DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON ALONG WITH JULIE ZENNER.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

JULIE: WE'LL HEAR FROM MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE, A NON-PROFIT THAT IS WORKING TO BRING CIVILITY AND COMPROMISE BACK TO POLITICS.

DENNIS: ENTERTAINMENT LEGEND JUDY GARLAND WAS CELEBRATED IN HER HOMETOWN OF GRAND RAPIDS LAST WEEKEND ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 101ST BIRTHDAY.

WE'LL TAKE YOU THERE.

JULIE: AND CHUM IS BUSY PREPARING FOR ITS ANNUAL RHUBARB FESTIVAL.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ANNUAL EVENT FOR CHUM AND THE PEOPLE IT SERVES.

DENNIS: THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ DENNIS: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

JULIE, I WAS GONE LAST WEEK.

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK AFTER A WEEK AWAY.

JULIE: I HOPE YOU WERE OFF HAVING FUN.

[LAUGHS] DENNIS: ALL RIGHT, LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

JULIE: ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, DENNY.

PEOPLE HAVE DESCENDED ON DULUTH FOR THE ANNUAL GRANDMA'S MARATHON.

ELITE RUNNERS ARE LOOKING BACK AT HOW FAR THE RACE HAS COME.

>> I THINK FOR ME, SEEING THE WOMEN CONTINUE TO GET OLDER IN THE FIELD AND GET FASTER HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY MOTIVATING FOR ME.

I AM A LITTLE OLDER FOR IT, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER THAN ME.

THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO, WHEN THE CENTER CHANGE FROM 245 TO 237 AND SAID LET'S STILL GO FOR IT, THAT CATEGORY HAS BEEN A GROUP THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW PRETTY WELL, AND IT HAS JUST BEEN A PACK OF WOMEN WHO, YOU KNOW, 20'S, 30'S, 40'S, SINGLE, MARRIED, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORT THAT I'VE HAD, AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

DENNIS: A K-12 EDUCATION FINANCE POLICY BILL, PASSED BY MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS, PROHIBITS THE USE OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES FOR SPORT TEAM MASCOTS AND LOGOS.

ONE LOCAL SCHOOL AFFECTED IS THE ESKO HIGH SCHOOL, HOME OF THE ESKO "ESKOMOS."

THE TEAM NAME AND MASCOT PLAY ON THE WORD "ESKIMO," AN ARCHAIC TERM USED TO IDENTIFY INUIT AND YUPIK PEOPLE.

NOW, THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, BUT THE ESKO SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE DISCONTINUING ITS CURRENT MASCOT AS OF JUNE 30TH.

JULIE: THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA THIS PAST WEEK DUE TO WILDFIRE SMOKE COMING FROM CANADA.

IT WAS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

THIS WAS DUE TO CONCERNS THAT THE AIR WAS MIXED WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF WILDFIRE SMOKE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE HARMFUL.

PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS WERE ENCOURAGED TO REDUCE OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO REDUCE EXPOSURE.

THE MPCA ALSO ENCOURAGED CITIZENS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE ACTIVITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AIR POLLUTION, SUCH AS OUTDOOR BURNING, AND THE USE OF RESIDENTIAL WOOD BURNING DEVICES.

DENNIS: THE CITY OF SUPERIOR'S TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION APPROVED UPWARDS OF A $1 MILLION CONTRACT WITH THE RICHARD I. BONG VETERANS HISTORICAL CENTER.

THIS THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WILL PAY FOR OPERATING AND MARKETING OF THE BONG CENTER, THE OPERATION OF SUPERIOR'S TOURISM INFORMATION CENTER, AND PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE BUILDING THAT HOLDS BOTH ENTITIES.

JULIE: THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE WORKS ACROSS THE POLITICAL DIVIDE TO CREATE POLICY AND PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHANNON WATSON AND FORMER MINNESOTA HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE AND IRRRB COMMISSIONER SANDY LAYMAN.

SHE SITS ON THE BOARD OF MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

RIGHT NOW, POLITICS SO POLARIZED.

YOU FIND THAT A MAJORITY IS ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE?

SHANNON: I THINK SO.

I THINK THE REASON IT FEELS POLARIZED IS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT SPACE AND STILL WANT TO PARTICIPATE, THEY DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE PARTICIPATING ON THE FRINGES WITH THE LOUDEST VOICES.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS.

