A Trail Years in the Making Connects Community, Culture, and Learning

What does it mean to build community?

For Inver Hills Community College and its partners, the answer can be found along an almost completed and transformed stretch of trail winding through Inver Grove Heights.

After years of planning and development, the Unity Trail has become more than a pathway connecting neighborhoods, parks, schools, and community spaces. It is an invitation to learn, reflect, and explore. Through public art, educational resources, and community programming, the trail highlights the contributions of Indigenous, Black, and other historically underrepresented communities while exploring the connections between racial equity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

This summer marked an exciting milestone for the project as public art, poetry installations, and educational resources begin taking shape along the trail.

How It All Began

The Unity Trail began as a vision championed by Michael Birchard, former Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Randi Goettl, former Director of Accessibility Resources and Chair of the campus pollinator conservation committee. The idea was ambitious but simple: create a space where community members could connect with nature, learn from one another, and engage with stories and perspectives that are not always represented in public spaces.

Vice President of Finance and Operations Heather Aagesen-Huebner reflected on her unique connection to the project, noting that she helped make the grant opportunity possible while serving on a previous team. Now, in her current role, she and her team have supported various components of the trail’s logistics and implementation. She noted, “It is incredibly rewarding to see the Unity Trail come to life. Earlier in my career, I had the opportunity to be part of the team at the Metropolitan Council that helped create the Regional Parks Equity Grant Program, and now, years later, I have the privilege of seeing one of those investments benefit our campus and community. It’s truly a full-circle moment.”

three students smiling and working.

Over time, the vision for the Unity Trail grew through conversations with students, employees, community partners, and local leaders who saw the potential for the trail to become a place of learning, belonging, and connection.

Leadership of the project has continued through the college’s current Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging (DEIJB) under Vice President Jeremy Clark and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Partner Raquel Calles. They helped guide the project through subsequent phases of planning and implementation while continuing to work alongside campus and community partners to bring the vision to life. Additional key partners include Dakota County Parks staff: Anna Ferris and Autumn Hubblell; Inver Glen Library staff: Laura Morlock; ISD199 staff: Carrie Gillund and Mariana Mansfield; City of Inver Grove Heights Parks and Recreation staff: Julie Dorshak; and our Inver Hills Community College faculty representative: Dr. Sadie Pendaz-Foster. This work was made possible through Regional Parks Equity Grant Program funding from the Metropolitan Council, who have also contributed expertise, resources, and support.

Today, the Unity Trail stands as the result of years of collaboration and commitment from people across the college and the community.

“The Unity Trail project was a culmination of students, community members, and Inver Hills employees all coming together around the mission of how we can connect our community and our physical spaces,” Jeremy Clark said. “Some of the students we engaged in this work knew the project would not come to fruition until after they had already graduated. They wanted to improve a space that was special to them.”

A Collaborative Effort

Student Life staff smiling showing their Unity Trail heart craft with the traveling mural behind them depicting a large world heart and others’ crafts pasted on.

The Unity Trai l reflects years of partnership across campus and throughout Dakota County.

At Inver Hills, departments and groups including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice; Operations and Facilities; Student Life; Bee’s Knees Committee; First Year Communities, and Marketing helped support the project. Student organizations also played an important role in shaping the trail and its programming, including Latinos Unidos, Black Student Union, Indigenous Student Alliance, LGBTQ+ Club, Women’s Empowerment Diversity Club, and Asian Student Union.

Director of Student Life, Kimberly Swinney, notes, “I am proud of the students who contributed over the years to such a meaningful project. Whether it was providing feedback, submitting art, participating in community art projects, or engaging with Dakota County Parks and Rec, their voice was valuable. Connecting art, culture, nature, and education is such a beautiful gift to our community, and I love that students for years to come will be able to walk through our campus and learn and connect more deeply to our community and history.”

Ultimately, this project reflects the voices, experiences, and aspirations of the broader community.

Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins sees the trail as an opportunity to strengthen connections between the college and the surrounding region. “The Unity Trail will enhance the connection between Inver Hills Community College, Dakota County’s trail system and the surrounding community. It will give students, employees and residents a safe and welcoming place to walk, bike, enjoy nature and connect with one another. This project is also a great example of what can be accomplished when the college, Dakota County and our community partners work together toward a shared vision.”

In addition, Inver Grove Heights Mayor Brenda Dietrich shared her thoughts on the project: “I’ve lived in Inver Grove Heights for over 15 years, and I’ve served on the City Council for much of that time. I’ve seen the city and all of Dakota County grow richer in diversity and more focused on inclusion over the years, and I think that is necessary, wonderful and overdue. The City of Inver Grove Heights has a long history of collaboration with the County on parks, development and programming, and we have welcomed summer interns from the Inver Hills community. We were thrilled to partner on the Unity Trail project and will continue to support it. Our Veterans Memorial Community Center hosted programs for families to create mosaics for the benches along the trail, and we promoted the creation of poetry for the trail with our friends at Inver Glen Library. I’ve felt honored to be a part of the community coming together to create beautiful pieces of the trail that have become a whole. This reminds me that our community is a collection of histories, and learning about our different experiences helps us feel more interconnected. I look forward to seeing how the Unity Trail will further link our communities by offering a new opportunity to connect with each other and our surroundings and celebrate what makes each of us, regardless of race, color, creed or background, unique and valued.”

Learning Beyond the Classroom

“The Unity Trail will provide opportunities for self-guided education through interpretive signage that highlights themes that celebrate diversity, inclusion and belonging. It will also expand options for guided education by offering a new programming space.” commented Anna Ferris, a Dakota County Parks staff member.

At its heart, the Unity Trail is an outdoor learning space, an opportunity for reconciliation work with indigenous and diverse communities, and will increase our community wellness through outdoor engagement.

At an April 2026 Inver Hills Community College staff and faculty development day, employees began exploring opportunities to integrate learning experiences with the Unity Trail and in turn enrich learning on our campus. Rachel Lindquist, counselor and partner through the Unity Trail project, led a reflective workshop on applying the psycho-educational lens to the college classroom. This workshop explored how trauma, identity-based stress, and community-level adversity affect regulation, executive function, and cognitive availability in adult learners. Many neurodivergent and BIPOC college students arrive with long histories of navigating environments not built for them, developing coping and masking strategies that faculty often misread. Participants examined what makes learning genuinely accessible for this population and they left with concrete strategies so more students can show up and engage. Nature is proven to positively impact mood and reduce stress, the Unity Trail will be a welcomed addition to our student learning, mental health, and engagement.

To continue ongoing engagement and access of the Unity Trail, new trail exploration backpacks will be available for check out beginning Fall 2026. Each backpack has a theme: birding and tracking, insects and learning, art and mindfulness, and plant exploration. These will be available for checkout at the Inver Hills Cultural Center for staff, faculty and students. Public community nature-themed backpacks will also be available at the Inver Glen Library through their 2Go Kits Program. The backpacks will include binoculars, nature guides, books by BIPOC authors, maps, and other materials designed to encourage exploration and learning based on each backpack’s theme.

An interactive trail map is also available to help visitors engage more deeply with the trail’s stories, themes, and resources.

Bringing the Trail to Life Through Community Events

As the project has developed, a variety of events have invited students and community members to explore the themes inspired by the Unity Trail.

Poetry and Life with Joe Davis

In February, students at Inver Hills Community College joined spoken word artist Joe Davis for a program presented in collaboration with Black Student Union. Through poetry and storytelling, participants explored identity, leading through love, belonging, and the power of personal narrative.

Joe Davis on stage in the Cultural Center with students looking on and flags draped along the ceiling.

Student with red nails holding onto their Love titled poem on a hand cutout which reads inside the palm: “Far from home | It feels stead now | That community I see | As stronger are”

Student with hand ring holding onto their Love titled poem on a hand cut out which has fingers labled: safe, steady commitment, paramount, creation community, together. In the palm the poem states: “In a space we’re in right now…difference in what our safety is. We have to come together. Love thy…”

Black Student Union Student President standing in front of a BSU informational poster board smiling and giving a thumbs up.

