JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER.

AND HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

DULUTH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JOHN MAGAS WILL BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DITRICT'S MOVE TO MORE IN-PERSON CLASSROOM TIME FOR STUDENTS.

THE LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD HAS LAUNCHED A DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS HIRING GUIDE FOR BUSINESSES.

AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA'S FIRST RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS OPENED THIS WEEK IN DULUTH.

THESE TOPICS AND "“VOICES OF THE REGION,"” NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH!"

♪ JULIE: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

REQUESTS FOR GRANTS FROM BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC ARE FAR HIGHER THAN WHAT THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED FROM THE STATE FOR THOSE GRANTS.

THE COUNTY RECEIVED 00 GRANT APPLICATIONS TOTALLING $16.4 MILLION.

BUT IT ONLY HAS $3.8 MLLION AVAILABLE FROM STATE FUNDS, AND IS NOW RANKING ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES FOR THOSE GRANTS.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR COVID COMMUNITY TESTING SITE WILL REOPEN ON MONDAY.

TESTING IS DONE AT THE MARCOVICH WELLNESS CENTER MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 2:00 TO 6:00 P.M. INFORMATION ON HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IS ON THE UWS WEBSITE.

DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, RENOVATIONS AT UWS HOLDEN FINE ARTS CENTER HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

PROJECTS INCLUDED UPDATING GALLERY SPACES, EXPANDING AND UPDATING CLASSROOMS, AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO THE FACILITIES.

THE MEDIA LAB AND BACKSTAGE AREAS OF THE MANION THEATER WERE RENOVATED, ADDING EFFICIENCY TO STAGE PRODUCTIONS.

A PORTION OF THE REDHEAD TRAIL IN CHISHOLM WILL OPEN TO SNOW SHOEING MONDAY.

THE THREE-MILE NORTH STAR LOOP TRAIL STARTS AND ENDS AT THE TRAILHEAD JUST OUTSIDE OF THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER.

THE TRAIL FEATURES CLIFFSIDE VIEWS OF AN ABANDONED MINE PIT, AND PLENTY OF ELEVATION CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE TREK.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE EASED BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM BEGINNING IN MARCH.

THE DISTRICT'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY RETURNED TO CLASSROOM SETTINGS, AS COVID RATES DECLINE.

JOINING US WITH AN UPDATE ON THE SCHOOL PLANS IS JOHN MAGAS, SUPERINTENDANT OF DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: THANK YOU.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

JULIE: HOW'’S IT GOING SO FAR?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADE STARTED THIS WEEK, FULL-TIME FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A COUPLE HOURS IN ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS THIS MORNING AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE STUDENTS ADHERE THE STUDENTS.

-- SEE THE STUDENTS AND HEAR THE STUDENTS.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT IT WAS TO BE BACK.

IT WAS JUST GREAT.

JULIE: HAVE YOU HAD MANY FAMILIES OPT TO CONTINUE AT HOME LEARNING?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: I THINK ABOUT 20%-30% OF STUDENTS ARE STILL DOING AT HOME DISTANCE LEARNING.

WE STARTED OUR SURVEY FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS THERE IS HIGH TURNOUT.

IT HAS ONLY BEEN OUT TODAY, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO FINISH THE SURVEY BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS CHOOSING TO COME BACK INTO THE HYBRID SECONDARY.

CALCULATED RISK TO BRING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

WHAT SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS HEALTHY AND SAFE?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: THE STATE PUT OUT GUIDANCE FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THE SAFE LEARNING GUIDE.

AND IT OUTLINES WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE OUR CLASSROOMS ARE SAFE, FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT TYPE OF PPE WE NEED, MARKINGS AND SUCH WE NEED ON OUR FLOWER -- ON OUR FLOORS TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE TRAVELING IN CERTAIN DIRECTIONS AND MAKING SURE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE -- AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND THE CLEANING, MAKING SURE HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES ARE CLEANED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE ALSO USE ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYERS AT NIGHT TO MIXER ALL OUR CLASSROOMS ARE CLEANED AND READY FOR STUDENTS.

JULIE: I HAVE HAD KIDS, HOW TOUGH IS IT TO GET THE KIDS TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE NEW PROTOCOLS?

ARE THEY FOLLOWING THE RULES?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD VERY, VERY FEW PROBLEMS.

