What's on your mind about politics and civility?

What's on your mind about politics and civility?

How do we cut through the rhetoric in this heated political season? We're not sure we'll find the answer, but we are excited to have a discussion about the current state of politics in America this Thursday when Gregory Lebel visits Rapid City for our August Morning Fill Up conversation.

Submit a question for us to ask Gregory during the public conversation on Thursday, August 18.

'tis the season for Season Brochures

In the theater industry, we often think of summertime as the slow time--the chance to close out the previous production season, put together the next season, and perhaps even take a vacation.

But let me tell you: Our off-Broadway and regional theater clients are more busy than ever before, making big plans for big seasons. I'm shoulder-deep in designing season brochures and direct mail pieces and emails and digital ads for a number of our super awesome arts clients.

And I'm pretty excited about what we're creating together.

Investigation in the RAP

Investigation in the RAP

It's Friday night, and at this point, I'm somewhere between Ohio and Massachusetts, a solid 33,000 feet in the air. I'm heading back home to Boston after am enjoyable, fun, and sure... I'll admit it... exhausting week in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Let's just say that I'm not used to 5 consecutive days of 5:30am alarms from the iPhone. That's a fact.

What would you ask Lisa McNulty at Morning Fill Up?

What would you ask Lisa McNulty at Morning Fill Up?

So... I gotta say.

I'm pretty excited to be heading to Rapid City this weekend (from my home in Boston where I live and work when not on the road) for this Tuesday's Morning Fill Up, featuring our special guest Lisa McNulty, producing artistic director of Off-Broadway's Women's Project Theater in New York City.

Lisa actually flew to South Dakota from the bright lights of NYC last week to explore the state for the first time. (You'll have to ask her about the hail storm she got caught in while hiking the Black Hills earlier this week.)

Art changes conversations

Art changes conversations

I had an opportunity last week to go to Chamberlain, SD to take part in the South Dakota Housing Development Authority’s 11th annual Homeless Summit.

The social issues theater group from Teen Up that I am a part of, Take Action, was performing a skit called Lost, about a homeless teen. I was also invited to take part in a panel discussion about ways our state can better support runaway and homeless youth. This was of course, the first panel I had ever taken part in. I was very nervous to be speaking in front of all of these important leaders in South Dakota.

Lessons in philanthropy

Lessons in philanthropy

Hi, I'm Lilly. This summer i have had the chance to do a lot of new things working as the assistant for The Numad Group. I plan to post a little on here about what I am learning.

About a month ago I received a really wonderful award for my community service. The most exciting part of the award was the opportunity to select a nonprofit organization to receive a $500.00 gift. I loved the idea of being able to make a difference in my community in a different form then I am used to. I am a teenager, and so I have never really had enough money to make what feels like an impactful contribution.

Musings in the rough air

I'm 39,000 (or so) feet in the air right now en route to BushCONNECT in Minneapolis. The flight has been pretty bumpy (not my favorite). But the chicken salad for lunch on the plane was actually amazing (for once!).

My colleagues and I are pretty darn excited for the next few days of conversations and connections with people all across the upper Midwest region who are doing good work to strengthen communities and make life just a bit better for all.

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for all of us, I think. There is great movement on a number of projects we are partnering on. In Boston, I've been shoulder deep designing season brochures and subscription collateral for a number of the Off-Broadway theaters in New York City that we work with. They will all be announcing their new seasons shortly (and let me tell you, there are some kick butt plays heading toward the Great White Way this fall).

What would you ask Jen Ford Reedy at #bushCON?

What would you ask Jen Ford Reedy at #bushCON?

We are pretty excited to kick off day 2 of bushCONNECT on Tuesday, May 10 with Morning Fill Up: The bushCON Edition. It is an honor to once again sit down with Jen Ford Reedy, president of The Bush Foundation, for the early morning Charlie Rose-style conversation.

In our Numad offices, we're brainstorming a bunch of questions to ask Jen during the 50-minute public interview at The Depot.

But today, we want to know what YOU want to talk about. So, please take a moment now to submit your questions for Jen. We'll do our best to integrate your questions into the conversation.

A Numad wedding

I'm en route back to Boston after a wonderful few days in the Quad Cities, primarily to celebrate Numad Patrick as he married his lovely wife Rachel at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport on Saturday. Kelly was able to fly in from Rapid City, and I came in from Boston.

Matt held down The Garage back in Rapid City because, while Kelly and I were sitting on the sidelines watching the wedding party "cut a rug" on the dance floor, Minneapolis-based indie rock group Bad Bad Hats were taking the stage as part of The Garage Concert Series we co-produce with Jason Alley at Jackalope

Don't miss Bad Bad Hats this Saturday at The Garage

Don't miss Bad Bad Hats this Saturday at The Garage

Tis true.

