Aventuras Day creates hub for connectivity

By Kris Leonhardt

Editor-in-chief

KEWAUNEE COUNTY – Nearly 100 students from six school districts — Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Sturgeon Bay, Algoma, Kewaunee, and Denmark — came together at Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center & Nature Preserve in Sturgeon Bay in late May for Aventuras Day.

The event focuses on Latin American culture and building relationships.

“(The ultimate goal is) to bring proximity, connection, engagement, and interaction between diverse populations and our natural, public spaces,” said KinectM1 Executive Project Director Adam Peronto.

“Kinect M1 intentionally connects individuals across northeast Wisconsin to see the opportunity and power that can be realized through collaboration and social belonging.”

This is the second annual event of its kind, in which students and teachers had the opportunity to engage in “bilingual group conversations, outdoor activities, and artistic expression.”

“In order to build communities of the future we need to think and operate differently. Throughout Northeast Wisconsin we need to connect our assets together with the vision of creating communities that celebrate the harmony between diverse stakeholders and a desire to create something better. At KinectM1, we are intentionally connecting individuals across the region to see the opportunity and power that can be realized through collaboration and social belonging. We know that social connectedness is the cornerstone to the engagement we need across this region,” Nick Cochart, KinectM1 co-founder.

KinectM1 is an organization that works to create inclusive hubs where individuals can connect.

Aventuras Day is designed “to celebrate and connect the people in our region to realize our collective assets and to co-create access to our abundant opportunities,” Peronto added.

“I felt that our culture had more recognition. We were welcomed, valued, and seen. Together we were able to celebrate our heritage,” stated one student participant.

Group activities are related to archaeology and creek biodiversity, and include guided nature hikes.

Kinect said that they will continue to expand events like Aventuras Day in the region.