Good things come in threes, be it slapstick comedy (the Three Stooges), fables (the Three Little Pigs) or musical groups (the Police, Destiny’s Child).

Good things will also come during the third Community Engagement (CE) Day Friday, Nov. 20 at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

“We have been thrilled by the success of the first two Community Engagement Days, especially the way they featured so many incredible faculty, staff and students’ passions,” said Tanya Gertz, executive director of Fine Arts Programming at CSB and SJU and a member of the CE Day Planning Committee. “We were honored to facilitate campus conversation through the powerful speaking engagement with Dr. Ibram Kendi (in October) with the CSB/SJU Student Senate leadership.

“We’ve had such a wide variety and interesting set of experiences so far, and we are really excited about what each new CE Day offers us.” Gertz said. “More and more of campus is getting involved and responding creatively, and Eboo Patel, our upcoming signature event on Nov. 20 (see accompanying story) is an energizing,  incredible speaker. 

“CE Days are a real celebration of how much good there is happening in this year,” Gertz added.

Besides the Patel virtual speech, there are a number of other events throughout the day and evening to partake in.

There is no CE Day scheduled for December as students will be headed home for winter break when Block D ends on Dec. 18.

Here’s a look at the events on Nov. 20:

Interfaith Prayer Service with the CSB and SJU Campus Ministry offices, 9-9:30 a.m.

The Campus Ministry offices invite all to a interfaith Prayer Service of Hope. The service will feature religious leaders from a number of different faith traditions, and will be broadcast from the newly opened Universal Prayer Spaces on the CSB and SJU campuses. Students who desire to participate in the services are invited to  register here. Please keep an eye on the Bulletin App for more details. Join the event via Zoom here. 

“Lest We Forget” art exhibit, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Gorecki Gallery in the Benedicta Arts Center, CSB.  (FAEs are available between 1-5 p.m.).

Visitors will experience the accounts of Fred Amram coming of age in Holocaust Germany and later as an American refugee. Amram's story is shared in 24 short vignettes and illustrated in textile and collage bas-relief art by his wife, Sandra Brick. This sequenced display provides a unique opportunity for viewers to explore a firsthand account about racism and injustice both through gifted storytelling and visual art. It is self-guided with a limit of 10 mask-wearing people socially distancing at a time. 

Wreath Making Workshop with Outdoor U, CANCELED.

Due to COVID-19 limitations on gatherings intended to keep our community safe, this activity has been canceled.   

Stories from Abroad, 1-2 p.m. with the Center for Global Education.

The event will feature stories from students who studied abroad in 2019-20 as well as stories from who are abroad here at CSB and SJU. This is an opportunity to share with and listen to others in our community in a way that is not happening as organically as it has in the past due to COVID-19 restrictions. Register for the event here, and join in the discussion here.

Latinos en Conversacion: What Does It Mean to be Latinx on this Campus?, organized by the Exploring Latin American Cultures Club, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Six current students and alumae/i panelists will engage in a conversation about what it means to be a Latinx person on campus. The discussion will range from how students build a Latinx community on campus and the struggles that come with being one of the underrepresented minorities in the community. The main goal of this event is to highlight to all members of the community, including those who are members of the Latinx community, the diversity of experiences that exist within one group of students that may be “lumped together” as part of the same culture. A secondary objective is to have a discussion about what can be done in the CSB and SJU community to make it more welcoming to Latinx students. Join the discussion here.  

Online cooking webinar with Chef Jack Riebel, 4:30 p.m.

Grab your apron and gather around your computer to join a virtual cooking webinar from award-winning Chef Jack Riebel, executive chef and owner of The Lexington in St. Paul, Minnesota. He will be making two Thai dishes during the demonstration. Register here for the webinar, and a list of ingredients can be found on the Community Engagement Day webpage. This event is organized by CSB Alumnae Relations.

The Reminders, presented by the Fine Arts Series, 7:30-9 p.m.

Find your groove as The Reminders deliver an inspiring performance that transcends expectations to uplift and entertain in this streamed event. The Reminders’ visionary music is infused with roots, soul and Colorado sunshine. The duo seamlessly blend soulful vocals with reggae-tinged hip-hop beats to highlight relevant and inspiring messages of unity and togetherness. Brussels-born emcee Big Samir weaves intricate rhythmic patterns into a bilingual French/English flow of street-smart consciousness. Queens-born emcee/vocalist Aja Black is a vocal powerhouse. Grounded in Islam, the duo creates music that speaks across difference and celebrates our shared humanity. Tickets for CSB/SJU students are free but registration is required to receive the steaming link.

Trivia/Bingo Night with the Joint Events Council (JEC) and the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship, 9 p.m.

Make sure you cover your free space as the JEC and the McNeely Center sponsor a virtual night of Bingo and trivia. There will be a number of prizes awarded throughout the evening.  Register here for the event.

Self-guided Virtual Visio Divina facilitated by Betsy Johnson, all day.

Visio Divina is translated as “divine seeing.” It is related to the prayer form Lectio Divina (divine reading), but instead of Scripture, this form of prayer uses visual elements. In connection with the exhibition “Lest We Forget” by Sandra Brick and Fred Amram, viewers may participate in this rich Benedictine tradition facilitated by Betsy Johnson, visiting assistant professor of English at CSB and SJU, to gain a deeper level observing art and self. Access to the 17-minute video is found on the Fine Arts Programming webpage.