and chair of the Minneapolis Foundation, discussed concepts of corporate ethics.

Ron James, director of the Center for Ethical Business Cultures, "Ethical Leadership: from classroom to the boardroom"

B.T. McElrath, Chocolatier, talked about establishing his entrepreneurial (and delicious) enterprise.

Tour of the Federal Reserve and presentations by three senior economists, including Dr. Art Rolnick, an outspoken proponent of early childhood education as a means of improving our economic future

Read more about the 2003 Plank Institute