>> I'M JULIE ZENNER, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

THIS TUESDAY MARKED THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.

WE HEAR FROM LOCAL PEOPLE OF COLOR ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

IN THIS WEEK'S VOICES OF THE REGION' SEGMENT, WE LEARN HOW TRIBAL COMMUNITIES STEPPED UP DURING PANDEMIC TIMES HELPING VACCINATE TRIBAL AND NON-TRIBAL MEMBERS ALIKE.

AND LENDING A HELPING HAND TO OTHERS IS THE FOCUS OF OUR LESSONS FROM COVID-19' SEGMENT.

THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

DENNY IS OFF THIS WEEK AS WE ALTERNATE HOSTING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE'LL GET TO OUR MAIN STORY ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT FIRST IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEKEND AND THAT MEANS THOUSANDS OF FOLKS ARE HEADING OUT TO THEIR FAVORITE CAMPSITES AND PICNIC AREAS.

OFFICIALS WITH THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST ARE ASKING VISITORS TO BE FIRE SAFE THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN UNUSUALLY DRY AND SPRING IS TYPICALLY WHEN A MAJORITY OF WILDFIRES SPARK IN THE FOREST BECAUSE OF DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS.

TUESDAY WAS NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY.

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN CONTINUES TO CALL ON THE PUBLIC FOR HELP IN SEARCH EFFORTS.

MISSINGKIDS.ORG/SEARCH BRINGS YOU TO A DATABASE LISTING THE MISSING IN YOUR AREA.

THE DATABASE LISTS 34 IN MINNESOTA AND 39 IN WISCONSIN, WITH SEVERAL MISSING FROM OUR NORTHLAND AREA.

GOOD NEWS FOR SOME LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENTS.

WITC AND UW-SUPERIOR HAVE ANNOUNCED A TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP.

THE ARRANGEMENT ALLOWS STUDENTS PURSUING ASSOCIATE OF ARTS OR ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE' DEGREES TO COMBINE CLASSES ACROSS INSTITUTIONAL LINES.

BUT NOW TO THE TOP STORY MAKING HEADLINES THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE NATION THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ CALLED FOR MINNESOTANS TO TAKE NINE MINUTES AND 29 SECONDS OF SILENCE ON TUESDAY TO REFLECT UPON THE TRAGIC EVENT.

THE SILENCE LASTED FOR AS LONG AS FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN KNELT ON FLOYD.

CHAUVIN WAS CONVICTED LAST MONTH OF MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER IN FLOYD'S DEATH.

CITY OF SUPERIOR MAYOR JIM PAINE TOUCHED ON THE ANNIVERSARY IN HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS THURSDAY.

HE SAID SUPERIOR'S POLICE DEPARTMENT HEARS AMERICA'S OUTCRY SURROUNDING RACE AND POLICING AND CONTINUALLY STRIVES FOR IMPROVEMENT THROUGH TRAINING INITIATIVES AND REFORMS.

WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD TIME FOR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.

GALLUP POLLING DATA SHOWS AMERICANS HAVE BEEN MORE COGNIZANT OF RACE AS A NATIONAL PROBLEM SINCE 2015 THAN IN THE TWO DECADES PRIOR.

DULUTH NAACP PRESIDENT CLASSIE DUDLEY RELEASED A STATEMENT IN PART SAYING QUOTE INDIVIDUALS FROM BILPOC COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO WONDER IF THEY OR SOMEONE THEY LOVE WILL BE THE NEXT GEORGE FLOYD, THE NEXT DAUNTE WRIGHT, OR THE NEXT BREONNA TAYLOR.

THE LIST GOES ON END QUOTE.

A GROUP WAS FORMED IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA LAST YEAR FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF FLOYD CALLED VOICES FOR ETHNIC AND MULTICULTURAL AWARENESS' OR VEMA.

OUR FIRST GUEST IS NATHAN COWARD WHO'S A CO-FOUNDER OF VEMA.

HE'S JOINING US VIRTUALLY FROM CHISHOLM.

WELCOME NATHAN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> I CAN HEAR YOU.

>> MAYBE YOU CAN START BY TELLING US WHEN IT WAS FORMED AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND IT?