Numad isn't just a consulting firm. Matt, Kelly, Patrick and I have a lot of different interests. We love supporting other people's ideas. And we do what we can to offer opportunities for people to come together to enjoy life.

One of the fun things we've been able to do over the past year is work alongside Jason Alley of Jackalope Studios to partner on The Garage Concert Series, which transforms the historic coworking space in Downtown Rapid City into a super chill concert venue a few nights in the spring and fall.

What would you ask Kelley Lindquist?

What would you ask Kelley Lindquist?

We met Kelley Lindquist, president of Artspace Projects, a few years ago through our work with First Peoples Fund.

He's just a great guy. He's also doing really important, meaningful work in communities across the country to develop, foster and preserve affordable spaces for artists. Dubbed by one newspaper as "master of the universe of nonprofit development," he helps artists reclaim their place in the national discussion about the role of the arts in American society.

This Thursday, April 21 at The Garage, he's our guest for Morning Fill Up, and we'll talk with him about his belief in the importance of restoring national confidence in America’s creative communities.

Back and forth to NYC

Back and forth to NYC

t has been a whirlwind few weeks of travel for this Numad, back and forth and back and forth and back and forth on Amtrak between Boston (home) and New York City (work). In fact, I know the travel is more than usual when the conductors and food service attendant recognize me... and a couple have even come to know me by name.

I do love a train, zooming down the coastline of New England, the vast waterways and wooded areas giving way to the skyscrapers of New York and Boston.

There have been a number of really exciting things happening in the city as of late. At the beginning of the month, we got to team up with Blue Flame Events and Arc3Design on the production of MCC Theater's annual gala, Miscast, which once again raised more than $1 million for their youth company and education programs.

Meet our Morning Fill Up: The bushCON Edition guest

Meet our Morning Fill Up: The bushCON Edition guest

When we dreamed up Morning Fill Up a few years ago, we didn't realize how many wonderful people would be willing to say "yes" to an invitation to spend 24 hours immersing themselves in conversations with people from across our Black Hills region. We have been humbled by their presence, and have learned from their wisdom.

Our second guest ever--back in December 2014--was Jen Ford Reedy, president of The Bush Foundation, an organization that has been an important champion of this conversation series from the very beginning. Today, we are excited to announce that we'll be sitting down with Jen again when we take Morning Fill Up on the road this May for bushCON.

Meet our 2016 bushCON cohort

Meet our 2016 bushCON cohort

All of us at The Numad Group are pretty excited for bushCON this May (public registration begins April 5 at 10am central and will sell out within hours, if not the first hour they are on-sale).

Created by The Bush Foundation alongside partners from around the 3-state Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota region, bushCON is a leadership networking event that builds stronger and more meaningful connections among leaders in the region.

This year, we are honored to be a recruitment and programming partner (we're bringing Morning Fill Up to bushCON), and today, are truly thrilled to announce the 12 members of our Numad cohort--all from the new East of 5th District in Rapid City--who will be traveling to Minneapolis to take part in the event. Meet them below in these short bios they've created.

What would you ask Brent Phillips at Morning Fill Up?

What would you ask Brent Phillips at Morning Fill Up?

Morning Fill Up is this Tuesday, March 29 at 7am, featuring special guest Brent Phillips, president and CEO of Regional Health. We've got a bunch of questions for him, but we want to know what you want to talk about. So, please take a moment now to submit your questions for Tuesday's Morning Fill Up below. We'll do our best to integrate your questions into the conversation.

Click below to fill out the form and submit your questions.

Wall smashing for MCC

Wall smashing for MCC

More than eight years ago now, I graduated from graduate school at the University of Florida armed with a master of fine arts degree. I sold my belongings and moved with two boxes and the clothes I could fit in a suitcase to New York City... a place I always wanted to live. A dream come true for me.

Two days later, I was stepping foot into the administrative offices of MCC Theater for the first time, ready to begin an unpaid internship. I knew not a soul there, the exception being the kind woman named Isabel Sinistore who had hired me after a phone interview. To this day, I am so grateful that she said "yes" to me.

In the four months of my internship, I learned so much, from her, from her colleague Ian Allen, and from the incredible team at MCC--namely Blake West, Bernie Telsey, Will Cantler and Bob LuPone. Sure, I learned about the inner-workings of a major nonprofit Off-Broadway theater... what it takes to put on a show, to start youth companies and educational programs, and to raise funds to support their important work.