Fred Edwards
• – • The Jasper Hotel
About the speaker
Fred Edwards, a distinguished Creative Director and accomplished teaching artist from the Great Plains, holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, showcasing extensive expertise and visionary leadership. As the driving force behind groundbreaking initiatives like Umoja and Fred’s Dissonance, Fred has pioneered transformative programs fostering narrative justice and community empowerment. Umoja, a 16-week leadership endeavor in the F-M area, is a testament to his commitment, redirecting youth towards meaningful careers while addressing societal gaps through writing, leadership, and cultural awareness. His multi-generational initiative, Fred’s Dissonance, sets the benchmark for positive community development, championing narrative justice and cultural empowerment, thereby reshaping educational paradigms with its culturally relevant curricula. Fred's compelling talks and impactful spoken word performances, drawn from a rich personal journey, resonate across diverse audiences, from collegiate forums to middle schools, showcasing his ability to inspire and catalyze change. With a compelling life story, including being the unlikely tenth child after his mother's tubal ligation, Fred embodies resilience and the belief in the transformative power of community empowerment and creativity, underscoring his unwavering commitment to fostering positive change and narrative justice.
Local partners
Their hotel in Fargo, North Dakota, is the perfect spot for today‘s travelers. Boasting modern rooms, an award-winning restaurant and lounge, and an energetic assortment of events, Jasper Hotel is the ideal place to stay, play, and create your own memorable adventure.
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation headquartered that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports and sells computer software, consumer electronics and personal computers and services. At Microsoft their mission and values are to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential.
Kilbourne Group is built on RESPECT for the past, GRATITUDE for the present, and INSPIRATION for the future. Founded in 2006, Kilbourne Group has a deep passion for urban spaces and an experienced understanding of how design and amenities can respond to today’s demand for walkable, mixed-use, urban cores in communities.
Marvin is a fourth-generation family-owned and -led business, with more than 7,000 employees across 16 cities in North America. The Marvin portfolio of products for builders, architects, and homeowners is designed to provide exceptional solutions for any project, with a focus on creating better ways of living. Since the company’s inception, Marvin has earned a reputation as an innovator and industry thought leader. Today, the company is driven by a purpose to imagine and create better ways of living.
Looking to level up your career, gain new skills, or change careers? At NDSCS-Fargo and the new Career Innovation Center, you’ll find flexible programs built for busy students and working professionals.
From associate degrees that launch you into high-growth careers, to short-term training tailored for business and industry, NDSCS-Fargo is designed to connect you with opportunity. Hands-on learning, employer partnerships, and real-world facilities mean you don’t just study here—you get career-ready here. That’s why NDSCS-Fargo is…The Smarter Way to College.
Additional details
We’re excited to see you once again at the cozy (aka space is limited) Rosewild lounge at the wonderful Jasper Hotel. Doors will open around 8am, our speaker will begin at 8:15 and we’ll typically wrap up around 9am-ish. Coffee & food are provided!
Our global theme for December is PAIN. It was chosen by our Lviv chapter and illustrated by Marta Koshulinska.
Ouch! That hurts. Pain is a warning. And a lesson. It teaches us what we should avoid. And just how much we can bear.
Muscles grow stronger after exercise tears the tiny fibers of muscle cells and the body repairs those damaged fibers. We know that physical wounds can heal with time and proper care. But we often ignore the fact that emotional pain can too.
If you need a little relief from whatever pain you’re carrying, talk to someone, make something, or help someone else in need.
Pain can point the way to growth.
Location
