A ConFluence for Star Trek fans, cosplayers and gamer nerds of color

Artist and instructor Leslie Barlow launched the sci-fi convention ConFluence in Minneapolis for geeks of color two years ago, but the real journey started long ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

“I grew up in a family of Black nerds, so these kinds of shows and movies were just something we gravitated toward and talked about,” the 36-year-old Barlow said.

On Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of nerds will let loose at the second ConFluence, a sci-fi and fantasy convention at Northrup King Building in northeast Minneapolis.

The two-day convention is packed with panels and workshops on topics not visible in mainstream sci-fi worlds. There will be sessions on Black anime, decolonizing world-building, revolution in science-fiction from Middle Eastern perspectives, and Indigenous and Latino representation in pop culture.

It also will feature a cosplay contest, late-night dance party and tons of vendors.

This year’s theme, “Futures in Color,” is partially inspired by artist Alisha B. Wormsley’s Afrofuturist billboard art project “There are Black People in the Future,” which addresses systemic oppression and asserting presence.

No sci-fi convention is complete without special guests. And this year’s get is actor Tim Russ, who played Tuvok on the “Star Trek: Voyager.” He’ll be on a “Star Trek” panel on Saturday night and will be around signing autographs most of the weekend.

“I always had to respond: If you were a Trek fan, you’d understand,” Russ said. “It has nothing to do with DEI ― it has to do with the planet has two suns, so it’s gonna be a lot hotter than Earth, and nobody on Earth looks the same."

Other guests at the convention include gamemaster Aabria Iyengar, filmmaker and Afrofuturism author Ytasha Womack and game designer Evva Karr.

Barlow doesn’t remember how old she was when she first watched or read science-fiction novels.

“I feel like it was from the moment I came out of the womb ― very, very young,” she said.

Her dad was the “OG Black nerd.”

As an adult, Barlow started seeking out more stories that featured Black characters.

“There are tons of queer fantasy stories, tons of stories led by Black Indigenous people and people of color, but they haven’t consistently been a part of the mainstream,” she said.

Cosplay ― when people dress up and embody characters from anime, video games, movies or books ― is another popular element at ConFluence.

Cosplayer Mason Persons plans to transform into Mami Tomoe, one of the five Magical Girls in the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime and manga series.

“I am going to ‘concrunch,’ which is when you spend the last week or two up to the con making a cosplay,” said Persons of East St. Paul.

Visual artist and graphic designer Adrian Lowe, 33, discovered the Japanese anime show “Dragon Ball Z” in the mid-’90s, when he was in middle school. He attended the 2023 ConFluence, and loved it so much that he joined the planning committee.

Lowe had been to other sci-fi conventions, but not like ConFluence.

“It felt more like family, like you are really seeing the organizers doing every part of the convention and even the speakers having a little bit more interpersonal connections with them,” he said.

The conference attracts fans of all ages. Older nerds grew up watching “Star Trek,” while the younger ones are watching re-runs and clips on YouTube.

“We all look different on this planet,” Russ said. “Why wouldn’t anybody look different on another planet?”

Where: 1500 NE. Jackson St., Mpls.

Cost: $35-$80. Tickets include a free swag bag.