Community in Action at Weingart Pavillion
This month in the Pavilion highlighted distinguished writers, lifesaving training, and lessons on environmental science
The Katherine Howell Weingart ’61 Civic Innovation Pavilion, located in Renfrow Hall, is designed to bring people together — creating opportunities for collaboration, learning, and shared experiences between campus and the greater Grinnell community. In April, a diverse lineup of events — from personal storytelling and knitting gatherings to professional mentoring and arts education — brought that mission to life.
April 7: Humanities Iowa Open Book Series
The Humanities Iowa Open Book Series is an event where Iowan participants are invited to share their personal and meaningful life stories. In partnership with Humanities Iowa and CultureALL, Open Book invites participants into small-group conversations centered on real Iowans sharing meaningful life stories. The April session asked participants to discuss why, and how, they choose to call Iowa home. This facilitated program fosters empathy, understanding, and connection through listening, reflection, and respectful dialogue. The next and last session will be May 5 at 6:30 p.m.
April 8 and 11: Community CPR Trainings
The Grinnell Fire Department’s Emergency Management Services provided instruction in CPR for the community. Participants had the opportunity to become certified or recertified, expanding access to this lifesaving skill to more members of the community.
April 15: Bucket Course: Fish Stories from the Great Lakes, Part 1
Dr. J.R. Paulson, a retired family medical doctor, presented a Bucket Course on the rise of aquatic invasive species and the ramifications of different forms of interventions that attempt to mitigate harm on people and ecosystems. This course took place over three sessions, with the latter two taking place on the 22 and 29 of April.
Bucket Courses are free educational programs held in the Katherine Howell Weingart ’61 Civic Innovation Pavilion at Renfrow Hall (1033 Broad St.) and coordinated through a group dedicated to life-long learning – Grinnell College in collaboration with the Bucket Course committee. All Classes are held on Wednesdays from 10 a.m-11 a.m. No preregistration required, no fee to attend, and everyone is welcome.
April 16: Writers@Grinnell Distinguished Author Reading
Award-winning poet and novelist John Keene shared his work as a part of the College’s English department reading series: Writers@Grinnell. He is the author of the novella and story collection Counternarratives (2015), the poetry collection Seismosis (2006, with art by Christopher Stackhouse), and the novel Annotations (1995).
April 23: Connecting for Women Event: Panel Talk
The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce Connecting for Women Series offers women community members a chance to connect and build social and professional relationships. This week, they hosted a moderated panel discussion of accomplished women sharing decisions that shaped their careers. The panel was entitled “Grinnell Women Who’ve Built It: Career Decisions, Advancing in Grinnell & Locking In.”
Panelists:
Channing Fraker, owner at home decor store, Channing’s Customs & Co
Jennifer McAlexander, owner and fashion/function consultant at JM Consulting
Katy Wells, owner and brand consultant at Double You Marketing, Inc
Stephanie Lair, senior marketing communications specialist
April 28: Grinnell 100+ People Who Care
In late April, the organization 100+ People Who Care held their quarterly meeting in the Weingart Pavilion. 100+ People Who Care – Grinnell was founded on a simple but powerful belief: real change happens when a community comes together. Every quarter, they gather to select a local cause that matters—and each member contributes $100 to make a meaningful impact.
April 30: Writers@Grinnell Armando Montaño Memorial Reading
Writers@Grinnell hosted another reading in the Weingart Pavilion with award-winning poet and nonfiction author Paisley Rekdal. Rekdal is the author of four books of nonfiction and seven collections of poetry, including Animal Eye, winner of the UNT Rilke Prize; Imaginary Vessels, finalist for the 2018 Kingsley Tufts Prize; Nightingale, winner of the 2020 Washington State Book Award for Poetry; and West: A Translation, which was longlisted for the 2023 National Book Award in Poetry and won the 2024 Kingsley Tufts Prize and the Mountains & Plains Bookseller’s “Reading the West” Poetry Book Award.
The Armando Montaño Memorial Lecture honors the memory and spirit of Armando Montaño ’12, a gifted journalist who died at the age of 22 in June 2012 in Mexico City, where he was working as an intern for the Associated Press.
His parents, Diane Alters ’71 and Mario Montaño, endowed the lecture series. The fund supports the Writers@Grinnell program in memory of their son’s dedication to nonfiction and fiction writing, journalism, and the creative process.
Interested in Hosting an Event?
To host your own event at the Katherine Howell Weingart ’61 Civic Innovation Pavilion, reservations are open to both the college and the wider community. Local community members interested in using the space can reach out to Donnette Ellis, Grinnell College Community Relations Coordinator, at 641-269-3900 to inquire about availability and booking. Students, faculty, and staff may reserve the Pavilion through the 25Live system or by contacting Event Coordination & Scheduling at 641-269-3178. Designed as a collaborative hub, the Weingart Pavilion welcomes gatherings that foster connection, learning, and community engagement