Fall – harvest time, canning and freezing time. A time of year when families aren’t hurting for food, right? Not necessarily. Last week, the USDA released this year’s report on household food security. It breaks down like this: Households that faced food insecurity in 2012: 14.5 percent in the US 10.6 percent in Minnesota 11 …
Michelle waits with her two children at the front door of the Second Harvest North Central Food Bank as the clock ticks towards 11 a.m. She explains to me that summer is usually a time for fun and sun, but for parents who rely on subsidized school lunches for their children, summer can bring unexpected …
From the fumbling fingertips of a young novice to the silky strokes of a proficient, a musician’s dancing notes have the power to connect people, especially in rural places. The Itasca Orchestra Strings Program (IOSP) has been linking lives through music for 32 years. Early on, IOSP partnered with the Itasca Area Schools Collaborative (IASC) …
Recently, both federal and state governments have taken bold steps to improve early childhood education. In May, the state education budget increased by $485 million after being signed into law by Governor Dayton. More than $170 million of that increase will go towards early education programs like all-day kindergarten and preschool. Similarly, in President Obama’s …
What does Gloria Estefan, pianist Michael Feinstein, singer/songwriter James Taylor and the Deer River High School Choir have in common? The answer: a passion for music and the technology to bring them together. On May 22, 2013, the 3rd annual Bridging the Gap Concert kicked off with a performance by Emerson Middle School in Los Angeles, …
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” ― Bryant McGill Blandin Foundation has special relationships with the 26 communities in the Itasca area. One way Blandin Foundation President and CEO Kathy Annette nurtures these relationships is to host listening meetings in each one to learn …
Minnesota has work to do. While we generally are quite optimistic about the future, economic recovery is not reaching all Minnesotans, especially those older, with lower incomes, and small businesses. That’s the top line gleaned from interviews with nearly 2,000 rural and urban Minnesotans. Thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Community Foundation, we were …
Yesterday’s ICC Career Fair gave about 1,500 junior and senior high school students from Itasca area schools a chance to get up close to the tools of the trade in their favorite career choices. Professionals from various fields were available to answer questions and provide interactive and hands-on activities for participants. Students also could practice their …
They say everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame — and today it’s the Itasca Area School Collaborative‘s turn. The seven-district consortium’s $1 million federal RUS grant to bring telepresence to 20-plus schools was featured in an MSNBC article about the changing landscape of technology in America’s schools. While the story may bring 15 minutes …
Flood damage from last week’s torrential rains have put leaders across northeastern Minnesota to the test. From emergency services workers to church communities to school staff, those in positions of authority are leading the way towards securing resources for recovery, and bolstering their neighbors with hope. Blandin Foundation has joined the Northland Foundation, AgStar Financial …