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In this powerful episode of Wheels of Change, we sit down with author, accessibility advocate, and community leader Jenna Udenberg. A lifelong resident of Minnesota's Northshore, Jenna has used a manual wheelchair since the age of 8 due to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis — and has been rolling through life with unstoppable determination ever since. Jenna spent 19 years as a music educator, inspiring students in and out of the classroom. Now, she uses her voice to uplift others through her deeply personal and thought-provoking column Local View from 4 foot 2 in the Lake County Press. Recognized as a 2017 Blandin Foundation Community Leader and a 2020 Bush Fellow, Jenna brings both insight and heart to every space she enters. From the challenges of accessibility to the joy of LEGO robotics, this conversation dives into what it means to live boldly, lead with purpose, and create a life that motivates change — no matter your perspective.Jenna Udenberg is an author, accessibility advocate, and former music educator who calls Minnesota's Northshore home. Diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at age 8, she has used a manual wheelchair for most of her life and continues to be a powerful voice for inclusion and representation. Jenna is the author of the Local View from 4 foot 2 column in the Lake County Press, where she shares raw, insightful reflections on life from a seated perspective. She was named a Blandin Foundation Community Leader in 2017 and received a prestigious Bush Fellowship in 2020 for her work in advocacy and community building. When she's not writing or speaking, Jenna enjoys the outdoors, playing games with friends, fishing, and coaching the Robo Dweebs — a LEGO robotics team full of future innovators. Her mission is simple but impactful: to create space for every voice, every perspective, and every story.https://www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.
From the lowlands of chocolate gravy to the stunning heights of sweet potato pie, Brian and Trey cross the dessert divide with “baketivist” Rose McGee, and discover how the simple act of baking a pie can inspire and uplift in even the most difficult times. Rose McGee is President and Founder of the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie organization. She is a well-known facilitator, one of Minnesota's 50 Over 50, a member of the Golden Valley League of Women Voters, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Minneapolis Women's Rotary, and a Humanities Officer with the Minnesota Humanities Center. She resides in Golden Valley, Minnesota, where she was named Citizen of the Year and has been presented with the Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award twice. She is a 2023 Facing Race Award recipient from the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, a 2023 Black Collectives Fellow, a 2023 and 2024 University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts Hub Fellow and a 2019 Bush Fellowship recipient, and is featured in the national PBS documentary, A Few Good Pie Places.For Rose's Sweet Potato Pie recipe go to: https://www.sweetpotatocomfortpie.org/the-pie/ Brian Phelps is an American radio personality, actor, and comedian best known for co-hosting the nationally and globally syndicated Mark & Brian Morning Show in Los Angeles for 25 years. As the co-lead of his own television series, with multiple roles in movies, and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Phelps is also an inductee in the Radio Hall of Fame.Trey Callaway is an American film and TV writer and producer who wrote the hit movie I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and has produced successful TV series like CSI:NY, Supernatural, Rush Hour, Revolution, The Messengers, APB, Station 19 and 9-1-1 LONE STAR. He is also a Professor at USC.___________________________________Make sure to follow us on social media at:begoodhumanspodcast.cominstagram.comtiktok.com
There are three South Dakotans in the 2024 Bush Fellowship cohort. Amber Zora, David O'Hara and Lily Mendoza share their upcoming projects.