>> IT WAS FORMED LAST YEAR A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.

ISSUES UP NORTH, ISSUES WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR AND HAVING CHILDREN AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY WE REALIZE THAT MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT VEMA IS LOOKING AT AND TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW?

>> ONE OF THEM IS TRYING TO GET THINGS CHANGED AND HOW THEY TEACH HISTORY IN SCHOOLS.

ALSO TRYING TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND BEING A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, BEING MORE ENTICING TO HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

USING COMMUNITY AS A WAY TO GET PEOPLE HERE.

JULIE: ARE YOU HAVING CHALLENGES KEEPING PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE COMMUNITY OR ATTRACTING PEOPLE OF COLOR?

>> YES THAT IS WHY WE ARE WORKING WITH THE TRANS -- TOURISM BUREAU TO FIND WAYS TO BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY, BE MORE INCLUSIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE VOICES AND TO HAVE CULTURAL EVENTS.

.

JULIE: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO LISTEN TO AND VALIDATE THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS?

>> YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY NEED HIM WHAT THEY FEEL NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR THE CHANGE TO HAPPEN.

YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THOSE VOICES.

I THINK THE MORE YOU START LOCALLY, CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AND SAY THIS WORKS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD.

WE CAN DO THE SAME THINGS.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HEADED.

JULIE: IS THERE A MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT TO PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY THIS WEEK AS WE MARK THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH?

>> YES, WORK TOGETHER.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK.

COMMUNITY FIRST, WORK TOGETHER WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

WORK TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE ALSO OUT FIGHTING FOR THE SAME CAUSES.

GET TOGETHER AND FIGHT THESE CAUSES AND MAKE THE CHANGE HAPPEN.

JULIE: GEORGE FLOYD STEPH HAS BOUGHT A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEED FOR POLICE REFORMS.

HAS IT ALSO BEEN A CATALYST FOR REFLECTION ON CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> I THINK EVERYONE CAN CHANGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF POLICIES, A LOT OF LAWS GEARED TOWARD PEOPLE OF COLOR.

NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

I DON'T KNOW ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT BESIDES IT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

JULIE: AS YOU LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF VEMA SO FAR, WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT POSITIVE CHANGE DO YOU SEE OCCURRING?

>> WITH GEORGE FLOYD STEPH -- DEATH, WE CAN OPEN UP EYES TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING.

IT'S BRINGING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE CAUSES WHO ARE NOW EDUCATED ON IT.

I CAN SEE THERE IS SOME CHANGE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THAT.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH US.

CITY OF DULUTH HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER CARL CRAWFORD NOW JOINS US TO ADD TO THIS CONVERSATION.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, CARL WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHARE PUBLICLY AS WE MARK THIS ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD STEPH?

>> GEORGE FLOYD'S LIFE MATTERED.

GEORGE FLOYD DID NOT RAISE HIS HAND TO BE A PART OF THIS MOVEMENT.

WHAT ISSUES IS THE OFFICE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT AND DISCUSSING?

>> HOUSING AND SOME OF THE OTHER EFFORTS.

HOW DO WE CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE?

THAT HAS BEEN OUR KEY FOCUS IS TO LISTEN TO THE STORIES ABOUT COMMUNITY AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP EVERYONE LIVE, PLAY, AND DO WELL.

JULIE: WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAS HELD SOME EVENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RACISM.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

>> IT WAS A POWERFUL EVENING.

THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT TO SHARE THEIR STORIES ABOUT PAIN AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP AND HELP THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

AS WE COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, IT'S TIME FOR US TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES AND LOOK AT OUR BETTER BIAS AND HOW DO WE BECOME STRONGER CITY FOR EVERYONE?

JULIE: WAS THE MEETING WILL ATTENDED?

>> YES WE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE CITY AND OTHER PARTS OF WISCONSIN.

JULIE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS IN EQUITY AND INCLUSION?

WHAT ARE SOME AREAS WHERE YOU THINK WERE DOING WELL?

>> ONE OF THE KEY THINGS TO NOTE IS THAT WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE AN EMBEDDED SOCIAL WORKER.

