The Mankato Family YMCA has withdrawn from hosting the “Power to Choose: 2025 Education Expo” organized by the Center of the American Experiment (CAE), citing concerns over the organization’s “political affiliations and broader mission.”
Mankato YMCA Executive Director Andrew Burk said in a Facebook post that the YMCA initially agreed to host the event “with the understanding that it was an opportunity to highlight the diverse educational options available in our community.”
“However, we have since learned more about the political affiliations and broader mission of the American Experiment,” Burk said. “Had we been aware of this from the start, we would have made a different decision regarding hosting the event.”
“The Greater Mankato area is very diverse, and it is our job to provide a safe place to come together,” he added.
The YMCA’s decision came after criticism from local activists, CAE wrote in an article on its website. Jennifer Hildebrandt, who says she teaches classes at the YMCA, was “alarmed” when she heard that CAE was holding an event there.
“Upon deeper examination, turns out, the American Experiment is an insidiously racist, homophobic, hate-filled, hateful group whose values (or lack thereof) are polar-opposite that of the YMCA’s historically faith-based mission of diversity, equity and inclusion. The group has a history of infecting the world with their hateful, hate-filled rhetoric and agenda. Their strategy to infiltrate our community’s safe spaces and spread their cancerous message using vague, misleading language that ‘normalizes’ their agenda, to come across as benign, nonpartisan, concerned citizens is very intentional, manipulative and dangerous,” Hildebrandt wrote in a public Facebook post.
She said that the YMCA was “flooded” with negative feedback about the event.
Another woman, Lisa Finch, said she canceled her membership to the YMCA after learning that “a hate group [was] using their space as a platform to spread misinformation about our local education system and to promote vouchers/school choice programs.”
Center of the American Experiment responded, saying that the YMCA was caving to pressure.
“Another venue reneged on their agreement to host an event for Center of the American Experiment at the last minute after being bullied by local activists,” the organization said. “The YMCA’s decision came as a shock to us as we had already worked out all the arrangements with them and printed and mailed thousands of invitations.”
The group also denied having “political affiliations,” saying, “As a 501(c)(3) organization, we have no political affiliation. Our mission is to ‘propose creative solutions that emphasize free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility and government accountability.’”
CAE said it is seeking an alternative venue and considering legal action, calling the YMCA’s decision a “breach of contract.”
A similar situation occurred in 2022 when the Rochester Country Club canceled an event the day before it was scheduled. CAE said it sued and recovered damages of $5,300.48.
The education expo, now in its third year, was expected to feature 20 community organizations, and two local school districts at the Mankato event.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