Joe Davis addressing the crow while the screen reads Community Power and students looking on.

Mosaic Speaker Series and Mosaic Art Making

In November, participants had the opportunity to enjoy food from Pow Wow Grounds and engage with members of the Indigenous Student Alliance while creating collaborative community mosaic art projects with artist Lori Greene.

“The Metropolitan Council Equity grant provided funding for programs and events that connected people to the Unity Trail and celebrated its themes. These programs are a critical component of building awareness, encouraging use of the trail and fostering a sense of connection to the space,” reflected Anna Ferris.

Students and staff gathered at a table working, one student standing collecting materials needed, another student standing smiling and mosaic instructor walking between tables.

Staff member in an Inver Hills shirt is collecting glass pieces for their mosaic art piece.

Inver Hills Community College President smiling while holding a coffee and talking to the Unity Trail community partner. Behind them is an unfocused wall of diverse trail blazers.

Staff and students seated at a round table, smiling and working on their mosaic art pieces, flags draped on the ceiling and an unfocused banner in the background that reads: Native American Heritage Month.

A student smiling holding up their mosaic art piece.

View more photos here.

Cultural Heritage and Awareness Celebrations

Students gathered throughout the year for multiple Cultural Heritage Celebrations featuring educational and artistic programming that honored the diverse cultures and identities that make up Dakota County.

On Cultural Day, student ambassadors partnered with the Unity Trail project and invited the whole campus community to create cultural crafts, enjoy snacks from around the world, and share personal stories of their backgrounds and traditions. The traveling mural created that day posed the question “What does comm-UNITY mean to you?” and it is now displayed in the Cultural Center in the College Center of the Inver Grove Heights campus. It highlights shared stories of community, belonging, and pride.

Three students gathered at a table and working on their Unity Trail heart cultural craft. One student standing looking at a sheet of paper.

One student working on their “my story” cultural craft on paper with a Puerto Rican flag and information.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion staff and student team posing for a picture smiling and behind them on a projected screen reads: Cultural Day.

The second annual Be Loud Be You event, hosted by the DEIJB Office in collaboration with Student Life, TRIO, Accessibility Resources, Counseling and Advising, and identity-based clubs, celebrated graduating and transferring student leaders. The goal of this annual celebration is to honor students not only for their academic success but also for their contributions to building community and belonging on campus. This year, the Unity Trail expanded its programming by bringing in the Sampson Bros. Arts, indigenous hoop dancers, to perform and foster connections between movement and outdoor spaces. Hoop dancing tells stories of the natural world, with dancers creating shapes that represent animals, natural elements, and the cycles of life. Through their performance, the Sampson Brothers highlighted the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of harmony in supporting the success and sustainability of both individuals and communities.

View more photos here.

The Sampson Brothers performing, one is swaying the hoops and he is looking away while the other has his eyes closed and is playing into the indigenous flute in front of a mic.

Students and staff looking on while sitting at their table. The space is decorated with a table setting that includes stars and mason jars with little graduation caps on top.

The Be Loud Be YOU emceesn stage and both are wearing their crowns while talking with the crowd.

Smiling student showing off an event notebook token that reads: “Going Places” and in the other hand is showing a polaroid photo ticket.

Balloon words in gold stating congrats draped in front of a table. On top of the table are the student red and gold cords and flowers.

The Sampson Brothers performing. One is holding four hoops around his back and spread open like bird wings, the other is performing with an indigenous flute.

A closer picture of one of the Sampson Brothers playing the indigenous flute dressed in traditional regalia that is colorful and has embroidered flowers.

Student smiling while holding his flowers and wearing his graduate gold and red cord. He is wearing a white shirt and a black suit and black pants.

A faculty member in a black shirt and rainbow-colored skirt is giving a special cord box while smiling to a graduating student who has curly hair and is wearing a plaid shirt.