WE HAVE BEEN MOSTLY WORKING WITH OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, BUT WE HAVE HAD VERY FEW PROBLEMS.

WE PUT NEW POLICIES IN PLACE RELATED TO MASK WEARING ON FACE-COVERING RULES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, SO THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALL UPDATED AND READY IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES.

JULIE: HAVE MOST TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN THE DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BEEN VACCINATED?

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, BUT THE ROLLOUT AND THE DISTRIBUTION, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THE STATE AND BY THE COUNTY.

THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN MOUNTAIN IRON WAS RUNNING FOR A WHILE.

WE ARE HOPING IT WILL PICK UP.

THIS WEEK WAS SLOW AS FAR AS THE DISTRIBUTION RATE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VACCINATE A LOT OF OUR MORE SENIOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE LITTLE OLDER, AND ALSO WORKING WITH STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING MORE HANDS-ON WITH STUDENTS.

JULIE: HAS THERE BEEN ANY PUSHBACK FROM THE LOCAL TEACHERS UNION IN TERMS OF WANTING TO DELAY IN PERSON LEARNING?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: WELL, THEY HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT IT PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.

BUT I THINK WE ALL JOIN TOGETHER IN WANTING OUR KIDS BACK.

THE EMPHASIS ON SAFETY IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FINE BALANCE OF THINKING ABOUT LEARNER NEEDS AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC IS REALLY CLOSELY FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTY.

SOME OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE MAYBE DEVIATED A LITTLE HERE OR THERE, AND WE HAVE CHOSEN TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE TIGHTLY.

SOMETIMES IT IS POPULAR FROM ONE PERSPECTIVE AND SOMETIMES IT IS POPULAR FROM ANOTHER, BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE IS STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT AND DRIVE FOR US TO GET OUR STUDENTS BACK.

THEY REALLY NEED TO BE BACK IN CLASS FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING IF THAT IS WHAT FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING.

JULIE: WHAT IS THE PLAN RIGHT NOW FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: BEGINNING MARCH 8, WE ARE GOING TO BE FACING IN SIXTH GRADERS, NINTH GRADERS ANTI-SCHOOL STUDENTS COME INTO A HYBRID MODEL.

THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE WOULD BE HAVING SEVENTH GRADE, EIGHTH GRADE, 10TH GRADE AND 11TH GRADE STUDENTS COMING IN.

THE REASON WE CHOSE THOSE FIRST THREE RAID LEVELS IS, SIXTH GRADERS AND NINTH GRADERS ARE NEW COMING INTO THE SCHOOL.

WE WANTED THEM TO HAVE AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'’T EVEN BEEN IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THINKING ABOUT OUR SENIORS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO BE READY FOR GRADUATION, AND MAKE SURE THAT ANY CLASSES THEY ARE FALLING BEHIND IN OR STRUGGLING WITH, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ALL THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED.

JULIE: THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT NEWS REPORTS THAT DULUTH STUDENTS, LIKE OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, HAVE BEEN FALLING BEHIND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FAILURE RATES, SIGNIFICANTLY.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THAT?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: NATIONAL RATES FOR FAILURE ARE QUITE HIGH.

THE ESTIMATE FIVE TO SIX TIMES HIGHER THAN NORMAL.

HOURS ARE LOWER THAN THAT, GENERALLY, FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.

BUT WE ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON TARGETED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS COME OF THE OLDER GRADE LEVELS.

WE ARE OFFERING TUTORING FROM NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY STUDENTS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A TUTOR PROGRAM FOR ONLINE TUTORING USING STUDENTS FROM SAINT SCHOLASTICA.

SO STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM THEIR PRIMARY TEACHERS.

THAT IS THE WAY WE ARE HAVING PEOPLE GET SUPPORT IF THEY ARE STARTING TO STRUGGLE.

REACH OUT TO YOUR TEACHERS, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO DO THE SAME TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STAYING IN CONTACT AND HELPING PEOPLE CATCH UP.

JULIE: WHAT ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS?

THIS HAS BEEN A STRAIN ON PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BUT YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR.

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT DOING?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: WE HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN PLACE RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH.

WHENEVER POSSIBLE, WE HAVE TRIED TO KEEP OUR MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS OPEN.

TEY ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE WE ARE ALLOWING END BESIDES OUR STAFF TO WORK WITH STUDENTS, TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.

AND IT COMES DOWN TO HOW WE ARE SERVING STUDENTS'’ SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING NEEDS AS A REGULAR CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.

HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE WE ARE THINKING ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE AT AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, AND WE OFFER A VARIETY OF SERVICES, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW THE REGULAR CLASSROOM TEACHER CAN INTEGRATE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES, AND CHECKING INTO STUDENTS IN THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.

WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN OUR STUDENTS BEGIN TO RETURN IN GREATER NUMBERS, THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THOSE DEEPER TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THAT MIGHT HAVE SURFACED OR BEEN EXACERBATED OVER THE BRICK.

JULIE: WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, DO YOU THINK COVID-19 HAS PERMANENTLY CHANGED THE WAY EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE DELIVERED IN THE DULUTH DISTRICT?

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: YES.

AND I HOPE IT IS.

BECAUSE I THINK RETURNING TO NORMAL -- NORMAL DIDN'’T ALWAYS SERVE ALL STUDENTS.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT EDUCATION TO LOOK LIKE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INKING ABOUT IT FROM THE GREATEST EQUITY LENS POSSIBLE AND THAT WE ARE REALLY TAKING WHAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THIS STRUGGLE AND APPLYING IT TO TEACHING IN A NEW AND BETTER WAYS.

JULIE: SUPERINTENDENT JOHN MAGAS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GOOD LUCK AS YOU CONTINUE MOVING KIDS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

SUPERINTENDENT MAGAS: WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE TEACHERS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES AND STUDENTS FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL.

AND THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR OUR "“VOICES OF THE REGION"” SEGMENT.

EACH WEEK, WE ASK A NORTHLAND JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

THIS WEEK WE HEAR FROM MARSHALL HELMBERGER, PUBLISHER OF "THE TIMBERJAY" NEWSPAPER IN TOWER, MINNESOTA.

♪ MARSHALL: ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE ELY DROPPING SHOP, A THRIFT STORE THAT USED TO BE THE GOODWILL, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POPULAR STORE.

GOODWILL WAS VERY POPULAR THERE, SO WHEN THAT CLOSED, SOME PEOPLE WHO USED TO WORK THERE OPTED TO OPEN THEIR OWN THRIFT SHOP THERE.

AND FROM ALL INDICATIONS, IT HAD BEEN DOING FAIRLY WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS IS NOW CHARGED, TWO CHARGES ACTUALLY COME OF SELLING METHAMPHETAMINE FROM THE BUSINESS.

SHE WAS ACTUALLY CHARGED IN DECEMBER.

BUT WE DIDN'’T REALLY FIND OUT ABOUT THIS UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN CITY OFFICIALS BECAME AWARE.

AS A RESULT OF THESE CHARGES NOW, A WOMAN, AMANDA STEVENS, SHE DOES FACE OF THESE TWO CHARGES AND THEY ARE QUITE SERIOUS.

WHEN HIS THIRD-DEGREE POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CHARGE.

SHE COULD FACE 20 YEARS IN PRISON AND UP TO $250,000 FINE FOR THAT.

♪ THE SUSPECT, ESTEVAN ELIOFF, HAVE REPORTEDLY FLED THE SCENE ON FOOT INTO SOME NEARBY WOODS.

POLICE PURSUED HIM AND WERE ABLE, ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND HIM.

HOWEVER -- AT LEAST THEY ARRIVED WHERE HE WAS, AND HE WAS UP IN A TREE, ACTUALLY A DOWNED TREE, SO HE WAS SEVERAL FEET OFF THE GROUND.

AND THE OFFICERS INVOLVED SAID THAT HE REFUSED TO RESPOND TO THEIR COMMANDS AND EVENTUALLY, HE PULLED SOMETHING FROM HIS POCKET, WHICH THEY BELIEVED WAS A GUN.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE A SMALL POCKET KNIFE, BUT IN EITHER CASE, BY THE TIME OFFICERS REALIZED THAT, THEY HAD ALREADY TAKEN LETHAL ACTION AGAINST HIM.

WITH HEIGHTENED ATTENTION TO POLICE SHOOTINGS IN RECENT YEARS, ANY KIND OF AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS IS GOING TO ATTRACT ATTENTION, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

AND IN THIS CASE, THIS WEEK, AFTER REVIEWING THE BCA REPORT AS WELL AS AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF THAT EVIDENCE THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY ST. LOUIS A COUNTY ATTORNEY -- ST. LOUIS COUNTY MARK RUBIN, HE ALSO CONSULTED WITH A WASHINGTON COUNTY ATTORNEY AS WELL AND MARK RUBIN DECIDED THIS WEEK AND ISSUED A PRESS STATEMENT THAT HE DETERMINED THAT THE SHOOTING WAS REASONABLE, NECESSARY, JUSTIFIED AND AUTHORIZED.

THAT IS A QUOTE FROM HIS PRESS STATEMENT.

♪ U.S. STEEL MAY HAVE TO CLEAN UP SOME GROUNDWATER THAT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED BY THE MINT TAX TAILING SPACE AND.

-- THE MINTAC TAILING SPACE.

A COURT HAD OPPOSED LIMITS ON THE GROUNDWATER NEAR THE TAILINGS FACILITY.

THE MPCA IMPOSED THOSE LIMITS ON SULFATE AND A PERMIT, A NEW PERMIT THEY ISSUED TO MINTAC AND 2018.

FOR YEARS, MINTAC HAS ACTUALLY BEEN OPERATING ON AN EXPIRED PERMIT.

THE ORIGINAL PERMIT WAS ISSUED IN 1987, FIVE-YOUR PERMIT THAT RAN OUT IN 1992 AND HAS BEEN ADMINISTRATIVELY EXTENDED EVER SINCE THEN.

♪ THERE MAY BE SOME DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES APPEAR, PARTICULARLY SURROUNDING SULFITE MINING.

AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS AWARE OF THEIR CONCERNS, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A VOICE, ESSENTIALLY, ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A HOT BUTTON APPEAR HAS BEEN BETWEEN METALS, THE PROPOSED AS BEEN TWIN METALS, A COPPER-NICKEL MINE NEAR REALLY.

-- NEAR ELY.

WE HAD THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WITHDRAWAL LEASES THAT WERE CRITICAL TO THAT PROJECT, THEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TURNED AROUND AND REINSTATED THOSE LEASES.

SO NOW, THE QUESTION IS WHAT KIND OF ACTION THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MIGHT TAKE, WHETHER THEY WILL DO NOTHING OR WILL FOLLOW THROUGH AND WITHDRAW THOSE LEASES AGAIN.

CERTAINLY, THERE IS PRESSURE ON BOTH SIDES AND I THINK THE IRON RICH DELEGATION SIMPLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE BEING HEARD.

♪ JULIE: A DIVERSE WORKFORCE CAN BE A KEY TO SUSTAINING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

THE DULUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD RECENTLY LAUNCHED A "“DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EMPLOYER GUIDE"” FOR BUSINESSES.

IT CAN HELP THEM IMPROVE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN HIRING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS ELENA FOSHAY, DIRECTOR OF DULUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ELENA: YEAH, THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE.

JULIE: MAYBE YOU COULD START BY PAINTING THE LANDSCAPE OF DULUTH IN TERMS OF THE JOB MARKET DEAD WORKFORCE, AND WHY THIS IS NEEDED.

ELENA: BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.

EMPLOYERS WERE STRUGGLING TO FIND PEOPLE TO FILL JOBS.

PANDEMIC STARTED.

WE HAD A SPIKE IN LAYOFFS AT FIRST.

BUT WE NOW HAVE A STRANGE MOMENT WHERE THERE IS STILL A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.

EMPLOYERS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO HIRE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN AVAILABLE WORKFORCE LOOKING FOR WORK.

BUT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISMATCH IN SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JOB.

-- FOR THE JOBS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THERE IS AN AVAILABLE WORKFORCE, THEY JUST NEED TO WORK AT THAT -- NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AVAILABLE WORKFORCE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

JULIE: WE MENTIONED THE WORDS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE INTRO, AND FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE IMMERSED IN THAT LANGUAGE, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

ELENA: DIVERSITY REFERS TO CHARACTERISTIC OF THE INDIVIDUALS CHAR -- OF THE INDIVIDUALS, RACE, GENDER, ALL KINDS OF DIVERSITY.

INCLUSION IS WHAT KIND OF WORK ENVIRONMENT YOU ARE CREATED.

-- YOU ARE CREATING.

ARE YOU CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE WELCOME MEN FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF THE TEAM AM APART OF THE ORGANIZATION?

JULIE: FOR A BUSINESS, WHAT OTHER BENEFITS TO REALLY THINKING ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AS THEY ARE LOOKING TO SET UP THEIR WORKPLACE?

ELENA: THERE IS LOTS OF RESEARCH SHOWING THAT HAVING A DIVERSE STAFF MEANS MORE IDEAS, MORE INNOVATION, THERE IS A LOT OF BENEFIT TO THE BUSINESS TO HAVING DIVERSE REPRESENTATION.

THE OTHER THING IS, EMPLOYERS IN OUR AREA NEED TO LOOK AHEAD TO THE FUTURE.

THE POPULATION RIGHT NOW IS AROUND 10% PEOPLE OF COLOR.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT K-12 STUDENTS, IT IS ABOUT 25% STUDENTS OF COLOR.

SO THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE DIVERSE, AND PEOPLE -- AND EMPLOYERS NEED TO BE READY.

JULIE: WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR BUSINESSES TO MAYBE RECRUIT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO ALSO BRING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE?

ELENA: WE ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS FIRST TO LOOK AT THEIR JOB POSTINGS.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE REQUIRING?

AND IS THAT REALLY A REQUIREMENT FOR THE JOB?

ONE OF THE EASIEST EXAMPLES IS EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.

YOU REALLY NEED TO REQUIRE A DEGREE, OR CAN THE DEGREE THE REPLACED BY YEARS OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE?

AND THERE ARE ALSO WAYS EMPLOYERS EVALUATE THINGS ON THE RESUME, WHAT REALLY COUNTS AS RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN, ONCE YOU BRING CANDIDATES IN, HOW ARE THE APPLICANTS EVALUATED?

WHERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPLICIT BIAS THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED IN THE PROCESS?

THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT MOMENTS WHERE IMPLICIT BIAS CAN COME INTO PLAY, AND IT MEANS YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES.

JULIE: I WAS READING THE MATERIALS AND WHEN THING MENTIONED WAS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISCLOSE A SALARY RANGE.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

ELENA: YEAH, IT IS PRETTY COMMON FOR EMPLOYERS DO NOT SHARE THE SALARY RANGE, TO JUST SAY, DEPENDENT ON EXPERIENCE.

BUT REALLY, THAT IS KEY INFORMATION.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THAT, AND IT WILL HELP THEM DETERMINE IF THAT IS THE RIGHT JOB FOR THEM.

IT WILL EITHER BE TOO LOW OR TOO HIGH, USUALLY A JOB DESCRIPTION HAS A NUMBER OF PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, AND THE SALARY RANGE WILL TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT HOW PREFERRED THOSE ARE, WHAT THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR, WHETHER SOMEONE WHO HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SKILL SET OR IS LOOKING AT TRANSFERABLE SKILLS COULD BE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.

AND IT ALSO TELLS SOMEONE, IF SOMEONE REALLY HAS A MINIMUM SALARY THEY NEED TO EARN BECAUSE THEY HAVE A FAMILY, NEED HEALTH INSURANCE, WHATEVER, THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT UPFRONT.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED IMPLICIT BIAS.

DOES EVERYONE HAVE HIDDEN BIASES THAT WOULD COME TO LIGHT IN AN INTERVIEW PROCESS?

IF SO, WHAT ARE BLIND HIRING TECHNIQUES THAT CAN HELP ERASE THOSE, OR EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD?

ELENA: EVERYONE HAS HIDDEN BIASES.

I THINK THE SCALE IS BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE IN YOURSELF AND -- THE SKILL IS BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE INTO SELF AND BEING AWARE OF HOW THEY CAN INFLUENCE YOUR DECISIONS.

EMPLOYERS CAN DO LITTLE THINGS LIKE REMOVING NAMES AND ADDRESSES FROM RESUMES BEFORE YOU REVIEW THEM, BECAUSE THERE ARE LITTLE BIASES ABOUT WHAT SIDE OF TOWN YOU LIVE ON OR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT YOUR RACE BASED ON YOUR NAME.

AND THEN, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS LIKE HAVING A NEUTRAL SET OF CRITERIA TO EVALUATE A RESUME, RATHER THAN LOOKING AT IT AND GOING WITH YOUR GUT FEELING ABOUT A CANDIDATE.

