Poetz is remembered  

A celebration and remembrance of Clifford Poetz, a pioneer in the self-advocacy movement and lifelong disability rights activist, is 1-3 p.m. Sat, Nov. 5 at the Spirit of St. Stephen’s, 5011 31st Ave. S, Mpls, in the New Branches building. The service will include an opening and closing prayer, readings, a eulogy, and an opportunity to share stories. Refreshments will be served. The event will livestreamed on YouTube (Celebration of Cliff Poetz). 

Poetz not only defined self-advocacy, he set the example and opened the door for countless others to take up the cause of disability rights. At the time Poetz became an activist, about 200,000 Minnesotans were still living in institutions. 

Since 2001 Poetz served as community liaison with the Research and Training Center on Community Living within the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI). He was a past Access Press Charlie Smith Award winner. 

Rise Gala is Oct. 27 

The Celebrate Rise Gala is 5-8 p.m. Thu, oct. 27 will be held at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest. The event includes dinner, a moving program, live auction, social hour, games and more. Tickets available for purchase now and must be purchased by Fri, oct. 7. The event will once again hosted by local author and advocate Nancy Lyons. Anyone is welcome to participate in an online silent auction at the event website linked above beginning at noon, Thu Oct. 20. All donations support Rise’s Advancing Lives Fund, providing important supports and resources to people in times of need. FFI: one.bidpal.net/celebraterise2022 

Fall Fling—Dance Party 

Young Dance presents Fall Fling 3-6 p.m. Sat, Oct. 15 Activities will be outdoors in the Fairview Business Center parking lot, 655 Fairview Ave N. St. Paul. In the event of rain, the event will continue inside the building at each partner’s location. The free, outdoor celebration celebrates Young Dance’s 35 years of transforming lives through movement by bringing together numerous community partners for an event for the whole family. Performances and interactive demonstrations will be led by Young Dance, CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, Ripple Effect Community Fitness, Smiling Drum, St. Paul Ballet, and Youth Performance Company, plus there will be a family-friendly makers’ market including Tough Cookies Art, addis/Decolonize Clay, NordEast Cookie Co., StartseedUrban, and more. Attendees can play games, blow bubbles, make art, eat cake, and of course dance 

The full list of partners includes the Arc of Minnesota, CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, Element Gym, Co-Motion, Ripple Effect Community Fitness, Smiling Drum, St. Paul Ballet, Young Dance, and Youth Performance Company. Young Dance highlights the work of those who make art accessible to all, audio description and an ASL interpreter will be provided. Seating and wheelchair-accessible parking will be available. FFI: https://youngdance.org/ 

Pentatonix at PACER 

PACER Center’s annual benefit is Sat, Nov. 5 at Mpls Convention Center. Enjoy an array of activities and the music of a cappella superstars Pentatonix. The evening will include an exciting live auction and a huge silent auction featuring sports tickets and memorabilia, exciting getaways, fabulous experiences, jewelry, and much more. Event tickets are now available. FFI: www.pacer.org 

Two AuSM events 

Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) has two events coming up. Ignite Inclusion is 7-9 p.m. Wed, Oct. 19 at Brother Justus Whiskey Company, Mpls. The in-person event replaces the past galas. Enjoy live and silent auctions, activities, craft cocktails and appetizers, and much more. Preregistration and cost information are online. 

The 5th Annual AuSM Connections Jigsaw Puzzle Competition will be in-person and virtual. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 5. Contests at Mall of America Huntington Bank Rotunda and on Zoom will compete to see who is fastest. to put their jigsaw puzzling passion to the test by competing for the fastest puzzle completion time. Different competitions offered. The competition will include an autism resources fair at MOA. Cost is $60 per team. Virtual teams can have their puzzle shipped for an additional $10. Register by Fri, Oct. 21 to have puzzles shipped. Dollars raised support programs and services for the local autism community. Sponsors are needed. FFI: www.ausm.org 

Open Flow Forum 

The Artists with Disabilities Alliance meets via Zoom 7-9 p.m. the first Thu of the month. Upcoming dates Oct. 6 and Nov. 3. Virtually join artists with disabilities and supporters to share visual art, writing, music, theater and artistic efforts or disability concerns. Facilitators are Tara Innmon, Kip Shane and Springboard for the Arts. The gatherings are fully accessible. Anyone needing special accommodations should contact Andy Sturdevant at host organization Springboard for the Arts. Funding is available for access needs. FFI: 651-294-0907, resources@springboardforthearts.org  

Less to Enjoy!  

The Enjoy listings are for arts events as well as banquets and fundraisers for disability services organizations. Schedules may be subject to change. Some venues still may have mask and vaccine requirements. Please check with a venue or organization before making plans.  
See what is available through the Minnesota Access Alliance and its calendar, at https://mnaccess.org/