CLC presents ConnectEffect, a free community event

Central Lakes College presents ConnectEffect, a free community event, from January 26-28, 2026 at the Dryden Theatre at the CLC Brainerd Campus.

The CONNECTEFFECT Experience examines media, division, identity, human connection, and the difference between the “Real World” & the “Screen World” in a deeply personal & deeply disarming way. CONNECTEFFECT takes an audience of total strangers across all backgrounds, beliefs, and generations, and quickly equalizes & humanizes them into one deeply-connected group. Once connected the audience enjoys a revitalized sense of connection & community all within an enjoyable & entertaining experience!

Presented by Riaz Patel, an Executive Producer/Director of TV series & media projects in Los Angeles with a specific focus on transformative, perspective shifting projects. He has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, and an NAACP Image Award for creatively leading shows for NBC/Universal, Lifetime, Discovery, and many others. His shows have been filmed in 21 different countries, and distributed worldwide by companies like A&E, MTV, Hulu, and Netflix. His most recent project, “The RAD Impact Awards” featured Priyanka Chopra, Margot Robbie, Charlize Theron, Laverne Cox & Travis Scott and earned 138.4 million impressions online. He sits on the Board of Trustees of Odyssey/Impact (NYC) and The Jenesse Center (LA).

ConnectEffect was first presented at CLC in January 2024 and received an overwhelmingly positive response. Following the program, 93% of participants reported feeling more able to connect with others, 97% felt more equipped to bridge divides, and 99% said they would recommend the experience to others. Building on this success, CLC launched Chatty Hour, a free, ongoing community program designed to foster meaningful connection. Chatty Hour now meets weekly on Tuesdays from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at Passport, a restaurant in downtown Brainerd, creating a consistent and welcoming space for community members to gather and engage.

ConnectEffect is free to attend – registration encouraged at www.clcperformingarts.com.

Presented with support by Age-Friendly Minnesota and Odyssey Impact.