One of the greatest gifts you can give any leader is the time and money to become even more effective at the change they want to make in the world. That idea is at the heart of the Bush Fellowship.Every year, up to 30 people across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and in 23 Native nations receive this prestigious fellowship from the Bush Foundation, along with grants of up to $150,000 to pursue their own personal and professional development. The application for next year's cohort is open through Oct. 15. On Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talked with three Bush Fellows about their work and how deepening a connection to their own culture is helping them make Minnesota a better place. Guests: Irma Márquez Trapero is a 2024 Bush Fellow and co-founder and CEO of LatinoLEAD, a nonprofit organization that is working to advance Latino Minnesotans into positions of leadership through advocacy and professional development. Michelle Goose is a 2024 Bush Fellow and an Ojibwe language instructor and faculty program coordinator for American Indian Studies at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet. She is also a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.Vayong Moua is a 2020 Bush Fellow. He is the director of racial and health equity and advocacy at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
One of the greatest gifts you can give any leader is the time and money to become even more effective at the change they want to make in the world. That idea is at the heart of the Bush Fellowship.Every year, up to 30 people across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and in 23 Native nations receive this prestigious fellowship from the Bush Foundation, along with grants of up to $150,000 to pursue their own personal and professional development. The application for next year's cohort is open through Oct. 15. On Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talked with three Bush Fellows about their work and how deepening a connection to their own culture is helping them make Minnesota a better place. Guests: Irma Márquez Trapero is a 2024 Bush Fellow and co-founder and CEO of LatinoLEAD, a nonprofit organization that is working to advance Latino Minnesotans into positions of leadership through advocacy and professional development. Michelle Goose is a 2024 Bush Fellow and an Ojibwe language instructor and faculty program coordinator for American Indian Studies at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet. She is also a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.Vayong Moua is a 2020 Bush Fellow. He is the director of racial and health equity and advocacy at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Alex Steinman is a seasoned professional in advertising and public relations, with a decade of experience in major agencies and as an independent senior communications strategist focusing on women business owners. Her career diversified following the birth of her first child in 2014, leading to the creation of Strong Like Mama, a blog dedicated to the experiences of working mothers. Steinman's expertise includes a wide range of skills such as leadership, crowdfunding, coaching, event coordinating, and project management, with a client list featuring White Wave Foods, Big Ten Network, TruTV, and others. Recognized for her inclusive work, she has been featured on Forbes' "Next 1000" and AMEX's "100 for 100" lists, and received the Mpls/St. Paul Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award and a 2019 Bush Fellowship. Passionate about storytelling and uplifting underestimated communities, Steinman's work is driven by her commitment to building equitable spaces and fostering diversity. The Coven is an innovative coworking community that champions the concept of belonging. With a network exceeding 1,000 members, collaborators, and partners, it brings together radical leaders from across the nation who are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities. Distinctively, The Coven holds the title of being the world's first woman-owned coworking franchise, as recognized by industry experts. It offers a unique blend of essential leadership and insights focused on the future of work, emphasizing the creation of brave spaces that respect and celebrate diverse lived experiences. The Coven invites individuals to experience a sense of belonging by joining its vibrant community, either as a member, community owner, or collaborator, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. Meet The Coven: https://www.thecoven.com/ Watch the Full Interview: https://youtu.be/oh5J8tZK0bk Unlock career success with "Riderflex Guide 2.0: Mastering Job Interviews." Over 30 years of recruitment expertise. Strategies for new graduates, seasoned professionals. Master virtual interviews, and challenging questions. Get your copy today at: https://tinyurl.com/Mastering-Job-Interviews Listen to real stories from successful business leaders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs on the Riderflex podcast hosted by CEO Steve Urban. The Riderflex Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NDLaxEqkMsnlYrc5ntAPw Trust Riderflex, a premier headhunter and employment agency based in Colorado, to recruit top talent for your team. Visit https://riderflex.com/ to learn more about our executive recruiting services. Podcast Sponsor: Kura Home Services, Air Duct Cleaning & Home Maintenance. For All your Home Maintenance needs! https://www.kurahome.com/kura-home-services-colorado/ #AlexSteinman #TheCoven #EmpoweringCommunities #InclusiveLeadership #JoinUs #riderflexpodcast #careeradvice #Podcast #entrepreneur #ColoradoRecruitingFirm #recruiting #Colorado #National #Riderflex #TalentAcquisition #Employment #JobTips #ResumeTips --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riderflex/support
