Join us on March 4, 2023 at The Depot in Minneapolis for a night to celebrate and champion public policy.
The 2023 Arc Gala will center on our public policy programming, with the goal of broadening our reach and strengthening our impact in legislative and grassroots advocacy. Public policy is one of our core programming pillars but it is one of our most under-resourced programs. The funds we secure at the gala will change that. The Arc Minnesota will make strategic investments in personnel, community engagement and outreach, coalition building, and resource development. Learn more about our 2023 Fund a Need.
You can still attend our Gala in person by securing your free virtual tickets here.
Learn more about our: Schedule of Events, Gala Co-Chairs, Entertainment, Gala Host, Auction, Arc’s Value Village Pop-Up Shop, COVID-19 Safety
Schedule of Events
Join us for an incredible night! For those attending in person at The Depot, your night will look like this:
5:00 pm — General registration opens
5:30 pm — Cocktail hour and silent auction
7:00 pm — Dinner is served
7:30 pm — Program
8:45 pm — Live performance by Dan Wilson
9:45 pm — After party with DJ
For those of you joining from home, our program will begin streaming at 7:30 with the virtual space opening before that. We encourage you to join in the fun, and will be releasing a virtual guide to the night soon!
2023 Gala Co-Chairs: Maren Hulden and John Albanese
The opportunity to chair the 2023 Gala is such an honor. We are thrilled to support The Arc in this way, and as attorneys using our law degrees to fight for people’s rights, the focus of this year’s Fund a Need is particularly close to our hearts. The Arc’s public policy work not only brings about concrete changes that transform systems to better meet the needs of our community, but also does so in a way that centers the experiences and follows the lead of people who have disabilities—pushing advocacy partners and agencies to do the same.
Please join us in supporting the 2023 Arc Gala. There is so much more we can accomplish when we come together. Your contribution will support The Arc Minnesota’s transformational policy change, co-created alongside disabled leaders—and ultimately, a more welcoming world for us all.
Thank you for joining us on March 4, 2023.
Entertainment: Dan Wilson
We will have a live performance from the legendary Dan Wilson!
Dan Wilson is a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and visual artist.
His songwriting resume includes “Closing Time”, which he wrote for his band, Semisonic, “Not Ready to Make Nice” (co-written with The Chicks) and “Someone like You” (co-written with Adele). He earned a Grammy nomination for “Closing Time” (Best Rock Song) and won Grammys for Song of the Year (“Not Ready to Make Nice” in 2007) and Album of the Year (which he won in 2012 as one of the producers of Adele’s 21).
In addition to being the leader of Semisonic, Dan was also a founding member of the Minneapolis psychedelic rock band Trip Shakespeare. As a solo artist, Wilson has released several solo recordings, including his current EP Dancing On The Moon and the 2017 release Re-Covered, which also includes a 54-page book of illustrations, session anecdotes and observations about songwriting. As a collaborator, Wilson has written with and produced a diverse group of collaborators including Taylor Swift, Leon Bridges, Phantogram, Carol King, Pink, Halsey, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, Carole King, Noah Cyrus, John Legend, Mike Posner, and many others.
Wilson has also created a unique online series of songwriting and collaboration advice titled Words + Music in Six Seconds. The series can be found on Instagram: #wordsandmusicinsixseconds. In November 2020, Wilson released the Words + Music in 6 Seconds deck, a collection of cards written and designed by Wilson based on his Instagram series.
After Dan Wilson’s performance, we will have a DJ to continue the night along with dancing and celebration.
2023 Gala Host: Maggie Erikson Kilgannon
Maggie Erikson Kilgannon is back again in 2023! Maggie has been involved with The Arc Minnesota for many years through programming and the Self-Advocacy Board. A Youtuber, self-advocate, and home chef, Maggie is passionate about living a kind, caring and joyful life. She lives with her husband Aidan in Apple Valley where they embody their values every day, create videos for their YouTube channels, and cook together.
Auction
We have a live and silent auction with eight incredible categories for you to bid on! From private chef dinners by the lake in our super silent auction to fun family adventures, we have something for everyone! Check out our exciting auction preview now!
Arc’s Value Village Pop-Up Shop
Need the perfect outfit for the Gala? Our Arc’s Value Village stores have a pop-up shop with hand-curated selections from our Personal Stylists. These glamourous and thrifty finds will help you look your best for your gala photo opp or your at-home celebration! They’re being restocked regularly, so keep checking back for incredible options.
If you’re attending the gala, you will also have the opportunity to shop our pop-up before and after the Gala! Our Personal Stylists and Arc’s Value Village staff will be at the gala with a special collection for the big night. Shop while you party and support The Arc Minnesota!
Our three Arc’s Value Village stores in Bloomington, Richfield, and New Hope provide essential funding to The Arc Minnesota and all of our programs and services.
COVID-19 Safety Information
COVID-19 is not over, unfortunately. We want to keep our community safe and comfortable. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally impacted the disability community and communities of color, and it has disabled many people. As an organization with disability and racial justice in our values, it is important that we practice community care.
Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell in any way. Consider getting a COVID-19 test ahead of time—get free at-home tests or find a testing site here.
We will have color-coded stickers in green/yellow/red to add to your name tag at the event to indicate your comfort with social distancing and masking. Please respect people’s needs, and consider bringing a mask to wear to interact with folks who are wearing red stickers, or ask you to wear one when speaking face to face. If you aren’t sure what someone would prefer, just ask.
Sticker colors and their meanings:
- Green sticker: No need to take precautions. I am comfortable without distancing or masking. Physical interactions like hugs and handshakes are okay with consent.
- Yellow sticker: I’m okay without masking or precautions, but no handshakes or hugs, please. I may be wearing a mask, but you do not have to wear one.
- Red sticker: Please distance or mask when interacting with me if possible. No handshakes or hugs, please.
Contact us
For any questions about The 2023 Arc Gala contact giving@arcminnesota.org