WE HAVE SOMEONE ON STAFF.

WE ARE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE AT, BUT WE ARE WORKING TO GET THERE.

JULIE: DO YOU FILL OF THE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN WELL SUPPORTED BY CITY LEADERS AND BY THE POLICE OFFICIALS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT I AM SO ENCOURAGED BY THE YOUTH WHO HAVE STOOD UP AND TAKING CHARGE AND CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO LOOK AT THE CITY AND SAY WORD WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH?

TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND FIND OUT HOW DO WE DO BETTER.

JULIE: HAS GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH LED TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT?

>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND FOR MYSELF AS A FATHER, I HAVE CREATED A DIALOGUE WITH MY OWN SON AS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE INTERACTIONS AND HOW TO BE SAFE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT HAS LED TO CONVERSATIONS WITH POLICE AS WELL ABOUT WHAT DOES IT REALLY FEEL LIKE TO BE ON BOTH SIDES?

WE HAVE SOME AMAZING OFFICERS OF COLOR WHO CAN ALSO MEET THAT CHALLENGE AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATIONS.

JULIE: GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH WAS A TRAGIC EVENT.

AS YOU STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT, HAS SOME GOOD COME OUT OF IT?

THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE EMERGED BECAUSE OF IT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE SO.

WHEN SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING GOOD CAN COME OUT OF THAT.

GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH STARTED A MOVEMENT HERE IN MINNESOTA THAT IS CHANGE THE WORLD.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HIS FAMILY CONTINUES TO SAY THAT HIS DEATH IS CHANGING THE WORLD.

WE ALL WISH THAT HE WAS HERE, BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

PART OF THAT WORK IS MAKING SURE THAT HE IS REMEMBERED AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK TO CHANGE MINNESOTA FOREVER.

JULIE: WE MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION THAT MORE PEOPLE THAN IN DECADES BELIEVE THE RACE IS AN ISSUE AND A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

IT FEELS LIKE THE DIVIDE IS WIDENING.

CAN IT BE BRIDGED SO THAT PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS CAN COME TOGETHER AND BE UNITED AS ONE AMERICA MOVING FORWARD?

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN?

>> THAT'S WHY I DO THE WORK THAT I DO EVERY DAY.

EACH TIME, WE ONLY GET SO FAR.

THIS TIME, WE NEED TO LEAP OVER THE GAP.

WE NEED TO SEAL IT SHUT AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> I THINK IT IS.

I SEE RAYS OF HOPE IN OUR YOUTH, ELDERS, AND OUR CITY.

GROUPS ARE TALKING THAT WERE NOT TALKING BEFORE.

AS WE COME TO OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S A GREAT TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING, CARL ♪ IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN OUR BROADCAST AREA JOURNALIST IN OUR BROADCAST AREA ABOUT STORIES THEY'RE COVERING.

THIS WEEK HEIDI HOLTAN OF KAXE RADIO IS OUR GUEST: ♪ >> FOR THE LAST 14 MONTHS, WE >> FOR THE LAST 14 MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING CONVERSATIONS WITH MINNESOTA'S ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEY HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ABOUT HOW THE STATE HAS DEALT WITH COVID.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT HOW HE COULD'VE HANDLED THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID TO HIM IS THAT WE SAW A LEADERSHIP THAT WAS NEEDED WHEN IT CAME TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.

>> MINNESOTA HAS 11 SOVEREIGN NATIONS.

THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAVE AS SOVEREIGN NATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, BUT THEN THE RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE WITH THE STATE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW AS TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS WERE RECEIVING THEIR VACCINES DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TROUBLE HEALTH CARE KNEW THEIR PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE SECRET TO THIS.

KNOWING WHO THEIR PEOPLE WERE, KNOWING WHO TO CALL UP AND WHO WAS TRUSTED.

IF YOU'RE NERVOUS ABOUT THE VACCINE, TALKING TO SOMEONE THAT YOU KNEW AND WATCHING, I HAVE TO SAY THE CULTURAL NATURE OF OUR TRIBAL NATIONS, THE CARE FOR THEIR KNELT -- ELDERS ESPECIALLY WAS APPARENT.

