DENNIS: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

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

IS RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS?

A NEW POLL OF MINNESOTANS FOUND SOME EYE-OPENING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHITE AND NON-WHITE RESPONDENTS.

WE'LL HIGHLIGHT WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WITH A STORY FEATURING THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND A LOCAL AUTHOR.

AND WITH THE GREAT LAKES SHIPPING SEASON SET TO OPEN NEXT WEEK, WE'LL TALK WITH A COAST GUARD OFFICIAL ABOUT THEIR IMPORTANT WORK.

THESE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

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

THANKS FOR WATCHING, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

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

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK MORE THAN 2 MILLION DOSES OF THE COVID VACCINE HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED IN MINNESOTA.

THE GOVERNOR EXPANDED VACCINE ELIGIBILITY TO ANOTHER 1.8 MILLION MINNESOTANS LAST WEEK.

77% OF MINNESOTANS OVER THE AGE OF 65 HAVE NOW RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR WALZ IS QUARANTINING HIMSELF FOR 10 DAYS AFTER A MEMBER OF HIS STAFF WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19.

THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY REVEALED THIS WEEK THAT NEARLY ALL CLOSED LANDFILLS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE PFAS CONTAMINATING GROUNDWATER.

60 OF THOSE LANDFILLS HAVE LEVELS EXCEEDING THE STATE'S HEALTH GUIDANCE FOR POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.

THE MPCA IS EXPANDING DRINKING WATER MONITORING TO MEASURE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE CONTAMINATION.

THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER ANNOUNCED THE FORMAL LAUNCH OF ITS SEARCH FOR A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THIS WEEK.

FORMER STATE SENATOR ROGER REINERT HAS BEEN SERVING AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE DECC FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

THE PANDEMIC HAS HIT THE FACILITY HARD, FORCING LAYOFFS, BUT THE FUTURE IS BRIGHTENING AS COVID RESTRICTIONS SLOWLY TAPER OFF.

WITH WARM WEATHER FORECAST FOR THIS WEEKEND, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR SATURDAY IN PARTS OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND A DWINDLING SNOWPACK WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS.

THE WATCH AREA INCLUDES AITKIN, PINE, CARLTON AND ST. LOUIS COUNTIES.

DULUTH'S LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD HAS FOUND NEW LIFE IN RECENT YEARS AS A DESTINATION FOR FOODIES, CRAFT BREWERIES AND HANDMADE GOODS.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE IN DULUTH.

BUT RESIDENTS THERE ALSO HAVE A SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY AND MORE HEALTH ISSUES THAN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY.

THE LINCOLN PARK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE IS WORKING TO IMPROVE THOSE HEALTH OUTCOMES.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS JODI BROADWELL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COLLABORATIVE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WHAT IS THE LINCOLN PARK COLLABORATIVE?

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO?

JODI: WE ARE A SMALL NONPROFIT IN THE LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE WORKED TOGETHER TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, WHETHER CONNECTING FOLKS TO OPPORTUNITIES, EMBRACING CULTURES THROUGH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, AND BUILDING COMMUNITY WELL-BEING THROUGH STRONG AND EQUITABLE LEADERSHIP.

DENNIS: WHAT CHALLENGES DOES LINCOLN PARK FACE?

JODI: WE HAVE A FUNDING INITIATIVE WE ARE DOING WITH THE CENTER FOR PREVENTION.

IT IS A HEALTH POWER PROJECTS.

POWER BEING PEOPLE ORGANIZING AND WORKING FOR EQUITABLE RESULTS.

THROUGH THIS PROJECT WE DID CANVASSING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD LAST SUMMER.

WE DISCOVERED QUITE A FEW ISSUES THAT EXIST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SOME OF WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT, LIKE FOOD INSECURITIES WITH THE FOOD DESERT AND SOME THAT WERE NEWER ISSUES.

DENNIS: ARE THERE HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL?

JODI: ABSOLUTELY.

DENNIS: WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE?

JODI: SOME MIGHT RESOLVE -- REVOLVE AROUND USING COMMERCIAL TOBACCO, GETTING ACCESS TO PHYSICAL EXERCISE.