Want to see the video version of this podcast? Please visit Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYOKr5S4YvU 0:00 - Talent Cannot Be Taught 9:05 - Most People Don't Want Massive Success 22:12 - It Takes Most Actors 20 Years To Learn This Lesson 41:22 - How To Boost Confidence 53:30 - What Happens When an Actor Faces a "Bad Script"? 1:11:25 - Why An Acting Audition Is The Real Job 1:25:43 - This Is What Stops An Actor From Getting Into Character 1:36:50 - If You Put Business First You'll Never Be An Artist BUY THE BOOK - THE AUTHENTIC ACTOR: The Art and Business of Being Yourself https://amzn.to/3ECXbjk Michael Laskin has been a working professional actor for over 40 years in film, television, and the theatre – from SEINFELD to BIG LITTLE LIES and a great deal in between. He has worked extensively off-Broadway, and at some of America's leading regional theatres, including The Guthrie Theatre, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Geffen Playhouse, The Seattle Repertory Theatre, and The Mixed Blood Theatre Company. Additionally, he was awarded a Fringe First Award at The Edinburgh Festival for playing “Richard Nixon” in TEA WITH DICK AND GERRY, which went on to a successful run at London's Roundhouse Theatre. Michael also starred in the Canadian premier of the Pulitzer Prize winning drama “Talley's Folly” and his most recent stage work was the American premiere of the one-person play, ALTMAN'S LAST STAND in Los Angeles. A recipient of a Bush Fellowship with The Guthrie Theatre, he was also awarded a Distinguished Alumnus Award from The University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts. A graduate of Northwestern University's theatre department where he received his bachelor's degree, Michael also has a masters degree in theatre management from The University of Minnesota. Additionally he's taught acting at USC, UCLA, Queen's College-Cambridge (UK), The Actors Centre (London), Art Center College of Design, Kennesaw University, the University of Minnesota, the Hawaii International Film Festival, and South Coast Repertory Co. He's had the privilege of working with some of the great artists in film and theatre, including Barry Levinson, Stephen Frears, Walter Matthau, John Sayles, Paul Mazursky, Bob Rafelson, Michael Langham, Robert Duvall, Roy Dotrice, and many others. MORE VIDEOS WITH MICHAEL LASKIN https://bit.ly/3TF5v73 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL LASKIN https://www.michaellaskinstudio.com https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0489644 https://www.instagram.com/michaellaskinstudio https://twitter.com/michaellaskin MORE MICHAEL WIESE PRODUCTIONS AUTHORS https://mwp.com (Affiliates) SAVE $15 ON YOUTUBE TV - LIMITED TIME OFFER https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r0847ysqgrrqgp ►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – https://buff.ly/3rWqrra ►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – http://amzn.to/2tbFlM9 SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE http://www.FilmCourage.com http://twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://bit.ly/18DPN37 Stuff we use: LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - http://amzn.to/2tbtmOq AUDIO Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post https://amzn.to/425k5rG Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - https://amzn.to/3WEuz0k LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - http://amzn.to/2u5UnHv *These are affiliate links, by using them you can help support this channel.
The Business Elevation Show with Chris Cooper - Be More. Achieve More
How do you build a successful family business and maintain a warm and loving family? My guest, Thomas M. Hubler, has over 35 years of experience of working with families. In his early career he was a marriage and family therapist and, after receiving a Bush Fellowship in 1977, pioneered the concept of succession planning in family-owned businesses. Today, the Hubler firm helps families develop a shared vision for the family and for the business; identify individual talents; tackle unspoken issues; and create individual and organizational strategies to ensure a personally and financially rewarding business. Also, a family culture of gratitude, philanthropy and living purposeful lives. Hubler is a founding member of the Family Firm Institute (FFI) in Boston, a professional organization serving the needs of family-owned businesses. He is a Fellow in FFI and a widely quoted expert on family business issues. He served for 25 years as a member of the editorial board of the Family Business Review. He has authored articles on success strategies for family-owned businesses and been widely quoted in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Business Week. Join us as we discuss strategies to build thriving family businesses, with loving relationships at the core.
The Business Elevation Show with Chris Cooper - Be More. Achieve More
How do you build a successful family business and maintain a warm and loving family? My guest, Thomas M. Hubler, has over 35 years of experience of working with families. In his early career he was a marriage and family therapist and, after receiving a Bush Fellowship in 1977, pioneered the concept of succession planning in family-owned businesses. Today, the Hubler firm helps families develop a shared vision for the family and for the business; identify individual talents; tackle unspoken issues; and create individual and organizational strategies to ensure a personally and financially rewarding business. Also, a family culture of gratitude, philanthropy and living purposeful lives. Hubler is a founding member of the Family Firm Institute (FFI) in Boston, a professional organization serving the needs of family-owned businesses. He is a Fellow in FFI and a widely quoted expert on family business issues. He served for 25 years as a member of the editorial board of the Family Business Review. He has authored articles on success strategies for family-owned businesses and been widely quoted in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Business Week. Join us as we discuss strategies to build thriving family businesses, with loving relationships at the core.
