Growing Minds Conference Ticket & Tour 5: Learning from Place: Food, Culture, and Community at HmongTown Marketplace

Organized by the Minnesota Humanities Center, this immersive Learning from Place experience invites participants into the heart of St. Paul’s vibrant Hmong community. St. Paul is home to the largest Hmong population in the United States, with deep roots on the East Side. Participants will visit the iconic HmongTown Marketplace, home to more than 125 small businesses and food vendors, meet the marketplace owner, and learn about his remarkable story. A guided tour of the market will explore Hmong culture, history, and entrepreneurship, followed by time for independent exploration, shopping, and sampling food from local vendors (cash is recommended for purchases, as not all vendors accept credit cards). This experience offers insight into how community-rooted marketplaces serve as powerful centers of culture, connection, and place-based learning.