Rose McGee, Roslyn Harmon, and Mari Harris Speak about American Dream with Theater and Musical Theater Students

October 21, 2024

Perpich Theater and Musical Theater students welcomed three special guests in the classroom on Monday; Rose McGee, Roslyn Harmon, and Mari Harris were invited to speak about Juneteenth and the “American Dream.” That theme is being explored by Perpich Theater and Musical Theater students this fall which has involved several conversations and visits.

Theater Instructor, Tory Peterson (left) with, from left, Mari Harris, Rose McGee, and Roslyn Harmon

Rose McGee is a facilitator, author, and creator of Sweet Potato Comfort Pie. Roslyn Harmon, McGee’s daughter, is the mayor of Golden Valley, the first person of color to hold that office. Mari Harris is an award-winning singer/songwriter, actress, and speaker.

The group gathered in a circle while McGee, Harris, and Harmon spoke about their lives and how they intersected with the “American Dream”. The students asked many questions during their time together.

Rose McGee is President and Founder of the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie organization. She is a well-known facilitator, one of Minnesota’s 50 Over 50, a member of the Golden Valley League of Women Voters, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Minneapolis Women’s Rotary, and a Humanities Officer with the Minnesota Humanities Center. She resides in Golden Valley, Minnesota, where she was named Citizen of the Year and has been presented with the Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award twice. She is a 2023 Facing Race Award recipient from the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, a 2023 Black Collectives Fellow, a 2023 and 2024 University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts Hub Fellow and a 2019 Bush Fellowship recipient, and is featured in the national PBS documentary, A Few Good Pie Places. Rose is the author of Story Circle Stories (Belfrey Press) and the newly released children’s book, Can’t Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie Like Our Mama (Minnesota Historical Society Press). She also authored the play, Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story, which has been performed across the state of Minnesota. Rose has delivered a TEDx Talk called The Power of Pie. Other recognition includes NAACP Outstanding Service Awards; Stairstep Foundation’s African Immersion to Ghana, West Africa; Jerome Foundation Travel Grant to Ghana, West Africa; and the Minnesota Social Impact Center Changemaker Award. In 2021, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie and Rose were featured in the Japanese press (Kyodo News) as one of “50 Positive Stories in the World During COVID-19.” Rose was also cited as an influential changemaker and leader in Reader’s Digest, Guidepost and The Washington Post’s Lily Edition. Rose earned her undergraduate degree from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and her master’s degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

With over 20 years of experience teaching, directing, training, and developing programming for various non-profit organizations and schools, Roslyn Harmon is an enthusiastic young pastor, educator, mental health practitioner, entrepreneur, and artist. She has advocated for highly skilled and proficient educators to be trained in restorative and mediation practices to continually repair harm in response to conflict that impedes student, teacher, and daily classroom performance and relationships. In addition to her extensive background in education, Roslyn is a mental health practitioner receiving her M.A. from Adler Graduate School in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is currently the Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Center in St. Paul, the oldest community mediation service in Minnesota. Roslyn calls herself a “CreArtive”, a word she feels encompasses her wide range of artistic gifts. She uses her natural talents to help others tap into their own source of inner-self for renewed growth and healing via artistic expressions and creative thinking. She is the lead facilitator and active board member of Sweet Potato Comfort Pie® Initiative, she is a Board Member for both MN Rally to Read and Westopolis, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, an ordained Pastor, a poet, author, motivational speaker, vocalist, and is a Prepare-Enrich Couples Coach. ​Roslyn is notably known for her historic win as the first person of color and Black woman to be Mayor of the city of Golden Valley, MN where she resides.

Mari Harris is an award-winning singer/songwriter, actress, pianist, speaker, voice coach, life coach, certified reflexologist, and a lover of life with a powerful commitment to provide entertainment, fun, empowerment, healing, and Love through the Arts. She sings, acts, and speaks on stages, in concert halls, on television, the internet, and the big screen, exciting and inspiring audiences with both her voice and her presence. In a world that is not necessarily designed for one to be multitalented, multidimensional, and multifaceted, she has met the challenge of creating a life where she can powerfully be who she is and do what she does. Mari is an amazing and fierce advocate for others as they shape their best, most powerful, and most fun lives! Performing nationally for world leaders, executive events, and educational institutions, Ms. Harris specializes in performing at cutting-edge conferences, gatherings, and special events.