For 55 years, the Bush Foundation has been awarding individual grants to leaders who can exponentially improve life for community members through creativity and drive. Two of the 2021 Bush Fellowship recipients — Naomi Ko and E.G. Bailey — joined host Angela Davis to talk about what the fellowship means for them, their work and their communities. Ko and Bailey, both filmmakers, are committed to increasing representation of people of color in filmmaking and infusing the local filmmaking scene with energy and vibrancy. Guests: E.G. Bailey is a 2021 Bush Fellowship recipient. His film “New Neighbors” was featured in the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Naomi Ko is a 2021 Bush Fellowship recipient. She is the founder of the Asian Pacific Islander MN Film Collective and creator of “Nice,” a half-hour series about a 20-something Korean American living in Minnesota, which premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Everyone is getting old; not everyone is growing old.But, the path of purposeful aging is accessible to all. And, it's fundamental to health, happiness, and longevity.With a focus on growing whole through developing a sense of purpose in later life, this book celebrates the experience of aging with inspiring stories, real-world practices, and provocative questions to help you navigate the path from adulthood to elderhood and to become more authentically the person you always meant to be with each passing year.Internationally bestselling author, coach, and keynote speaker, Richard has pioneered the way we answer that question. Widely viewed as a pioneer of the global purpose movement, his work is featured regularly in many media sources including PBS public television and NPR public radio. His PBS Special – The Power of Purpose – was viewed by millions of people across the U.S. He has taken his purpose message to all 50 states, Canada, and on four continents.Along the way, Richard has written eleven books, including three bestsellers, which have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 20 languages. Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose are considered classics in the personal growth field. His latest book, Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old? makes the case for a new kind of elderhood and the value of purposeful aging.Richard holds a master's degree in Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor, and a National Certified Master Career Counselor. His work has been recognized with many awards including a Bush Fellowship from the Bush Foundation, and the Outstanding Scholar for Creative Longevity and Wisdom Award from the Fielding Institute.Richard is a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota's acclaimed Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing and is a Public Fellow at the Notre Dame Institute of Advanced Study where he also partners with their Inspired Leadership Initiative and the Office of the Provost.To order his latest book Who Do You Want To Be When You Grow Old? Visit: ORDER BOOKLearn more about Richard Leider at RichardLeider.com
Season-2, episode 4(Part 2) of “ZENPod”, continuing our conversation with Smt. Nirmala Rajasekar, the first Indian musician to receive the Bush Fellowship and the McKnight Fellowship. Nirmala serves as a Vice President of the Global Carnatic Musicians' Association, an organisation created to be a unified voice for Carnatic musicians. You can read more about her on www.nirmalarajasekar.com “Travels are what has given me insights into different things, I followed the path that the Universe has shown me” – says Smt. Nirmala Rajasekar in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan Nirmala Rajasekar is recognised as one of the premier Saraswathi veena players in the world today. Nirmala has performed in many world renowned venues such as the United Nations and Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA; Ted Mann concert Hall, Minneapolis, MN; Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN; BBC, London, England; Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland; Musee Rietberg, Zurich, Switzerland; Bali, Indonesia; Music Academy, Chennai, India; Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, India; Chembur Fine Arts, Mumbai, India; Bangalore Gayana Samaja, India and the Ravindra Kalakshethra, Bangalore, India. Some of her awards from leading - The Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Bangalore Gayana Samaja; Vocational Excellence Award (Rotary Club International), Veena Sudar Oli, Women of Substance Award 2014, Veena Kala Vithakar (Veenalayam Toronto), and a Lifetime Achievement award (IAM). Nirmala has been recognised by the City of Houston, Texas for her cultural contributions “ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life's pursuit. We at “ZENPod” believe that one person's journey is another person's learning. In these talks, we will touch upon spirituality and the intersection in real Life and how it can be leveraged on, for reaching a higher goal!