JULIE: HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

SHANNON: ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS ELEVATE THE CONDUCT WE LIKE TO SEE, SO LEGISLATORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE LOCAL LEVEL, JUST BY NATURE OF THE JOB, THOSE PEOPLE ARE LEADERS, AND LEADERS SET THE TONE.

AND SO WHEN THE CONDUCT THAT GETS THEM SORT OF THE MOST ATTENTION AND THE MOST PRESS IS THE FIGHT, IS THE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF OUTLANDISH THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON THE FLOOR, IN THE COMMITTEE, THEN JUST AS HUMANS, WE ARE WIRED TO DO MORE OF WHAT WE GET CREDIT FOR.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THAT BIPARTISANSHIP, BEHIND-THE-SCENES, AND MAKING THOSE STORIES I LITTLE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

DENNIS: SANDY, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH DIVISION, SO MUCH ANGST IN OUR CIVIL CULTURE TODAY, DO YOU THINK?

SANDY: WELL, DENNIS, I THINK BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GETS REWARDED.

I THINK, ON BOTH SIDES, MONEY GOES TOWARD THE FIGHT, AND OFTEN TIMES IN CAMPAIGNS, YOU WILL HEAR "ON FIGHTING FOR YOU."

YOU ALWAYS HEAR, "I'M GOING DOWN, AND I'M GOING TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE, AND WE ARE GOING TO COLLABORATE AND COME UP WITH THE BEST SOLUTIONS," YOU KNOW, "WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT THE ENEMY."

FRANKLY, THE MONEY DOES NOT FOLLOW THOSE IN THE MIDDLE.

WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND I WANTED TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, I WAS NOT NECESSARILY REWARDED FOR THAT FROM CONSTITUENTS OR FROM OTHERS.

AND SO WHILE THE WORK IS IMPORTANT, THE POLITICS IS NOT ALWAYS SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF, SO OUR SLOGAN AT MAJORITY IN TO PROMOTE POLITICS WE CAN BE PROUD OF.

JULIE: WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION ACTUALLY DOES TAKE PLACE BEHIND THE SCENES COME AWAY FROM THE CAMERAS?

SANDY: THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE PLANNING TO TRACK, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE OPERATING WITH A SET OF FACTS.

WE LIKE TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH COLLABORATION REALLY IS HAPPENING AND USE THAT AS A MODEL.

AND USE THAT AS MEASURING MARKS THAT WOULD REWARD PEOPLE AND REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF, WE ALL HAVE BETTER SOLUTIONS IF THERE'S MORE PERSPECTIVE AT THE TABLE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE POLITICIANS , IT IS MINNESOTA THAT RULES, SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH THE BEST SOLUTION.

DENNIS: SO, SHANNON, WHAT VALUES DOES MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE TRY TO IDENTIFY FOR THE PUBLIC?

SHANNON: RIGHT NOW, WE ARE TRYING TO BE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENGAGE.

SO PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SORT OF ON THE FRINGES OR WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF A PARTY FOR A LONG TIME AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED, SOMETIMES THAT GIVES PEOPLE SORT OF A DISCONNECT.

"THIS HAS BEEN MY LABEL FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, BUT IT IS DIFFERENT.

I STILL CARE ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I CAN ENGAGE OVER HERE."

SO US BEING A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS, CAN TALK ACROSS THE AISLE, BUT NOT REALLY BE IN COMPETITION -- CONFRONTATION.

JULIE: IS IT ABOUT FIELDING THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES OR ENDORSING CANDIDATES WHO ARE KIND OF ON THAT MODERATE PLACE IN THE SPECTRUM?

SHANNON: I THINK WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.

OUR ORGANIZATION IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT, SO WE DO NOT DO ANY CAMPAIGNING OR ANY LOBBYING.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IS ALWAYS A DISCUSSION, PARTICULARLY HERE IN MINNESOTA, WHERE THIRD PARTIES HAVE BEEN A THING.

JULIE: ARE THERE SOME ISSUES THAT ARE TOO HOT TO EVEN BE ON THE TABLE?

AS YOU ARE STARTING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND, DO YOU SAY, "LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT THOSE, BECAUSE WE WILL NEVER COME THERE, BUT WE CAN PROBABLY FIND SOME COMMON GROUND HERE?"