Student art work that features an octopus with a graduate hat on while hold many other things in its tentacles like a job graphic, books, a heart with a key, and clock. On the top is a scale with a heart on one side and a brain on the other.

Student art work that features a painted jean jacket with a heart and owl in the front left panel and a Puerto Rican flag painted in the right side panel. A green bird is painted on one sleeve.

Student art work that features three birds perched on a tree with an out of focus campus in the background and text that reads: “Do you chase | the gold lit mirage | along the skyline | knowing it may | cost you | the shelter of the nest | that never believed | your wings | were meant | for the | open air”

Student in a black and glasses smiling while holding their flowers and wearing their gold and red cord. Two other event attendees sitting looking onto the stage, one is wearing a green shirt and the other has glasses and a black shirt.

Two groups of students gathered while cheering on their group representatives who are playing rock/paper/scissors game.

One of the Sampton brothers holding up 5 hoops and kneeling, stoically looking on. He is in traditional regalia including blue shirt with cuff embroidery, vest with bead work and leggings with feathers and jingles.

A group of students and staff smiling and looking toward the camera, the first flow is in front of the stage and the second row is on the stage, a red carpet is in front of them.

An event honoree who has recieved a certificate is taking a picture with another person, both are smiling. A student in front of them is looking on getting ready to take their picture.

A smiling student wearing a white jacket with white boots and black shirt and pants is bowing after getting their flowers. A staff member is behind him looking on clapping and smiling.

DEIJB staff placing graduation cords on a student and handing the student flowers.

Two students smiling and holding up a certificate

View more photos here.

Afrocontigbo performed at the Inver Hills Spring Carnival, highlighting the African philosophy of Ubuntu, often expressed as “I am because we are,” which emphasizes our shared humanity and interconnectedness. During their performance, Afrocontigbo reinforced the idea that all people and the environment are connected, encouraging shared care, healing, and joy as participants joined in the celebration and expressed gratitude for the earth with each step. In addition, students had the opportunity to leave their mark by contributing to a collaborative mosaic art bench, which has been installed at the Unity Trail node on the Inver Hills campus, located in the south parking lot behind the Activities Building.

Student carnival student attendees are waiting in line and others are in the background walking and talking, others are on their phone, others filling out the sign in sheet and some are looking around.

Three Afrocontigbo dancers in Ankara print skirts and a black shirt with a yellow sillouette print are dancing with their hands spread open, all are smiling.

One Afrocontigbo dancer is in the front of the stage, twirling and smiling while dancing. Two other Afrocontigbo dancers are in the back on stage smiling and clapping on.

Unity Trail artist is wearing a painted black hoodie smiling on as he guides a student who is helping with the mosaic art bench.

Three students smiling while working on the Unity Trail mosaic art bench.

Materials for the mosaic art bench are spread out and the mosaic is laid out on the table as it takes shape. Student hands show them placing a piece on the mosaic art bench.

A group of four students are working on the mosaic art bench, all are using glue and other materials to cut shapes and work on piecing together the bench.

Event attendees are in line waiting for the California Dip and Eat food truck staff to take their order at the window.

Afrocontigbo dancer at the stage holding the mic and giving group directions to five staff and students participating in the dance.

Lastly, for Transgender Day of Visibility, the LGBTQ+ Club, in partnership with Unity Trail partners and student ambassadors, invited Transcendence Cabaret to campus for an afternoon celebrating authenticity through performance and a candid fireside chat about healing, love, and empowerment. Through their artistry, the performers demonstrated how self-expression can transform pain into confidence, resilience, and joy. Just as nature thrives through interconnected systems, drag performances can create safe, affirming spaces where people feel seen, valued, and accepted. The event became an ecosystem of creative expression, support, validation, and shared belonging, reflecting the Unity Trail’s commitment to connection and community.

Unfocused picture of the event panel sitting at the front of the event while event attendees looking on at them.

Staff member smiling and looking at two Transcendence Cabaret event performers who are in full glam for their performance and smiling back.

Four Transcendence Cabaret performers are smiling and looking on for a posed picture while the rainbow colored progressive flag is behind them and reads: “Every | One | Is | Welcome | Here”

Event attendees picking up their sweets from the event office.

