Spring Bloom
Spring into Well-being
Spring Bloom 2026 will be held May 18 through May 22
For a full list of offerings visit Spring Bloom 2026.
Register for these events and more using the Spring Bloom 2026 Registration Form
Tuesday, May 19
Estate Planning 101
10:00 – 10:50 with Claire Tralle, Esq., Estate Planning and Probate Attorney
Location: Zoom
Are you curious about estate planning? Know that you 鈥渟hould鈥 do it, but don鈥檛 quite know where to start? Join us for an overview of the process, important considerations, and why you might want to get started. This is a 101-level presentation where questions are encouraged.
Claire Tralle runs an estate planning and probate law practice in northeast Minneapolis.聽 Claire aims to create plans that work for individuals and families alike.聽 Understanding the unique needs and family dynamics each client brings is an important piece of estate planning and probate work.聽 Claire lives in northeast Minneapolis with her husband and three children.聽 In her spare time, you’ll probably find Claire reading or enjoying the great Minnesota outdoors.聽 You can view Claire’s website at:
Wednesday, May 20
Brazilian Coconut Chicken
11:00 – 12:00 with Chef Mimi of
Location: Kagin Teaching Kitchen
WHAM invites you to savor the flavors of Brazil with Chef Mimi’s Coconut Chicken with steamed veggie or rice recipe! This creamy and aromatic dish combines tender chicken, rich coconut milk and nutty peanut butter, served with a hint of spice and fresh cilantro. Perfect over rice or steamed veggies. Hands-on participation and a food sample is included. This class is limited to the first 25.
As a beloved local culinary icon, Chef Mimi brings vibrant passion and expertise to her cooking classes, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for students of all ages and skill levels. With almost a decade of teaching in Minnesota and Wisconsin, leading workshops across the Midwest and Southwest (in-person and virtually), and cooking live on local TV stations, like CBS and Fox, Chef Mimi鈥檚 diverse repertoire spans Ethiopian/Eritrean, Mediterranean, Asian, Brazilian and Caribbean Cuisines, inspiring students to explore global flavors.
Grow Plants, Grow Community: Volunteer in our Community Garden
1:00 – 2:50 with WHAM & Sustainability
Location: MULCH Garden (Located near the Spanish Language House; Access from Macalester Street, across from the Baseball field)
Calling all green thumbs and gardening enthusiasts! We’re inviting volunteers to join us for a day of camaraderie, connection, and movement in the Mulch Garden – a space open to members of campus and the local community. No experience needed, just bring your positive energy! We’ll be weeding, planting, and beautifying this shared green space. It’s a great way to:
- Get some exercise in the sunshine.
- Learn about the campus food access initiatives.
- Meet colleagues and make new friends.
You鈥檒l leave with dirty hands and a happy heart. Please wear comfortable clothing, bring sunscreen, a hat and a water bottle.
Thursday, May 21
Science-based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times
10:00 – 10:50 with Melinda Wenner Moyer, MA,聽 Author, Journalist, and Editor
Location: Zoom
In the blink of an eye, children today will be adults facing countless serious threats: climate change, gun violence, political polarization, and disinformation, to name but a few. What can parents, caregivers, and educators do to help kids develop the skills they will need to not just survive, but also thrive, in this complex world?聽
To find out, award-winning science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer interviewed hundreds of parenting experts and researchers across multiple fields鈥攑sychology, education, information literacy, technology, business, and even addiction. She shared her many discoveries in her new book Hello, Cruel World!: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times. In this webinar, she will share key insights from her book. Ultimately, she will argue that while parents today are understandably anxious, there is much room for hope: Even in these uncertain times, we can still teach kids how to take care of themselves, fight for what they believe in, and bridge divides.
Melinda Wenner Moyer is an award-winning contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and a regular contributor 鈥 and former columnist 鈥 at The New York Times. She is a former faculty member in NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and the author of two books: How To Raise Kids Who Aren鈥檛 Assholes and Hello Cruel World!: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times. She writes the popular Substack parenting newsletter, Now What.
Yin Yoga
12:00 – 12:50 with Stephen Sporer, (RYT 500) Yoga Instructor
Location: T120 Fox Dance Studio
This 60-minute Yin Yoga class invites you to slow down, turn inward, and cultivate calm. Unlike movement-focused vinyasa classes, Yin emphasizes stillness and longer holds鈥攖ypically 3鈥5 minutes or more鈥攖o gently stretch muscles and target deeper connective tissues. By staying in each shape longer than usual, we create space for release, improved mobility, and a sense of openness in the body.
The slower pace also encourages the nervous system to shift into a more restful, restorative state, helping reduce stress and cultivate calm. Yin yoga can support increased flexibility, improved joint health, and enhanced circulation, while also offering an opportunity to practice mindfulness and deep relaxation.
This class is ideal for anyone seeking a quiet, grounding experience that balances a busy life, complements more active practices, and leaves you feeling both open and deeply restored.
Please bring your own yoga mat (or let Kelly Fang know if you need to borrow one – the LC will be closed, but we may be able to bring over a few mats from there). Wear comfortable, loose clothing, perhaps a layer or two (sweatshirt, even a blanket/towel), a water bottle, and an open, quiet mind. Please plan to leave your shoes and water bottle outside the door, since they are not permitted inside the studio.
Stephen Sporer (RYT 500) is a compassionate and inclusive yoga instructor committed to helping people connect to breath, movement, and presence so they can live out their most authentic self. Stephen has taught a variety of styles to many groups, including vinyasa power flows, hot yoga, sculpt, yin/restorative, and meditation, at a vast range of spaces including CorePower Yoga and Power Life Yoga, to cat caf茅s, PRIDE festivals, parks, gymnasiums, and flower farms (cats roamed there, too).
Guided by his sankalpa 鈥楾o help people breathe easier,鈥 Stephen welcomes you to the mat exactly as you are鈥攚herever you are on your journey.
Community Bike Ride
1:00 – 1:50 with WHAM & Sustainability
Location: Meet outside the Library
Gear up for fun! Join WHAM and Sustainability for a community bike ride to the Mississippi River. Enjoy the outdoors, learn about the Macalester Bike Share Program, and get to know the neighborhood. Helmets and bikes will be provided for all who need them.