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Eagle Express & Community Programming
Meeting our students and families where they are at ensures we provide meaningful and engaging learning opportunities, regardless of their location or circumstance. Our Eagle Express is an innovative mobile classroom and community outreach bus that removes barriers to education and opens doors to new exploration. We acknowledge and honor the unique backgrounds and needs of our Eden Prairie Schools families and strive to create an inclusive learning environment where each student can thrive.
Check back often to see when and where you can catch the Eagle Express in action!
Upcoming Stops
EPIC-on-the-Go!
EPIC will bring FREE Summer programming to Eden Prairie communities starting June of 2025 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Registration is required!
Mondays: 6/23, 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11 at Briarhill Apartments
Tuesdays: 6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12 at Edenvale Apartments
Wednesdays: 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13 at the Preserve Association.
Thursdays: 6/26, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14 at Burning Tree West Apartments
Author Visits:
Olivia Antilla, Outreach & Engagement Supervisor, has initiated partnerships with local authors to participate in Community Education's Eagle Express: EPIC-on-the-GO Summer Stops Program.
As a part of this collaboration, authors will visit designated program locations to read their books aloud to children. Following the reading, each child that lives at the property will receive a copy of the featured book to take home and have signed by the author.
We hope to SPARK! a lifelong love of literacy by weaving together, "Stories Promoting Adventure, Reading and Knowledge", through interactive, hands-on learning and activities. We believe this helps to serve as an extension of the literacy experience.
- For assistance in English, please call 952-975-6911
- Para asistencia en español, llame al 952-975-7206
- Kaalmada af Somali la xidhiidh 952-975-7254
Any questions please contact, Ben Lee, Youth Programs Lead.
If you're interested in sponsoring an Eagle Express event or making a monetary donation to directly support the program, please contact Ben Lee, Youth Programs Lead, for more information and opportunities to get involved.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Scheels for their generous donation, which supports our ability to provide snacks throughout the summer.
Briarhill Apartments
Author Visits:
- Keenan Jones will be at Briarhill Apartments on Monday, June 23rd, 2025 from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- Thuba Nguyen will be at Briarhill Apartments on Monday, July 14th, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Naima Haji will be at Briarhill Apartments Monday, July 28th, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Sarah Warren will be at Briarhill Apartments on Monday, August 4th, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Jade Amez will be at Briarhill Apartments on Monday, August 11th, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Edenvale Apartments
Author Visit:
- Keenan Jones will be at Edenvale Apartments on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Burning Tree West Apartments
Meet the Authors
Keenan Jones is an author who currently resides in Plymouth, Minnesota, who spent his childhood in Gary, Indiana and south suburban Chicago. He comes from a family of educators, pastors, athletes, and musicians. After suffering a career-ending injury while playing college basketball, Keenan pursued a career in education, serving as an elementary school teacher before returning to his passion of writing. As an author, Keenan believes that literacy can inspire young people to dream and strive for greatness. He is committed to providing every child with the opportunity to immerse themselves in great books. Keenan writes stories that reflect the beauty of Black culture in America and aims to create representation in children’s literature.
Sarah Warren is an award-winning children's book author. She is also the co-founder of Picture Book Parade, an organization that promotes literacy, love, and diverse local authors by hosting storytelling exhibits in unexpected places. You can find out more at sarahwbooks.com & picturebookparade.com
Sarah Warren is an award-winning children's book author. She is also the co-founder of Picture Book Parade, an organization that promotes literacy, love, and diverse local authors by hosting storytelling exhibits in unexpected places.
Thuba Nguyễn is an educator, author and community advocate. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) with a focus on Special Needs and Leadership. Her children's book initiative is a grassroots movement that helped launch, sell, and distribute 1000 copies nationally and internationally. Thuba plays a key role in organizing a people-powered movement, resulting in instrumental support for the overall literacy mission and community networking. As a published children's book author, she works to promote early literacy development in young children within historically underrepresented communities and families. Thuba believes children’s books are becoming a cornerstone for social justice work among young students- and simply put, representation matters. She has traveled across the nation to visit schools and scholars from diverse backgrounds and language abilities, observing and learning more about their social justice models in education.