View more photos here.

Unity in the Community: Mindfulness Walks and Nature Learning

Hosted in partnership with Latinos Unidos and Luisana Mendez, Founder and Executive Director of Huellas Latinas, this guided, interactive trail experience encouraged participants to reflect on nature, community, belonging, and the purpose of the Unity Trail.

group of students and event staff organizers walking in a group smiling and looking at one another.

View more photos here.

Michael Kurtz, a proud Lakota photographer, also joined students in connecting with the living world through nature exploration. Participants were encouraged to observe birds and other signs of their presence, including feathers and scat. This practice not only fostered a deeper connection to the natural world but also offered an opportunity to quiet worries about the past or future, if only for a few moments, and be fully present in a sense of wonder.

Identifying Traditional Native Plants, Medicines, and Uses from an Indigenous Perspective

Campus community members gathered in April to explore Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, and the connections between people and place. Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wíŋ, owner and founder of Shop Blue Hummingbird Woman, a published author and plant medicine creator, taught participants about native plants, their uses, and their cultural significance while preparing tea together. The session also provided historical and cultural context related to Dakota history and the relationships between land, plants, and community.

Students and staff gathered in a circle looking on as event wisdom keeper tells stories of plant medicines.

Small dark bamboo bowls are set out on the table containing all the loose tea plants and some are getting picked up to be used.

people seated around a table talking and touching tea leaves

View more photos here.

Community Bike Ride

On June 23, Dakota County Parks and Inver Hills Community College partnered to host a Community Bike Ride along the Unity Trail route.

The event invited participants to experience the trail firsthand while emphasizing the role of outdoor recreation and community partnerships in fostering connection, belonging, and well-being.

“The Unity Trail gives us the opportunity to work with organizations like Inver Hills,” said Eric Howd, Outdoor Recreation Instructor with Dakota County Parks. “I could not have foreseen us being here today and building a lasting partnership. We can bring bikes over, get students outdoors, and encourage more people to use and enjoy our outdoor spaces, which is so important to a community.”

Fellow Outdoor Recreation Instructor Don Begalle emphasized the importance of increasing access to outdoor recreation opportunities. “It’s great to have partnerships with cities, colleges, and the county, where we can bring our expertise and interests out to people who maybe don’t have as much access to outdoor recreation opportunities.”

Group of faculty and staff members smiling and posing for a picture before riding off in their Unity Trail bikes.

Group of faculty and staff members pose for a selfie while smiling with the event staff. Some in the back are waving.

Giving Community Members a Voice Through Poetry

The Unity Trail Poetry Contest was held from April 1-25 and invited community members to submit original poems inspired by themes of community, belonging, equity, nature, and connection.

Winning entries have become a permanent part of the trail experience through sidewalk poetry installations completed as of August 1, 2026. Visitors can encounter community-created poetry throughout the trail, transforming an ordinary walk into an opportunity for reflection and discovery.

The contest reflected one of the project’s core goals: creating opportunities for community members to help tell the story of their community. Selected community member poems for the Inver Glenn Library include: A. Lewis (What Wonder), Kathryn Klopfleisch (Fox Encounter), Ella Willsey (Hope), and at Inver Hills: Rachel Marzahn (Pollinator Pedagogy: Lessons from the Garden).

mosaic bench sits by sandblasted poem in cement outside InverGlen Library

Work materials set out on the concrete including a tape measure and printed poem.

Sandblasting staff is preparing the concrete for the addition of the Unity Trail poem into the space.

a dog on a leash looking on while the Unity Trail poem “Pollinator Pedagogy” text is shown sandblasted into the concrete.

Unity Trail poem “Hope” text is shown sandblasted into the concrete.

Unity Trail signs in cement ourside Inver Glenn Library

Unity Trail poem "Fox Encounter” text is shown sandblasted into the concrete.