>> WHEN THE VACCINES STARTED TO BE AVAILABLE, IT WAS ONLY CERTAIN POPULATIONS THEY COULD GET IT AT FIRST.

WE VERY QUICKLY SAW THAT TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS WERE STARTING TO OFFER IT TO EVERYBODY WELL OUTSIDE OF THEIR NATIONS.

PEOPLE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, TO DRIVE A LITTLE FARTHER TO GET IT.

I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR STATE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED FROM HOW TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ARE RUN.

THE COMMUNITY I LIVE IN, I TASK THE COUNTY AND STATE IN GENERAL IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF 39-YEAR-OLD CONSERATION OFFICER.

SHE DIED IN A TWO-CAR CRASH.

SHE WAS A LEGACY CONSERVATION OFFICER.

HER FATHER, UNCLE, GRANDFATHER WERE ALL CONSERVATION OFFICERS IN THE REGION AND SHE WAS TIED TO THIS LAND.

WE ARE GRIEVING IN THIS REGION.

THE STATE WILL HAVE THE FLAGS AT HALF MAST.

SHE LEAVES BEHIND A HUSBAND AND THREE CHILDREN AND HER MOTHER AND SISTER AND A WHOLE HOST OF WORKERS WHO DON'T KNOW IT TO DO AT THIS POINT.

IT'S REALLY A TOUGH LOSS FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF MINNESOTA IN LOSING HER.

♪ DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BEING OUTSIDE, RECREATING, AND WE SAW THE GROWTH OF THE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS.

GRAND RAPIDS AS WELL AS CROSBY AND THE IRON RANGE.

WE TALKED TO SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME ON THE SCENIC TRAIL.

THIS ALONG THIS NATIONAL TRAIL IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT STRETCHES 4700 MILES ACROSS EIGHT STATES.

THEY ARE NOT ALL COMPLETED YET.

WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS NORTH OF REAMER TO THE TIOGA BEACH AREA.

IT'S ABOUT 18 MILES THAT THEY WANT TO CONNECT TO THE SCENIC TRAIL.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS IT'S NOT PAVED.

IT IS NATURAL FOOT PATHS THAT THEY'RE CREATING.

THEIR PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUNDS ALONG THE WAY, AND IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF RECREATION.

THEY GOING TO SEE DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE TALKED TO ONE OF THE LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, MICHAEL CARSON.

>> PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT IT EXISTS.

WERE TRYING TO BRING AWARENESS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS TO SAY THIS EXIST.

>> WE HAVE ALL OF THESE TRAILS AND PLACES THAT WE CAN EXPLORE WHETHER YOU'RE ON A BIKE OR IN A WHEELCHAIR, ON A PAVED TRAIL, ON A BIG FAT TIRE BIKE OR WALKING ON THIS TRAIL SYSTEM.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF LEARNING SOMETHING NEW, TAKEN A PATCH OF THE SCENIC TRAIL TO KEEP GOING.

LIKE I'M GOING TO HIKE THIS PART TODAY.

AND TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, I'M GOING TO HIKE THE REST OF IT AND SEE HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.

THERE'S A PUBLIC MEETING THEY WANT PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED TO GET INPUT OR INFORMATION.

IT'S COMING UP ON JUNE 3 AND IT'S VIRTUAL OR AT THE COMMODITY COLLEGE.

-- COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

♪ JULIE: OUR LESSONS FROM COVID-19' SERIES CONTINUES THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT HOW LOCAL RESIDENTS STEPPED UP DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED.

WE SPOKE WITH BETH MC-CUSKEY WHO'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE DULUTH CENTRAL LABOR BODY, AS WELL AS SEAN O' CONNOR OF RUBY'S PANTRY AT MISSION CREEK CHURCH ABOUT FOOD-BASED ASSISTANCE EVENTS.

>> IT IS THE FOURTH SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOW INCOME OR MAYBE ON WELFARE.

IT'S A WAY TO STRETCH YOUR FOOD BUDGET.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

FOOD INSECURITY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NEED.

FOR A $20 DONATION, IT'S BASICALLY A SHOPPING CART FULL OF FOOD.

TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT, IT VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH AS TO WHAT FOODS ARE IN THEIR.

IT'S HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FOODS.

MUCH LIKE ANYTHING ELSE WITH COVID HAS CHANGED.

WE USED TO HAVE 80 VOLUNTEERS AND 250 OR MORE PEOPLE FLOWING THROUGH THE CHURCH.

WE CURRENTLY NOW OPERATE WITH 30 TO 40 VOLUNTEERS AND EVERYTHING IS DONE OUTSIDE.

IT IS ALL DRIVE UP.

SO INSTEAD OF A CUSTOMER PUSHING A CART AND GRABBING ITEMS, NOW WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS GRAB THE ITEMS AND BRING THEM OUT TO THE VEHICLE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT COVID AND HOW IT HAPPENED TO AFFECT FAMILIES AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS, YOU KNOW HOW LONG YOU HAVE WITH THEM.

IT'S BEST TO GET OUT AND LIVE LIFE TOGETHER.

COVID FORCED US TO LIVE AT A SLOWER PACE AND I THINK GOING FORWARD, IF WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE SLOWER PACE AND DO WHAT MATTERS MORE, INTERACT WITH LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS AS OPPOSED TO LOSING -- LIVING OUR LIVES, WE CAN PULL BACK A LITTLE BIT AND BE OK WITH IT.

EACH PERSON REACTS TO LIFE DIFFERENTLY, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

WHETHER IT'S WORK STRESSES OR HOME LIFE STRESSES.

IT IS ALLOWED US TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON EACH OTHER AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THAT WE ARE ALL GOING TO THE SAME THING.

>> THE ST. PAUL LABOR FEDERATION REACHED OUT TO THE DULUTH BUILDING TRADES TO SAY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS PROGRAM.

IT IS A FOOD FROM FARMERS TO FAMILY PROGRAM FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH HELPING FAMILIES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH FOOD INSECURITY EVEN PRIOR TO COVID THERE IS IN THIS AREA.

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD AND SECURITIES, WE CAN DO THIS.

WE CAN GET VOLUNTEERS, WE CAN DO PALLETS ON THE TRUCK.

WE HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AVAILABLE.

IT WAS SOMETHING WE ALL WENT YES THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM LETS HELP OUT.

THERE WERE 2500 BOXES OF FOOD.

WE ESTIMATED THAT EACH BOX HAD APPROXIMATELY $50 FOR THE FOOD AND IT.

ON THE FLYER, WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO START AT 11:30.

AT 8:30, WE HAD PEOPLE LINED UP.

IT WAS FEBRUARY, BUT THE DAY WAS GOOD.

PEOPLE WERE SO FRIENDLY.

JUST APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL.

WE HAD A GUY COME ON A BIKE FOR HIS NEIGHBOR.

IN THE LABOR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AND CERTAIN ANNUAL EVENTS THAT WE HELP OUT WITH.

THE FOOD THING WAS EXTRA, BUT IT WAS A WAY OF SAYING I AM FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE BENEFITS AND A GOOD PAYING JOB AND BOSSES THAT LET ME WORK AT HOME.

WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, IT FEELS GOOD TO GET BACK.

IT FEELS GOOD TO HELP OUT.

MY HOPE IS WHEN WE START HAVING BIGGER EVENTS AGAIN, THAT PEOPLE WILL PAUSE AND THINK BEFORE THEY GET SNARKY.

THERE IS A LOT OF ANGST AND PEOPLE HAVE ANXIETY AND STRESS DO TO COVID REASONS.

AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, LET'S MOVE FORWARD ON BEING KINDER, MORE THOUGHTFUL, THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE.

JULIE: AND COMING UP NEXT WEEK ON LESSONS FROM COVID-19' WE FOCUS ON THE RUSH TO THE NORTH SHORE THAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

MORE ON WHAT LESSONS WERE LEARNED AS PEOPLE DESIRED TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS AND IN NATURE NEXT WEEK ON THE ALMANAC NORTH SHOW.

AND YOU CAN ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST FROM ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU'LL FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

AND BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO.

I'M JULIE ZENNER, STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY NORTHLAND.

♪