Curtain Raiser for Season-2, episode 4 of “ZENPod”, continuing our conversation with Smt. Nirmala Rajasekhar, the first Indian musician to receive the Bush Fellowship and the McKnight Fellowship. Nirmala serves as a Vice President of the Global Carnatic Musicians' Association, an organisation created to be a unified voice for Carnatic musicians. You can read more about her on www.nirmalarajasekar.com “ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life's pursuit.
Season-2, episode 3 of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Nirmala Rajasekar, the first Indian musician to receive the Bush Fellowship and the McKnight Fellowship. Nirmala serves as a Vice President of the Global Carnatic Musicians' Association, an organisation created to be a unified voice for Carnatic musicians. You can read more about her on www.nirmalarajasekar.com “Being Spiritual is deeply personal, it's that person's individual soul, spirit; what takes them to a plane where they can be completely happy with themselves” – says Smt. Nirmala Rajasekar in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan Nirmala Rajasekar is recognised as one of the premier Saraswathi veena players in the world today. Nirmala has performed in many world renowned venues such as the United Nations and Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA; Ted Mann concert Hall, Minneapolis, MN; Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN; BBC, London, England; Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland; Musee Rietberg, Zurich, Switzerland; Bali, Indonesia; Music Academy, Chennai, India; Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, India; Chembur Fine Arts, Mumbai, India; Bangalore Gayana Samaja, India and the Ravindra Kalakshethra, Bangalore, India. Some of her awards from leading - The Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Bangalore Gayana Samaja; Vocational Excellence Award (Rotary Club International), Veena Sudar Oli, Women of Substance Award 2014, Veena Kala Vithakar (Veenalayam Toronto), and a Lifetime Achievement award (IAM). Nirmala has been recognised by the City of Houston, Texas for her cultural contributions “ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life's pursuit.
Curtain Raiser for Season-2, episode 3 of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Nirmala Rajasekhar, the first Indian musician to receive the Bush Fellowship and the McKnight Fellowship. Nirmala serves as a Vice President of the Global Carnatic Musicians' Association, an organisation created to be a unified voice for Carnatic musicians. You can read more about her on www.nirmalarajasekar.com “ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life's pursuit.
Her story is one of being a true innovator from the moment she pursued a “rare air” doctorate in Educational Technology. Using story as a powerful truth-telling about claiming authenticity, Julie constantly has charted new ground - including a year of wandering - and talks about how “We have to just push through our fears of worrying about disruption and figure out how to make those disruptions work in a way that gets us to our mission.” Julie Mathiesen, Ed.D. is the Director of Technology and Innovation in Education (TIE) in South Dakota providing executive leadership for a statewide education organization with a multimillion-dollar budget. Through her work, educators and leaders are empowered with professional learning experiences merging education and technology. TIE serves a range of entities, including historically under-served and at-risk populations.Julie was the recipient of the prestigious Bush Fellowship which enabled her take a two-year leave from her work and achieve a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University in California. She has a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, both from Black Hills State University in South Dakota.Previously Dr. Mathiesen worked as an Education Technology Specialist for TIE and as a Program Director for Three Rivers Special Services Cooperative. In the genesis of her career, Julie taught art and biology at the high school level. She serves on numerous professional boards and committees, and is a sought after national speaker within her field. Julie and her husband Steve had two grown children, Sienna and Sawyer, and live in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.