Public Art and Learning Installations

The Indigenous Engagement Liaison, Benjamin Gessner, with support from his team at GUIDE, Maggie Lorenz, and Coral Gessner, worked throughout the grant to engage with community indigenous elders, historians, plant knowledge-keepers, and language speakers to gather feedback and guidance on culturally relevant interpretive content for the Owaŋżida (means “unity” in the Dakota language) nodes at Inver Hills Community College. The Owaŋżida walking loop on campus is a trail that meanders through the back native pollinator prairie restoration and community garden, eventually connecting to the disc golf course that spans campus, which offers a scenic, multi-use experience for students and visitors. The art and learning installations along the Owaŋżida walking loop at Inver Hills will also celebrate Indigenous, Black, and People of Color through works by artists Cole Redhorse Taylor and Holly Young.

Seven artist-designed mosaic art benches will be installed along the entire 5-mile Unity Trail route, with four installed this summer and the remaining three scheduled to be installed in summer 2027. These benches create gathering spaces and opportunities for reflection. Through the leadership and engagement of artists Marco Aguero, Natchez Beaulieu, and Constanza Carballo, the benches at each site will highlight local history, diverse celebrations, stories of resilience, activism, and social change.

At Inver Hills Community College, the mosaic bench that was created collaboratively by the bench artists, students, staff, and faculty during the Spring Carnival has been installed near the South Parking Lot. From the bench, visitors can take in a view of the sandblasted poem set in the cement, while, in the distance, the first node of the Owaŋżida walking loop comes to sight, creating a peaceful connection between art, reflection, and the surrounding landscape. The bench is titled: Celebrating Diversity and honors the unity of many cultures living together. The world motif with the rainbow aurora borealis radiating segments of vibrant blues, teals, reds, yellows, greens, and purples represents different cultural threads. The educational signage placed along the south side of campus helps visitors connect more deeply with the surrounding environment. We invite all visitors to check out the bench, poem, and the Owaŋżida walking loop nodes of the Unity Trail on campus.

One of the node installations recognizing the Seven Council Fires of the Oceti Sakowin people.

One of the node installations along the trail recognizing land history of the Dakota Nation.

What’s Coming Next?

The next phase of the Unity Trail will bring several highly anticipated additions. Additional programming and engagement opportunities will be announced throughout the year: Current Projects | Dakota County

Unity Trail events at Inver Hills will be promoted through the campus calendar and open to current students, staff, and faculty members unless noted otherwise: Inver Hills Community College – Calendar

Explore, Learn, and Get Involved

As installations are completed and new programming launches, the Unity Trail will continue growing as community space at intersections where recreation, education, culture, and connection take place.

What began as an idea years ago is becoming a place where students, employees, residents, and visitors can learn from one another, explore the outdoors, and discover stories that help strengthen understanding and belonging.

The Unity Trail is not simply connecting destinations across Inver Grove Heights. It connects people. Community members are encouraged to get outside and take advantage of the trail.

Support the Unity Trail and similar initiatives on campus

“I know we are doing something impactful and lasting; we are rebuilding trust and engaging in reconciliation. Yet, we need people to continue supporting this work,” Raquel Calles remarked. “Land acknowledgments only go so far; it needs to be backed by funding, programming, and sustained commitments across roles, departments, the city, and community-based organizations. This work doesn’t end with a grant; it requires ongoing intentional, collaborative support from both institutions and community efforts.”

Interested in supporting innovative student-centered initiatives at Inver Hills Community College? Visit the Inver Hills Foundation to learn how your support helps make projects like Unity Trail possible.

Student at graduation in their cap and gown smiling giving the thumbs up.

Want to learn more about the Regional Parks Equity Grant Program? The Metropolitan Council’s Equity Grant Program provides funding to regional parks agencies for capital and noncapital projects that will strengthen equitable usage of regional parks and trails by all our region’s residents, across age, race, ethnicity, income, national origin, and ability. The program is also designed to enhance institutional capacity around equity work across the regional parks system and with individual agencies.

Unity Trail

A Trail Years in the Making Connects Community, Culture, and Learning

How It All Began

A Collaborative Effort

Learning Beyond the Classroom