Minnesota Independence College and Community

06/04/2026

🎨 What does it take to work at a world-class art center? Our participants got an inside look! MICC Career Confidence participants recently ventured to the Walker Art Center for a guided, behind-the-scenes tour where they learned about working at a gallery and talked with a number of current employees. Afterwards, the group took a quick walk over to the sculpture garden!

Career Confidence is a welcoming, hands-on program for autistic and neurodivergent adults who want to build confidence, try new things and feel more prepared for work. It’s designed for individuals with some life or work experience who are motivated to grow toward meaningful employment. Through guided activities, real-life experiences and strong connections within our inclusive community, participants build skills, confidence and clarity, helping them explore work options that fit their interests, strengths and goals.

👉 Interested in joining the next cycle of Career Confidence? Learn more at https://www.micc.org/programs/career-confidence/

06/03/2026

🎉 MICC College first and second-year participants jumped, flipped, climbed, and laughed their way through their last Exercise for Life class of the year with a trip to Sky Zone!

It was such a great way to celebrate all the hard work, growth, and friendships built throughout the year while staying active together. We loved seeing participants encourage one another, try new things, and make memories to close out the semester on a high note!

06/02/2026

🧹 MICC’s Spring Cleaning Volunteer Day brought our community together for a day full of teamwork, connection, and giving back! Volunteers joined us on campus to help clean, organize, and refresh shared spaces across MICC.

From tackling projects side-by-side to sharing conversations and laughs throughout the day, it was wonderful to see people come together to support our community. Every project completed helped make our campus feel even more welcoming and ready for the season ahead.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time, energy, and care! Learn more about volunteering at MICC: https://www.micc.org/get-involved/volunteer/

06/01/2026

🌼 MICC’s Career Confidence participants recently visited Bachman's Garden, Floral, and Home for a tour and to learn more about career opportunities!

Career Confidence is a welcoming, hands-on program for autistic and neurodivergent adults who want to build confidence, try new things and feel more prepared for work. It’s designed for individuals with some life or work experience who are motivated to grow toward meaningful employment. Through guided activities, real-life experiences and strong connections within our inclusive community, participants build skills, confidence and clarity, helping them explore work options that fit their interests, strengths and goals.

👉 Interested in joining the next cycle of Career Confidence? Learn more at https://www.micc.org/programs/career-confidence/

05/28/2026

🎓 MICC is excited to celebrate recent MICC graduate, Hailey, as she begins her new position working in the deli at Cub! Starting a new job is a huge accomplishment, and Hailey is already looking forward to learning new things and growing her skills in the workplace.

One of the things Hailey is most excited about is the welcoming environment at Cub. She shared that everyone has been “very nice and welcoming,” helping her feel comfortable and supported as she starts this new chapter.

Throughout her employment journey, Hailey learned an important lesson about perseverance and trusting the process. “Some jobs aren’t meant to happen, but you will find that amazing opportunity,” she shared. Her encouragement to other MICC participants is to stay positive, keep trying, and not give up on finding the right fit.

Hailey also reflected on the confidence she has gained during her time at MICC. “Before MICC I had confidence issues, and MICC has made me feel so much more confident in my abilities, which has made me feel like I deserve and am capable to have a job.”

As she celebrates this accomplishment, Hailey expressed gratitude to the people who supported her along the way, especially the MICC job developers who helped her build the skills and confidence needed to reach this goal.

We are incredibly proud of Hailey and all of the hard work she put into reaching this milestone. Congratulations, Hailey — we can’t wait to see all the amazing things ahead for you at Cub!

👉 Learn more about MICC programs to help reach your career goals at micc.org!
Cub

05/27/2026

🔢 Looking for a calm, welcoming space to connect with others and have fun? Join MICC's Bingo Night — a relaxed, sensory-considerate monthly event designed with you in mind. This event is open to all autistic and neurodivergent adults (18+). 35 spots available – sign up today!

Saturday, May 30 from 6:30-8:30 PM
Woodlake Lutheran Church
Cost: FREE
Register on MICC Events Page: https://www.micc.org/event/micc-bingo-night-may-2026/

What to Expect:
• Gentle-paced bingo games — no pressure to compete
• Quiet zones if you need a break
• Welcoming environment for all communication styles
• Chips, popcorn, cookies, and water provided
• Fidgets available
• Fun prizes!

Parent and Caregiver Connection Opportunity During Bingo:
Join other parents and caregivers for snacks, drinks, and casual conversation. MICC will have resources available for connecting with other parents/caregivers, county services, MICC programming, and much more.

05/26/2026

🎓 MICC Class of 2026, you did it! We are so proud of each and every one of you! Never stop learning, growing, and being you. Check out photos from this year’s inspiring graduation ceremony 📷

Thank you to Best Buy for providing your incredible event space and a crew of helpful volunteers!

Thank you to Coppersmith Photography for these wonderful images!

Read a full recap of the event on the Bulldog blog: https://www.micc.org/class-of-2026-graduates/

05/22/2026

🏅 MICC graduates are in the final stretch of training for Special Olympics USA Games! As announced last summer, our very own MICC graduates Kayla (‘20, unified golf), Michael (‘24, soccer), and Aaron (‘24, soccer) were selected to join Special Olympics’ Team Minnesota for the USA Games happening right here in the Twin Cities this June. All three are hard at work training and getting prepared for the big event!

👉 Read our latest blog to find out what they’ve been up to and what they’re looking forward to when the games begin in June: https://www.micc.org/micc-graduates-in-the-final-stretch-of-training-for-special-olympics-usa-games/
Special Olympics Minnesota Special Olympics USA Games

05/21/2026

🤔 Not sure which MICC program is right for you? Our Program Selector includes our new programs, Career Confidence and Connect! Try it out to see if your answer is College, Career Confidence, Connect, or Summer. Once you have your recommendation, our admissions team will reach out to you with next steps. This is a great way to start your journey at MICC!

👉 Try it out to get your result! https://www.micc.org/program-selector/

Discover the best MICC program for you — College, Workplace Readiness or Summer — with the Program Selector.

05/20/2026

🕵 An evening of mystery, teamwork, and plenty of laughs made for an unforgettable adventure! MICC participants recently ventured to Stillwater for an exciting murder mystery event! The evening kicked off with a dinner together, giving everyone a chance to settle in, connect, and get into character before the mystery unfolded. Participants were split into two teams, with one group successfully solving the case.

It was a great mix of social connection, teamwork, and playful problem solving, and a perfect example of how shared experiences like this create space for participants to build relationships and step into new roles with confidence.