Minnesota is working hard to create more affordable housing. But if we build structures that are not super-efficient, residents will be saddled with high energy bills—and we will miss an opportunity to improve our built environment, a top source of carbon emissions in the state. Now more than ever the topic of affordable housing has become even more critical.In July 2020, Fresh Energy hosted conversations with Minnesota thought leaders and Fresh Energy staff about how super-efficient buildings can become the new normal in equitable affordable housing. This is the final episode in the four-part series featuring a discussion with Mayor Kim Norton of Rochester, Minnesota.With the increased attention on affordable housing in this current crisis, we know that the conversation has only just begun and it’s crucial that energy efficiency be part of the equation. We must build new affordable housing that is so energy efficient it can be heated and cooled with small amounts of renewable electricity. It makes economic sense, it improves indoor air quality, and it also dramatically reduces carbon emissions.We have the know-how to build super-efficient housing that is affordable over the long term. Why isn’t all new housing built that way, and how can we do better? Fresh Energy is bringing people together from diverse areas of the affordable housing arena to explore this issue.Thank you to Stoel Rives LLP for sponsoring this event.Meet the SpeakersKim Norton has been the Mayor of Rochester, Minnesota, since 2018 and represented the area in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 10 years. Kim won a 2016 Bush Fellowship, which allowed her to complete a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs focused on energy policy and leadership. She has a strong commitment to ensuring that Rochester’s Destination Medical Center and many other new developments are super-efficient and is partnering with more than 20 Minnesota cities on a policy to allow cities the option of adopting a standard that is more ambitious than the current state energy code.Justin Fay is Fresh Energy’s director of government affairs and joined our team in November of 2018. Previously, he was the Senior Chapter Representative from 2009 to 2018 for the Sierra Club North Star Chapter. Prior to that, he worked as the Field Director for the campaign to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, and has held a variety of legislative and policy roles, including with the Nature Conservancy and the Campaign for Conservation. Justin leads our work with public agencies and policymakers at the state and local levels, and work to ensure that Fresh Energy’s policy and technical expertise is consistently available to key leaders in Minnesota. He strongly values our fact-based, professional approach to solving complex public problems. Justin obtained a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He also completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota in Morris. Justin enjoys traveling, catching baseball games, and when at home, getting bossed around by his family’s three cats.Listeners can stay up to date on our work via our once monthly email list, blog at www.fresh-energy.org, or by following us on Facebook and Twitter. You can support Fresh Energy’s work for a clean energy Minnesota by making a donation today! Click here to learn more and donate.
In Episode #41 we have a great conversation with former North Branch, MN Mayor Kirsten Hagen-Kennedy. We discuss her campaign for the 2018 DFL nomination in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, her years of community organizing, mayoral campaigns, her work to improve public health and her winning a Bush Fellowship. It is, at times, blunt and raw as we discuss the harsh political climate in her area and throughout the Country.
We catch up with former Bundesliga and US Mens National Team star Tony Sanneh and Gopher Soccer Head Coach Stefanie Golan following their diplomatic trip to Kenya. We talk about connecting with kids across the world, Tony's recently awarded Bush Fellowship, the Gophers spring season, and how the game is growing in Minnesota.
In this episode, we sit down with Beth's longtime friend and comrade Rox Anderson, Director of the Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition and Rare Productions. We touch briefly on a few of the complexities surrounding the recent events involving Minnesota State Representative Ilhan Omar and talk about how moments like these can be leveraged by outside forces to create polarization and division between and within various marginalized communities. We talk about Rox's recently awarded Bush Fellowship, their vision for an LGBTQ Center in Minneapolis, their work addressing inequities within LGBTQ POC communities, a brand new comic book in the works featuring real-life Transgender-identified superheroes and much more. Beth also talks about her next workshop with Phyllis Braxton and reveals some big news about her upcoming birthday bash/fundraiser with a couple of her longtime friends.
