submitted by green@augsburg.edu
The Augsburg English Department congratulates alum Brad Hagen, who has been selected by the Saint Paul Almanac and the University of St. Thomas Sustainable Communities Partnership to co-curate and develop a storytelling contest, “The Power of Storytelling for Environmental Justice in Our Communities.” The Partnership notes that “this contest seeks to bring awareness and inspire creative storytelling around the theme of environmental justice. In Minnesota, along with every state in the nation, Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-wealth communities are disproportionately affected by climate change and environmental pollution. We need storytelling that speaks to our communities’ lived experiences. This contest will encourage the community to create and share challenging and joyful narratives to combat environmental injustice and work towards an environmentally just future.” The contest will be open to Minnesotans of all ages.
Brad, an exemplary Augsburg alum, is currently at the University of Minnesota pursuing his MFA in Creative Writing. Last year, he taught Intro to Creative Writing, and this year he’s teaching Multicultural Literature of the United States. His thesis is a memoir, and he has been working closely with well-known Minnesota author Kao Kalia Yang, the Edelstein-Keller Writer in Residence. Brad is also working toward an Ojibwe language certification at the U and remains deeply committed to serving his community, through his continued work with Indian Education.