[LAUGHTER] SANDY: YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT ARE SORT OF THE SINGLE DIVIDING POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO PASS THROUGH TO EVEN BE ENDORSED.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, ABORTION.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS GUN CONTROL.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO A SOLUTION, SO WHAT HAPPENS, ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, IF YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE GUN CONTROL, BUT YOU ARE NOT AT THE TABLE, SO WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO COME TO THE TABLE EARLY ON THOSE REALLY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY SUPPORTS BUT THAT THE MAJORITY MIGHT SUPPORT?

DENNIS: I THINK HE FIRST WENT INTO THE HOUSE IN, WHAT, 2017?

SANDY: 2017.

DENNIS: HAS THE LEGISLATURE CHANGE A LOT IN THOSE YEARS, SANDY?

SANDY: IT HAS, AND I'M HEARING MORE UNHAPPINESS TO IT ON HEARING PEOPLE WHO ARE STAYING IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR A SHORTER OF TIME -- PERIOD OF TIME.

I THINK IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE FINDING OUT THAT THEY ARE POLARIZED, AND THEY HAVE TO CONFORM TO ONE EXTREME OR THE OTHER, AND THEY JUST WANT TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY JUST WANT TO SERVE THEIR DISTRICT.

SO, YOU CERTAINLY SEE IN THE LAST SESSION, WE SAW DRAMATIC CHANGES HAPPEN THAT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED DURING MY TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE, CERTAINLY.

JULIE: WE PROBABLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, BUT WHO CAN GET INVOLVED?

WHO SHOULD GET INVOLVED?

HOW DO YOU REACH OUT TO PEOPLE?

WHERE CAN THEY CONNECT WITH YOU?

SHANNON: I WOULD SAY ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED SHOULD GET INVOLVED.

POLITICS AFFECTS ALL OF US, WHETHER WE ARE IN SORT OF A POLITICAL PLACE OR NOT.

POLITICS IS HOW WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER.

WE ARE HOSTING 17 DIFFERENT EVENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

ONE OF THOSE IS GOING TO BE IN TWO HARBORS NEXT WEDNESDAY THE 21ST.

WE WELCOME PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

AND THEN WE WILL BE IN CHISHOLM ON THE 21ST.

JULIE: GOOD LUCK.

I HOPE PEOPLE HEAR YOU AND SHOW UP.

DENNIS: THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

SANDY: ABSOLUTELY.

♪ DENNIS: IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES IN THE NEWS.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS DANIELLE KAEDING, A REPORTER WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

♪ DANIELLE: ON WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK, MORE THAN HALF OF WISCONSIN WAS UNDER AN AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS DUE TO SMOKE FROM CANADIAN WILDFIRES.

IT MARKED THE FIFTH SUCH ADVISORY THIS YEAR.

MINNESOTA HAS ALSO ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT.

BUT IN WISCONSIN, THAT AERT COMES AS THE STATE HAS SEEN A MORE ACTIVE SPRING FOR FINE PARTICLE POLLUTION IN MORE THAN A DECADE, AND IT HAS SPARKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS PLAYING IN THESE WILDFIRES.

THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SAID THEY CANNOT RULE OUT CLIMATE CHANGE AS ONE PARTICULAR DRIVING FACTOR , BECAUSE AS YOU SEE THESE HOT, DRY CONDITIONS HAPPENING, AND IT CREEPS EARLIER INTO THE SPRING, THE CHANCES FOR HAVING THESE INCIDENTS OF WILDFIRES AND THE SMOKE COMING INTO THE REGION ALSO INCREASES.

♪ AND IN OTHER NEWS, IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION RECENTLY RELEASED ITS PRELIMINARY FINDINGS THAT NORTHERN WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT MEETING STATE STANDARDS FOR TEACHING ABOUT CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN WISCONSIN TRIBES.

THE DEPARTMENT BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ASHLAND COUNTY LAST SUMMER AFTER A COMMUNITY MEMBER FILED A COMPLAINT THAT STATES INITIAL FINDINGS SAY THAT MELLON DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF ADEQUATE TEACHING MATERIALS OR LIBRARY SOURCES ON CULTURE DIVERSITY FOR GRADES K-12.

THE STATE FOUND THAT MELLEN'S TEACHING ON WISCONSIN TRIBES WERE ALSO LACKING, BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS SEVERAL OF THE LESSON PLANS AND RESOURCES TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL WERE SPECIFIC TO WISCONSIN TRIBES, AND SHE SAYS THE AGENCY, SHE FEELS LIKE, IS OVERREACHING IN ITS INTERPRETATION OF STATE STANDARDS, AND THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT SOME OF THOSE LESSONS THAT SHE REFERRED TO WERE NOT PART OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM, AND THAT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.