Amanda LaGrange, CEO of Tech Dump and Tech Discounts, shares about her passion for creating jobs, being nominated for a Bush Fellowship, and opens up about facing the fear of failure. The To Emerge podcast is sponsored by Emerge Mothers Academy, a nonprofit providing support services to single mothers in the Twin Cities. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/to-emerge/message
uCodeGirl offers pathways to technology careers for teen girls by tapping into their curiosity, skills, and potential. Betty Gronneberg grew up in Ethiopia. She attended Addis Ababa University where she majored in statistics. Betty recalls a day in college when she saw her name on a list of students who had been accepted into the new Computer Science track. She was one of two female students on the list. This was 1991. The “world wide web” had not yet been invented. Betty learned to write simple programs in BASIC, an early computer language. Betty’s experience grew rapidly as the internet began to spread. She became a country-wide email administrator for Ethiopia. In 1995, she became the first webmaster for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. With each new assignment, Betty noticed that she was one of the few women in the room. In 1995, 37% of computing jobs went to women. Since women make up half of the population, that’s bad news. And, the news is getting worse. Today, according to Betty, “Nationally 18% of the technology sector is made up of women.” Betty began to ask a fundamental question. “In this great United States, where everything is possible, why are there not many women?” According to Betty, girls begin to lose interest in technology around middle school, when the girls are around 12 or 13 years old. They don’t see the relevance of technology in their everyday lives. Betty began to imagine an organization that helps young girls to apply technology in a fun environment. To help her work out the details of this new organization, Betty applied for and became a Bush Fellow with the Bush Foundation. From the beginning, as she was filling out her application for the Bush Fellowship, she began to refine her ideas. Through her experience with the Bush Foundation, she formed a new organization, uCodeGirl. uCodeGirl is a Fargo, North Dakota based nonprofit that focuses on building confidence and talent for young girls between the ages of 12 and 18, and to inspire them to pursue opportunities in technology. uCodeGirl is making technology fun, relevant, and accessible. Girls learn leadership skills and an entrepreneurial mindset. Leading women in technology provide mentoring. uCodeGirl also helps girls to learn hands-on skills. They provide a three-week summer camp where the girls can experiment with technology to solve their own problems. In the process, they help the girls to build a pathway to a career in technology. Social Entrepreneurship Quotes from Betty Gronneberg “We want to go to the young girls where the divergence happens and cultivate their confidence.” “Nationally 18% of the technology sector is made up of women.” “It’s like nothing changed, but everything changed.” “I have always been resourceful and resilient.” “We want to help young girls to see technology as a solution for real-world problems.” “We want to cultivate their confidence.” “When you exude that passion, it’s easy for people to say, I’m here to help. What can I do?” “Not everybody is an early adopter of your idea.” “Be okay with no.” “It takes all of us to be a tech savvy generation.” Social Entrepreneurship Resources: UCodeGirl: http://www.ucodegirl.org/ UCodeGirl on Twitter: https://twitter.com/uCodeGirl UCodeGirl on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uCodeGirl/ Bush Foundation: https://www.bushfoundation.org Book: Crazy Good Advice: 10 Lessons Learned from 150 Leading Social Entrepreneurs: https://tonyloyd.com/book
Adam Perry left work to learn about his blindness and figure out how he could accept his predicament. He knew his future vision loss was uncertain, but certain. Adam has RP, a degenerative eye disease that can slowly take away one's vision and Adam is quite aware of the changes that are happening and how he has to adjust to the ever changing perspective as he travels the world working on International cultural engagements in the Arts. Join Jeff Thompson at the Local on Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis as he chats with Adam about his Bush Fellowship, Arts Midwest and how he is meeting the challenges whether here or any where in the world. You can contact Adam via email Here. Follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities Pete Lane @Lane7625 Jeff Thompson @JThompson6835 Get the Free Blind Abilities App from the App Store.
Wednesday March 30, 2016 playwright, curator, visual artist, poet, writer, spoken word artist, performer, and trans activist Andrea Jenkins.Jenkin's work is concerned with the interplay of words, mediums and genres that can be mashed together to create a new narrative. She views her work as collage, working primarily with paper and mixed media as a visual form of curation. Taking various images that have been artfully produced for the purpose of consumerism and mixing them with social justice messages and images brings attention to the issues of inequality. Andrea calls South Minneapolis home. She was awarded the Bush Fellowship in recognition of her extraordinary achievement and potential. In addition to the Many Voices and Bush Leadership Fellowships, she was awarded Naked Stages and Verve Grants in 2010. In 2002 she received the Loft Mentor Series Award for Poetry. Since 2006 she has co-curated the Queer Voices series at Intermedia Arts, which is the longest running GLBT reading series in the country. Her work has been published in several newspapers, journals, and anthologies. She holds a B.A. in Human Services, a M.S. in Community Economic Development, and a MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University. When she’s not lending her skills to almost every area of the Twin Cities art scene, she is the Minneapolis 8th Ward Senior Policy Aid in the office of Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden.