ប្រភេទ:ផលប៉ះពាល់
ប្រភេទ:សេចក្តីជូនដំណឹង8 នាទីអាន
រូបថតរបស់ Molly Miles
Celebrated writer, arts leader, and educator uses storytelling to heal, bring people together, and promote civil discourse.
The McKnight Foundation announces the selection of noted author and literary leader Carolyn Holbrook as its 2025 Distinguished Artist, an award given annually since 1998 to a Minnesota artist or culture bearer who has made significant contributions to the state’s cultural life.
A celebrated writer and leader in Minnesota’s literary arts community, Holbrook has been helping others unlock their creative power for more than 40 years. She uses storytelling to help people heal and to advance social justice, shedding light on untold stories that have been stifled by pain, racism, and prejudice. She is the author of Tell Me Your Names and I Will Testify, a memoir that won the 2021 Minnesota Book Award, and co-editor with David Mura of the anthology We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World. She founded three major arts organizations: Whittier Writers’ Workshop, SASE: The Write Place, and More Than a Single Story, an organization that brings diverse voices together for cross-cultural understanding. She also teaches in the Loft Literary Center’s year-long memoir writing project and at other community venues.
“Carolyn is not only an exquisite writer but a big-hearted mentor whose impact ripples far beyond the page.”- ឌីអានណា ឃឹមមីង នាយកកម្មវិធីសិល្បៈ និងវប្បធម៌
“Carolyn is a brilliant artist and a leader who has built pathways for other artists and enriched the cultural fabric of Minnesota and our nation,” said Tonya Allen, president of McKnight Foundation. “We are honored to celebrate her many contributions and her leadership in fostering community and creating opportunities for other artists and culture bearers across our state.”
Holbrook’s other books include Ordinary People, Extraordinary Journeys: How the St. Paul Companies Leadership Initiatives in Neighborhoods Program Changed Lives and Communities, the chapbook Earth Angels, និង Hope in the Struggle, a book she co-authored with Arleta Little about Minnesota civil rights icon Dr. Josie R. Johnson. Holbrook’s essays have appeared in numerous anthologies including Blues Vision: African American Writing from Minnesota និង A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota.
Her awards include the Minnesota Book Awards’ Kay Sexton Award in 2010, Hamline University Exemplary Teacher in 2014, Celebrate the Sistas in 2020, and Flowers Now! In 2024. Holbrook holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Creative Arts Leadership (Union Institute & University 2002). She is the mother of five, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother of five.
“Carolyn is not only an exquisite writer but a big-hearted mentor whose impact ripples far beyond the page,” said DeAnna Cummings, Arts program director at McKnight Foundation. “A generation of artists and leaders across sectors credit Carolyn with helping shape their journeys. Her generosity, wisdom, and unwavering support have opened doors and lit pathways for countless others.”
In her nomination of Holbrook, writer Shannon Gibney said, “I honestly believe that no one has done more for literary arts in Minnesota — especially in BIPOC and historically marginalized communities — than Carolyn Holbrook. She centers Black and Brown storytelling, artistry, and community-making through her brilliant programming that creates space for conversations between communities and people that otherwise would not occur.”
From Carolyn’s nominators:
“What makes Carolyn an exceptional artist and human being is her ability to see what’s missing from the world around her and to create a solution that not only serves her needs as an artist but brings her community along with her.”
— Diane Wilson
“She sees what others do not. She knows how to nurture and encourage effectively. She is a perfect mix of artistic creativity and cultural advocate. These are not separate areas of work for her – they are constantly integrated.”
— Cynthia Gehrig
“I honestly believe that no one has done more for literary arts in Minnesota — especially in BIPOC and historically marginalized communities — than Carolyn Holbrook. She centers Black and Brown storytelling, artistry, and community-making through her brilliant programming that creates space for conversations between communities and people that otherwise would not occur.”
— Shannon Gibney
“Carolyn Holbrook has helped to make Minnesota’s literary community more creative…I’ve heard many writers say, time and again, that Carolyn Holbrook helped them or showed them or introduced them. It would be a very different community without Carolyn.”
— Vickie Benson
“Carolyn isn’t just an incredible artist; she makes art within her community, and throughout her career, she has been relentless in providing opportunities for other artists across all demographics.”
— Sherrie Fernandez-Williams
Long-time colleague and author Diane Wilson said, “What makes Carolyn an exceptional artist and human being is her ability to see what’s missing from the world around her and to create a solution that not only serves her needs as an artist but brings her community along with her.”
Nominator Vickie Benson noted, “I’ve heard many writers say, time and again, that Carolyn Holbrook helped them or showed them or introduced them. It would be a very different community without Carolyn.” Writer and arts leader Sherrie Fernandez-Williams said Holbrook is “relentless in providing opportunities for other artists across all demographics.”
Holbrook was selected by a panel of community members with broad perspectives and knowledge about the region’s diverse arts and cultural landscape. The panelists were Christina Wood, executive director of the Duluth Art Institute; Bethany Lacktorin, executive and artistic director of Little Theatre Auditorium (New London); Theresa Sweetland, executive director of FORECAST Public Art; Seitu Jones, multidisciplinary artist and advocate; and María Isa, artist and CEO of independent record label SotaRico.
អំពី McKNIGHT ពានរង្វាន់សិល្បករឆ្នើម
នេះ McKnight រង្វាន់សិល្បករកិត្តិយស ទទួលស្គាល់សិល្បករ និងអ្នកកាន់វប្បធម៌ who have made significant lifelong contributions to Minnesota, enriching our communities. The annual $100,000 award honors artists who have made an enduring commitment to creating art that is locally, regionally, and/or nationally significant. These artists have chosen to center their lives and careers in Minnesota, thereby making our state a more culturally rich place. First and foremost, they have produced creatively incisive art reflecting their particular and extraordinary point of view. McKnight Distinguished Artists have also inspired other artists, earned acclaim from audiences, patrons, critics, and other arts professionals, and some have founded and strengthened arts organizations. Since 1998, McKnight has recognized 28 artists with a Distinguished Artist Award.
អំពីមូលនិធិ McKNIGHT
នេះ មូលនិធិ McKnightដែលជាមូលដ្ឋានគ្រឹះគ្រួសារដែលមានមូលដ្ឋាននៅរដ្ឋមីនីសូតា ជំរុញអនាគតដ៏ត្រឹមត្រូវ ច្នៃប្រឌិត និងសម្បូរបែប ដែលមនុស្ស និងភពផែនដីរីកចម្រើន។ ត្រូវបានបង្កើតឡើងក្នុងឆ្នាំ 1953 មូលនិធិ McKnight មានការប្តេជ្ញាចិត្តយ៉ាងជ្រាលជ្រៅក្នុងការជំរុញដំណោះស្រាយអាកាសធាតុនៅភាគកណ្តាលខាងលិច។ ការកសាងរដ្ឋមីនីសូតាប្រកបដោយសមធម៌ និងរួមបញ្ចូល។ និងគាំទ្រសិល្បៈ និងវប្បធម៌នៅរដ្ឋមីនីសូតា វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រសរសៃប្រសាទ និងប្រព័ន្ធអាហារសកល។