SET YOURSELF 10 CRITERIA AND SCORE THEM ON THOSE CRITERIA.

THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE OF AN UNBIASED SUSPECTED OF TWO COMPARE CANDIDATES AND DECIDE WHO YOU WANT TO BRING IN FOR AN INTERVIEW.

JULIE: SO WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND OTHERS IN TOWN, THAT CAN HELP BUSINESSES MOVE THE NEEDLE A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF MAKING A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE?

ELENA: THE DULUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD HAS AN EQUITY COMMITTEE.

IN THE EQUITY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD FOR MORE THAN A YEAR ON A TOOLKIT WE PUT TOGETHER.

WE REALLY WANT IT TO BE A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS WITH CONCRETE STEPS THEY CAN TAKE TO HELP IMPROVE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN RECRUITING, HIRING, OUT BOARDING AND RETENTION.

THE TOOLKIT HAS GOT SUGGESTIONS, LINKS TO RESOURCES, EXAMPLES, WORKSITES, NAMES OF CONSULTANTS, IT HAS GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS EMPLOYERS CAN DRAW ON AND IT IS FOR EMPLOYERS OF ALL SIZES, THEY HAVE AN HR DEPARTMENT OR HAVE ONE PERSON WHO DOES ALL THE HIRING, IT IS A REALLY FLEXIBLE GUIDE.

JULIE: AND AS WE COME OUT OF COVID-19, I IMAGINE THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO RETHINK ABOUT THE WORKFORCE.

ELENA: EMPLOYERS ARE CHANGING THEIR PROCESSES ABOT EVERYTHING, SO NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT THEIR PROCESS AND MAKE CHANGES IN HIRING AND OUTBOARD.

JULIE: ELAINAENA FOSHAY, THANKS FOR COMING IN.

A HOSPITALIZED CHILD CAN BE A FRIGHTENING AND FINANCIALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR FAMILIES.

THE EXPENSE AND UNCERTAINTY IS COMPOUNDED IF YOU LIVE A LONG WAY FROM THE HOSPITAL WHERE YOUR CHILD IS BEING TREATED.

BUT WITH THE OPENING OF THE FIRST "“RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE"” FOR FAMILIES IN DULUTH THIS WEEK, SOME OF THAT BURDEN HAS BEEN EASED.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT IS YOUNG FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDRE.

AND THEY ARE IN SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE TIMES OF THEIR LIVES.

THEY ARE JUST STARTING THEIR CAREERS, OFTEN HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN THAT STILL NEED THEIR CARE WHILE THEY ARE ONE SICK CHILD IS HAVING DIFFICULTY AS WELL.

PULLING THE RESOURCES, SUPPORT, THE CARING AND LOVING THAT COMES WITH RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ANY COMMUNITY THAT CARES ABOUT CHILDREN.

AND I AM JUST SO PROUD AND PLEASED WITH ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT HAS COME INTO THIS TO MAKE THIS A REALITY TODAY.

WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BUILDING VISION NORTH LAND, THE NEW ST. MARY'’S MEDICAL CENTER, WE HAD A PROMISE WE WOULD MAKE A RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PART OF THAT CARE.

THERE IS TREMENDOUS CARE THAT TAKES PLACE IN DULUTH IN GENERAL AND WE REALLY KNEW FAMILIES NEEDED THAT SUPPORT AND THAT SERVICE AND WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT BUILD A RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE INTO THOSE PLANS.

PARENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING CARE ARE CERTAINLY ELIGIBLE -- PATIENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING CARE ARE CERTAINLY ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AND GET TIME AT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS THIS COURT -- IS THE SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER FAMILIES WHO ARE THERE.

THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THE SAME JOURNEY AS YOU ARE, AND EVERYBODY HAS HAD DIFFERENT TIME ON THE JOURNEY.

AT SUPPORT THEY PROVIDE EACH OTHER AND THE PATIENTS PROVIDE EACH OTHER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAPPENS AT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE EVERY DAY.

JULIE: SOCIAL WORKERS ASSIST FAMILIES TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR STAYING AT THE HOUSE, WHICH INCLUDES FREE LODGING AND MEALS.

THE DULUTH FACILITY HAS FIVE DOUBLE-OCCUPANCY BEDROOMS, AND DINING SPACE FOR ADDITIONAL FAMILIES.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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THANKS TO OUR GUESTS, AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