THE STATE ALSO SAID THAT MELLEN DID NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS TO TEACH ABOUT WISCONSIN TRIBES AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL.

MELLEN RESIDENT NICK, WHO FILED THIS COMPLAINT LAST YEAR, THAT HE IS PLEASED WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S FINDINGS.

HE SAID HE FILED THE COMPLAINT AFTER SOME TENSE MEETINGS ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THAT LED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD BARRING TEACHING OF THAT IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT SAID THEY THINK EQUITY AND DIVERSITY CAN BE TAUGHT GENERALLY WITHOUT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND GENDER IDENTITY, AND SHE SAID THE SCHOOL BOARD AND COMMUNITY WANT TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT RACISM AND INDIGENOUS GROUPS, BUT THEY WANT TO BE TAUGHT IN THE CONTEXT OF HISTORY AND NOT FROM A PLACE THAT SHE SAID MAKES STUDENTS FEEL BAD ABOUT BEING WHITE.

THE STATE HAS ISSUED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MELLEN TO MEET THESE STATE STANDARDS ON TEACHING CULTURAL DIVERSITY AT ABOUT WISCONSIN TRIBES, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS A RIGHT TO APPEAL THE STATE'S FINDINGS, BUT THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT HAS INDICATED THAT HER RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR THEM TO DEVELOP A PLAN OF COMPLIANCE MOVING FORWARD.

♪ ANOTHER ITEM THAT IS RELATED TO WISCONSIN TRIBES, NORTHERN WISCONSIN COUNTIES HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ASKING FOR LEGISLATION OR AID TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE SEEING A LOSS OF TAX REVENUE.

THAT STEMS FROM A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULING LAST YEAR THAT THE STATE CANNOT FORCE MORE THAN WISCONSIN TRIBES OR THEIR MEMBERS TO PAY TAXES ON PROPERTIES THEY OWN WITHIN RESERVATION LAND.

THE RULING AS A VICTORY FOR TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY, BUT IT MEANS FEWER RESIDENTS IN TOWNS AFFECTED BY THIS RULING ARE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES.

IT MEANS OTHER COUNTIES EXPECT THAT THEY WILL COLLECT $1.8 MILLION LESS IN TAX REVENUE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

SO BAYFIELD AND ASHLAN COUNTIES ARE AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS ASKING THE STATE TO STEP UP AND HELP, BECAUSE THEY SAY THIS WAS AN ISSUE CREATED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

♪ JULIE: THE GREAT DULUTH GET TOGETHER, ALSO KNOWN AS THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL, RETURNS NEXT WEEKEND.

BUT FOR CHUM, THE FESTIVAL IS FAR MORE THAN JUST A SATURDAY OF RHUBARB PIE.

HERE TO TALK WITH US MORE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EVENT IS CHUM'S DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING BRADLEY ZWAGERMAN.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

BRADLEY: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: FIRST OF ALL, FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT CHUM IS IN THE GOOD IT IS DOING IN THE COMMUNITY, MAYBE GIVE AN OVERVIEW.

BRADLEY: SINCE WE HAVE BEEN AROUND DULUTH FOR SO LONG, WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT LEADERS IN OUR ORGANIZATION HAVE SEEN IS JUST SO IMPORTANT AND TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.

RIGHT NOW, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROGRAMS IS OUR SHELTER AND DROP IN CENTER, WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT 50 BEDS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS WELL AS A COMMON AREA FOR THEM TO JUST SIT DOWN, RELAX FOR A MINUTE, AND KIND OF GET THINGS TOGETHER.

WE ALSO HAVE TWO HOUSING SERVICES UNITS.

THERE IS THE STEVE O'NEILL APARTMENTS UP ON 4TH STREET AND THE SAINT FRANCIS APARTMENTS ON SECOND.

THE FIRST ONE IS MORE FOCUSED ON FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

WE SAW A LOT OF FOLKS COMING UP AND KIDS IN THE SHELTER WHO WERE THEN LATER ON BECOMING HOMELESS, AND WE WANTED TO ANSWER THAT NEED, AND WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THAT GENERATIONAL HOMELESSNESS.

IN THESE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY CAN GET INTO HOUSING HAVE BEEN SUPER BENEFICIAL.

THE LAST WAS OUR FOOD SHELF, WHICH IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.

JULIE: YOU WILL BE CELEBRATING YOUR 50-YEAR MILESTONE THIS YEAR.

CHUM REALLY BRINGS CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS TOGETHER.

SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES TO REALLY COME TOGETHER TO MEET SOME OF THOSE NEEDS YOU MENTIONED.

BRADLEY: EXACTLY.

WHEN WE ARE THINKING OF A FAITH COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THESE FOLKS DO IS SERVE THEIR NEIGHBOR, LOVE THEIR NEIGHBOR, AND CHUM IS A REALLY GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO PRACTICALLY DO THAT, IN TERMS OF JUST SERVING SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING IN ON -- AN UNFORTUNATE TIME.

DENNIS: TALK TO US ABOUT THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL.

HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

BRADLEY: IN 1973, 10 CHURCHES CAME TOGETHER AND FORMED CHUM.

THE RHUBARB FIRST OF ALL -- THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL CAME TO BE SOMETHING WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE FACING.

ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO BUY A RHUBARB CRY, THAT $20 IS WHAT IT COSTS TO HAVE SOMEONE STATE OUR SHELTER FOR A NIGHT.

DENNIS: THERE ARE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER POSITIONS.

BRADLEY: THERE ARE.

I CHECKED BEFORE I CAN HEAR, AND WE ARE HOPING TO GET ANOTHER 100 VOLUNTEERS.

SO PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP RIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE COULD I HAVE A LITTLE BUTTON THAT MAKES IT SUPER EASY TO VOLUNTEER, INVITE REMEMBER RIGHT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEEDED MOST WAS HELP SETTING UP AND TEARING DOWN.

JULIE: SO ACROSS THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, FOLKS CAN GET A RHUBARB PIE, BACON JAM, WHAT IS THE FOOD PART OF THE FESTIVAL?

BRADLEY: THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF CHURCHES.

DOING ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

ST. JAMES AND A LOT OF OTHER CATHOLIC CONGREGATIONS ARE GETTING TOGETHER AND MAKING 200 RHUBARB PIES AND 150 RHUBARB CRISPS.

I BELIEVE FIRST LUTHERAN IS DOING THE SAME THING AS WELL.

ON TOP OF THAT, NERC, THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL CORRECTIONS CENTER, IS ALSO MAKING 1000 PIES FOR US.

THEY ARE BUSY.

AND I THINK THIS WEDNESDAY, THEY ARE REALLY DIGGING DOWN AND GETTING ALL OF THOSE PIES BAKED.

DENNIS: HOW DOES CHILD MANPOWER PEOPLE TO REGAIN STABILITY AND EVEN DIGNITY -- CUHUM EMPOWER PEOPLE TO REGAIN STABILITY AND EVEN DIGNITY IN THEIR LIVES?

BRADLEY: IF YOU ARE SLEEPING IN A TENT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

YOU HAVE TO WALK MILES TO EVEN APPLY FOR A JOB OR EVEN THAT ACCESS TO SERVICES YOU THINK MIGHT BE THERE, SO THROUGH OUR SERVICES AND OUR PROGRAMS, WE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND FIND HOUSING, FIND WORK THAT THEY REALLY LIKE.

JULIE: AND THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL, OF COURSE, IS A MAJOR FUNDRAISER FOR YOU.

.

IT IS GOING TO BE HELD JUNE 24 AT THE HOLY ROSEMARY CAMPUS, CORRECT?

BRADLEY: THAT IS WHERE WE WILL BE FROM 9:00 UNTIL 3:00.

JULIE: WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT?

BRADLEY: THERE WILL BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, LOTS OF RHUBARB PIE, TREATS, LEMONADE, HOTDOGS, HAMBURGERS, AS MUCH FOOD AS YOU CAN THINK OF.

DENNIS: IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP FROM CHUM, HOW CAN THEY FIND YOU?

BRADLEY: WELL, WE HAVE OUR ADDRESS IS FOR OUR WEBSITE, AND YOU CAN GO ONLINE.

A LOT OF FOLKS WILL POINT TOWARD THE SHELTER.

DENNIS: VERY GOOD.

JULIE: BRADLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD LUCK.

BRADLEY: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DENNIS: LAST WEEK, GRAND RAPIDS CELEBRATED THE BIRTH OF ONE OF ITS MOST FAMOUS RESIDENTS WITH THE JUDY GARLAND FESTIVAL.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY AND VIDEOGRAPHER CARLY JONES FOLLOWED THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO SPEAK WITH FOLKS ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JUDY.