Notably, Nguyen toured schools on the East Coast in Philadelphia, Rhode Island, and Boston, presenting on the importance of writing and reading instruction for early and youth students, with a focus on cultural stories and storytelling. She also assisted the San Francisco Public Library in relaunching their family story time program. Her work education and philosophy approach centers on culturally responsive teaching, abolitionist teaching, Black feminism, and anti-bias and anti-racist pedagogy. Thuba enjoys reading and writing poetry, attending art shows, and lives in Coon Rapids with her partner and two dogs.
Naima Haji is a mother of three children, an author, educator, early childhood literacy advocate, and entrepreneur. She is a dedicated equity professional who works in the Equity Department of the St. Cloud Area School District. Naima is passionate about bilingual family education and hopes to inspire others to invest in family growth and education.
Jade Amez is an Asian-American children’s book author. She published her children’s book, Where Am I From (2024), to teach that families do not all look the same. Families come in all different shapes and sizes, you may not look like everyone in your family, but that doesn’t make you any less family. Jade is an international, infant adoptee from Taiwan, adopted into an interracial family. She has two families and two places to call home. Her book explores the literal and figurative questions some people may struggle with, while examining the similarities and differences within cultures, families and individuals. Through Jade's story, you can build empathy, reflect on your own journey, expand your understanding of family and adoption, as well as empower yourself to take pride in who you are, what makes up who you are - not letting where you're born or where you live define you.
Past Stops
Explore the Eagle Express
- Give Gathering: The Eagle Express will be in attendance at the free Give Gathering event on Saturday, September 28th, 2024 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm following the Parade at the Eden Prairie High School's Aerie Stadium & Bus Loop (East side of the building). This event is an annual opportunity to learn about the nonprofits, social service agencies and civic organizations that serve Eden Prairie. It's a one-stop shop to explore volunteer opportunities as well as programs and services available to residents. This year, the GIVE Gathering will take place as part of a larger community celebration in conjunction with homecoming weekend.
- EPIC-on-the-Go!: EPIC will bring FREE programming to Burning Tree Apartments, Briarhill Apartments, Edenvale Apartments and Fountain Place Apartments starting June 24th, 2024. See location dates below! All programming will be available 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
Burning Tree Apartments: July 15th, 22nd, 29th, August 5th, 12th.
Briarhill Apartments: July 16th, 23rd, 30th, August 6th, 13th
Edenvale Apartments: July 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, August 7th, 14th
Fountain Place Apartments: July 11th, 18th, 25th, August 1st, 8th, 15th.
- The PeopleFest! Party: July 28th, 2024 from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Staring Lake Park (Central Middle School is the rain/weather back-up location)
- PTO President's Council Meeting: building awareness of CE Programming among PTO leaders.
- Youth DIY Soy Candle Workshop: Youth were offered the opportunity to make their own candles with EPIC staff on the Eagle Express at Nesbitt Park.
- Early Childhood Family Education Play Time on the Eagle Express: Fun and educational activities for parents and their young children. These events were held at a variety of locations such as Burning Tree Apartments and Edenvale Apartments.
- EPIC Eagle Express Activities: a free variety of fun arts, crafts, outdoor activities and learning at Prairie View Park.
- Summer 2023 Eagle Express Stops
Tuesday, July 18th, 2023: Pop-up Splash Pad at Nesbitt Preserve Park, 5:00-7:00 PM
Sunday, July 30, 2023: The PeopleFest! Party at Staring Lake Park (Central Middle School is the rain/weather back-up location) , 3:00-7:00 PM
Thursday, August 3, 2023: PeopleFest! Author Reading with Habso Mohamud & People Shapes Kids Craft, Salsa del Soul at Staring Lake Park, 5:45-6:45 PM
Tuesday, August 8, 2023: Pop-up Splash Pad at Edenvale Park, 5:00-7:00 PM
Sunday, August 27, 2023: Community Education Back-to-School Party at Fat Pants, 5:00-7:00 PM