The YES! House is a creative community gathering space located at 726 Prentice Street in Granite Falls, MN.

The programming and design of the space were developed through a year-long (and ongoing!) Artist-Led Design Build process facilitated by local and national artists and architects including Homeboat, MO/EN Design Practice, and the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership. We spent a year gathering input from the local community about the types of programming and facilities that would be most beneficial to the residents. We also mapped existing community assets to avoid duplication of resources and services, as our goal is to amplify and complement the incredible work of artists and community members already thriving in the region.

The YES! House is currently an active construction zone, but we’re hosting events, tours, and regular Open Hours!

 
 

Step into our welcoming environment, where the doors are open to all—whether you're a neighbor seeking a place to unwind, a student looking for inspiration, or a professional seeking collaboration opportunities. The YES! House is designed to be inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of background or status.

The YES! House is also here for you if you work from home and desire a new space to work, or if you need a space to host a meeting, or get together with friends!!

 
 

Meet The YES! House Staff!

Luwaina Al-Otaibi (she/her) is a creative event organizer, collaborator, environmental advocate, and artist! Born and raised in the Middle East, she moved to the US at the age of 17 to attend University where she received a degree in Environmental Science. Nine years ago she moved to her mother’s small hometown of Granite Falls for, what was supposed to be, just a short period of time. She ended up falling in love with the riverside town and found her passion embedding herself in the vibrant arts community through her work as Bluenose Gopher’s first Chief Operating Officer. Collaborating with musicians, dancers, foragers, theater artists and more to help create local events, proving that art of all shapes and sizes is an essential piece of any thriving downtown. Luwaina lives in Granite Falls with her two cats and dog. She enjoys the beauty of the Minnesota River Valley by kayaking the rivers and hiking the land.

As Program Coordinator, Luwaina activates The YES! House with events and regular open hours, supports community activities in Granite Falls and throughout Southwest Minnesota, and coordinates local event and project committees. Want to get involved? email Luwaina

Shy Miguel (she/her) is a local artist with a passion for a diverse range of art forms, including digital art, drawing, makeup artistry, photography, and more. After earning her degree in Social Work, she returned to her roots in rural Granite Falls 6 years ago. Shy spent several years working as a children’s mental health social worker before welcoming her first daughter in 2023. Combining her lifelong love for art with her commitment to social justice and mental health, Shy discovered her true passion. She found that using creativity as a therapeutic tool not only helped build stronger relationships but also addressed trauma that words often can’t reach. Moreover, it provided folks with lasting hobbies and skills to support their ongoing growth and healing. Shy is most proud of being a mom to Nelly, a partner to Matthew, and an auntie to her five nieces and two nephews.

As Program & Facilities Assistant, Shy supports a culture of welcoming and curiosity through public office hours, program and event support, and general facility stewardship. Want to get involved? email Shy

 

Meet the Creative Collaboration Team!

The Creative Collaboration Team (CCT) is a group of local artists and community members who meet monthly to discuss programming ideas, plan events, and spread the word about the happenings at The YES! House. Current CCT members include Mary Gillespie, Nicole Zempel, Joe Hauger, Edwin McGill, Janel Guertin, and Ben Dempcy. Previous CCT members include Beth Pullan, Jeremy Radtke, Tyler Gastecki, and Allie Cole. The CCT is led by Luwaina Al-Otaibi, Program Coordinator for The YES! House.

 

726 Prentice Street

726 Prentice Street and neighbors

In early 2018, the building at 726 Prentice Street, Granite Falls, MN, now known as The YES! House, was donated to the Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) by a local family. In the past, we have referred to this building as being "vacant" prior to our acceptance of ownership. We have come to realize that the word "vacant" can be harmful as it further perpetuates negative narratives of deficit and decline in rural areas. It also does not accurately articulate the fact that this building was wanted by local community members, and it had alternative possibilities to the one it serves today. With that understanding, we do not see ourselves as owners of this donated building, but as stewards of a space for community ideas to thrive. 

We recognize that our organization has inherent privileges with a white Executive Director and is part of a deeply flawed sexist, ableist, and racist nonprofit system. We have benefited, and continue to benefit, from that system in our access to resources and relationships. In the fall of 2022, DoPT will launched The YES! House Futures (YHF) Committee to guide the future operations and stewardship of The YES! House through a community-led process. We also implemented a series of community connectivity actions in the Granite Falls area, which you can read about here. We recognize that these are just a few steps in an ongoing journey; we continue to move slowly and intentionally to be considerate and thoughtful in our actions. Our goal as stewards is to be transparent and inclusive as we transform this building; and to be humble and generous neighbors, learning with community and working to give back to community.

Background: The Granite Area Arts Council (GAAC) operated as the fiscal sponsor in the transition of the building title prior to DoPT receiving 501(c)(3) status. While DoPT was officially incorporated in 2018,  the organization’s work is built on a deep foundation of rural arts practice and a ten-year relationship between our Executive Director and Southwestern Minnesota communities, including Granite Falls. After acquiring the building, DoPT wanted to continue to design, prototype, and implement many of our programs in and with the Southwestern Minnesota region because it is where the foundation of the organization emerged.


This is a work in progress, and we invite you to follow along on the journey.