♪ MEGAN: MANY PEOPLE FLOCKED TO THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD RIGHT HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA TO CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF JUDY GARLAND AND HER IMPACT ON ENTERTAINMENT AND HISTORY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> JUDY GARLAND WAS BORN 101 YEARS AGO THIS JUNE.

SHE WAS THE THIRD DAUGHTER OF MOVIE THEATER OPERATORS HERE IN TOWN, VAUDEVILLE ENTERTAINERS, FRANK AND ETHEL.

THEY DROVE ALL THE WAY FROM LOS ANGELES TO CHICAGO FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR.

THEY WERE THE GUM SISTERS, THE SINGING TRIO, AND THAT IS WHERE THEY LOOK AT THE LINEUP, SAID, "GUMM SISTERS, NO WAY.

WE WILL GET A BIG LAUGH.

IT RHYMES WITH CRUMB AND DUMB."

THEY TOOK A CALL AND SAID WHY NOT THE GARLANDS SISTERS?

UNDOUBTEDLY, JUDY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST EAM OF VOCALISTS OF ALL TIME.

THEY PUT HER OUT ON STAGE.

CHRISTMAS TIME, SHE WENT ON AND ON, WOULD NOT GET OFF, JUST GATHERED IN THE WINGS, "GET OFF, BABY," AND SHE SAID, "I WANT TO SING SOME MORE."

MEGAN: THE MUSEUM WAS STARTED IN ABOUT 1975 BY JACKIE, AND I THINK 1989, THERE WAS A MILESTONE PARADE THAT HAPPENED IN GRAND RAPIDS CELEBRATING THE "WIZARD OF OZ."

THAT DREW SUCH A CROWD, THEY STARTED DOING THEM ANNUALLY, AND IT WAS SORT OF "WIZARD OF OZ" FOCUS, AND IT BECAME MORE JUDY-FOCUSED.

NOW WE HAVE THE JUDY GARLAND FESTIVAL THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> IT IS IN RECENT YEARS WE'VE HAD A JUDY GARLAND SHOW AND TELL.

PEOPLE ENJOY SHARING.

MY FIRST YEAR WAS 1989.

THAT IS, WHAT, 30 YEARS AGO?

MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO.

AND I'VE PROBABLY BEEN TO 15 OF THESE, 18 OF THESE OVER THE YEARS.

.

AND SO MANY PEOPLE HERE ARE EXTENDED FAMILY.

>> REALLY HOSTING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE WORLD.

WE HAD SOMEONE HERE FROM ENGLAND WHO CAME LAST YEAR.

NOW HE CAME AGAIN TO TO REALLY FOSTERING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND THE JOY OF JUDY.

>> GRAND RAPIDS IS NOT THE EASIEST PLACE IN NORTH AMERICA TO ACCESS.

I'M NOT TELLING ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN MINNESOTA ANY NEWS IN THAT, BUT PEOPLE DO IT.

THE HUNDREDS WHO WERE HERE LAST YEAR, THE PEOPLE WHO COME AGAIN THIS YEAR WILL PROBABLY APPROACH ABOUT 100 TOTAL.

THEY COME BECAUSE THEY REALLY WANT TO.

♪ THIS IS A WOMAN WHO MADE 34 FEATURE FILMS, DID 1100 CONCERTS AS AN ADULT, 80 SINGLES, 12 RECORD ALBUMS, 60 TELEVISION SHOWS, INCLUDING 30 OF HER OWN, THE HIGHEST RATED PROGRAMS IN CVS HISTORY, THOSE SPECIALS, AT THAT TIME.

THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE GRAMMY ALBUM OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL, BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR, THE SAME YEAR, THE ALBUM WON ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

OSCAR, TONY AWARD, ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE NOMINATIONS, THE GRAMMY HALL OF FAME, THAT'S WHY SHE WAS IMPORTANT, NOT BECAUSE SHE WAS -- SHE MARRIED MORE THAN ONCE, SHE HAD A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION PROBLEM, AND SHE DIED YOUNG.

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS, BUT THAT IS ALL THEY ARE ABLE TO DO.

SHE GAVE AND GAVE AND GAVE AND GAVE OF HERSELF, TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY.

WE ARE HERE TALKING ABOUT HER NOW, ALL THESE DECADES LATER, AND SHE IS STILL BLOWING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER.

♪ DENNIS: THANK YOU, MEGAN.

FOR JULIE ZENNER AND THE CREW AT "ALMANAC NORTH," I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY, AND BE KIND.

♪