SOME HEALTH ISSUES ARE RELATED TO STRESS AND OPPRESSION, MAY BE STRUCTURAL RACISM OR OTHER STRESSORS THAT ARE ALSO COMPOUNDED BY THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER STUFF GOING ON IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

DENNIS: I HEARD YOU USE THE TERM STRUCTURAL RACISM.

WHAT IS THAT?

JODI: WE HAVE THESE SYSTEMS, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

WITHIN THOSE SYSTEMS, THERE ARE POLICIES, PRACTICES AND NORMS.

THE WAY THOSE ARE SET UP, IF THEY ARE NOT SET UP IN AN EQUITABLE WAY, THAT IS WHERE WE SEE STRUCTURAL RACISM.

DENNIS: WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE?

JODI: THERE ARE LOCAL RESOURCES, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON PROMOTING A CAMPAIGN BY BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD WHICH TALKS ABOUT HOW PUBLIC HEALTH -- WE ARE EXPERIENCING A CRISIS RIGHT NOW, RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

THE CENTER HAS A WEBSITE.

IT IS BLUECROSS NMCOM/HEALTHEQUITY.

THERE ARE LOTS OF RESOURCES.

THERE ARE VIDEOS PEOPLE CAN WATCH, READING LISTS, ARTICLES, AND A VARIETY OF RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES TO TAKE STEPS TOWARD A MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEM.

DENNIS: WE HEAR THE TERM MICRO-AGGRESSION.

WHAT IS THAT?

JODI: ON MICRO-AGGRESSION MIGHT BE SMALL COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY NOTICED BY SOME PEOPLE LIKE MAYBE THERE WAS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN TALKING AND I SAID, SHE IS REALLY ARTICULATE.

THAT IS LIKE A MICRO-AGGRESSION.

DENNIS: I SEE.

THERE IS A BIAS BUILT IN.

HUMAN BEINGS PICK IT UP EARLY, DON'T WE?

JODI: YES, INTERNAL BIAS.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE BASED ON WHAT SOCIETAL NORMS HAVE TAUGHT US.

AS A WHITE WOMAN, I MIGHT HAVE AN IMPLICIT BIAS IF I AM WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SEE A BLACK MAN WALKING TOWARDS ME, IF I MIGHT FEEL SCARED OR THAT THEY MIGHT HURT ME, THAT WOULD BE AN IMPLICIT BIAS.

DENNIS: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES AMONGST FAMILIES IN LINCOLN PARK.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

HOW IS THAT AFFECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

JODI: ABOUT HALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OWNS HOUSES AND HALF DO NOT.

THERE MIGHT BE INEQUITIES WE WOULD THE IN HOUSING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING.

I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE RENTING.

THEIR RENT IS TWICE AS MUCH AS MY MORTGAGE.

THERE ARE HOUSING AND EQUITIES HAPPENING.

DENNIS: THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A RESURGENCE IN JOB OPPORTUNITY.

BUSINESSES ARE COMING INTO THAT AREA.

WHAT IS -- WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR FOLKS LIVING THERE TODAY?

IT SEEMS TO BE CHANGING.

JODI: THERE ARE POSITIVES.

DENNIS: HOUSING?

JODI: THERE ARE NEW HOUSING GOING UP, REVITALIZATION IN THE CRAFT DISTRICT, WHICH CAN BE POSITIVE.

SOME OF THESE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH, BE MINDFUL OF GENTRIFICATION, MAKE SURE THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES NOT BECOME SO TRENDY AND EXPENSIVE THAT THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT CURRENTLY LIVE THERE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THE SITUATION AND WHAT THE COLLABORATIVE DOES.

THANK YOU KINDLY.

♪ DENNIS: IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN OUR BROADCAST AREA AND THE STORIES THEY ARE REPORTING.

THIS WEEK MARSHAL HELMBERGER FROM THE TIMBERJAY NEWSPAPER IN TOWER IS OUR GUEST.

♪ ♪ 3 MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD -- MARSHAL: MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL ARE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, IN THE WAKE OF THE RESIGNATION OF THE TOWNSHIP'S POLICE CHIEF.

HE RESIGNED RECENTLY AND ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THAT, THE ONLY OTHER FULL-TIME OFFICER RESIGNED.

THEY HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC TURNOVER.

THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN A POLICE FORCE FOR SOME TIME.

IT IS UNUSUAL I TOWNSHIP RUNS A POLICE DEPARTMENT ANYWAY.

BRIDING WAS ONE OF TWO TOWNSHIPS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY RUNNING THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT IS NOT UNUSUAL THEY MADE THE DECISION TO GET OUT OF THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A DECISION MOST TOWNSHIPS HAD MADE.

THEY MADE A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF TOWER, WHICH HELPED WITH THAT THE COST OF MANAGING THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NOW IT IS NOT ONLY LEAVING BRIDING TOWNSHIP, WHICH ENCOMPASSES SEDAN AND THE CITY OF TOWER, HOW TO HANDLE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS.

THEY ARE RELYING ON ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THAT IS ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS.

IF FOLKS CALL 911, RATHER THAN GETTING THE BRIDING POLICE, THEY GET THE ST. LOUIS OFFICE.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN MUCH OUTCRY ABOUT THIS.

I EXPECTED TO HEAR SOME, BUT SO FAR WE HAVE YET TO GET A SINGLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR, WHICH IS SURPRISING.

♪ MARSHAL: STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN TO THE CLASSROOM, MAY BE REPLACING MASKS WITH HARDHATS NEXT MONTH.

WORK WILL BE GETTING UNDERWAY ON A $20 MILLION SCHOOL RENOVATION, APPROVED BY VOTERS LAST YEAR.

THAT PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED BY $10 MILLION FROM A LOCAL SCHOOL BONDS, AND A MIX OF STATE DOLLARS, $7 MILLION FROM RESOURCES AND REHABILITATION.

THEY PLAN AN APRIL GROUNDBREAKING ON THAT WORK.

THEY WILL BEGIN DEMOLITION BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT STUDENTS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THEY WILL BE HAVING TO MOVE BAND STUDENTS, INDUSTRIAL ARTS.

THEY ALSO HAVE DAYCARE FACILITIES WHICH MAY HAVE TO BE MOVED.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THIS PROJECT IS A PORTAL THAT CONNECTS THE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY.

THE TWO SCHOOLS ARE BOTH ON THE CAMPUS, BUT ARE SEPARATED.

THIS WILL TIE THEM TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AS PART OF THAT, THEY WILL BE CREATING ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR USE BY BOTH SCHOOLS.

THAT INCLUDES NEW DISTRICT OFFICES, A NEW GYMNASIUM, NEW LOCKER ROOMS.

THEY WILL HAVE A NEW COMMONS AREA.

A NEW KITCHEN AND A NEW HEATING PLANT FOR THE WHOLE FACILITY.

IT IS A MAJOR RENOVATION.

THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT FOR IT IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT WILL BE FILLED OVER TWO SUMMERS WITH SOME WORK IN BETWEEN.

IT IS A 16 MONTH CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

♪ MARSHAL: YOU COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR NICER WEATHER THIS PAST SATURDAY, WHEN THE RESORT ON ELEPHANT LAKE HELD THEIR 35TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE AND SNOWMOBILE RACE.

I HAVE BEEN THERE MYSELF OVER THE YEARS AND IT IS A LOT OF FUN.

FOLKS ARE ALWAYS EXCITED TO CHECK OUT THE OLD MACHINES.

I THINK THEY BRING BACK MEMORIES WHEN THEY WERE KIDS.

AS KIDS WE HAD SNOWMOBILES, TOO.

THEY LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THEY DO NOW.

I LIKE THE OLD ONES BETTER.

IT IS A GREAT WAY FOR FOLKS TO SPEND TIME OUTSIDE.

THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR AFTER A YEAR OF COVID RELATED CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS, PEOPLE WERE REALLY HAPPY TO GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE WEATHER WAS SO NICE THEY COULD SPEND THE DAY OUTSIDE.

THEY DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RESTRICTIONS.

THE CROWD WAS LARGER THAN PAST YEARS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR A GOOD OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.

IT IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED IN TERMS OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

DENNIS: THE LAKE SUPERIOR SHIPPING SEASON IS SET TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK WHEN THE SOO LOCKS OPEN TO VESSEL TRAFFIC.

THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN KEEPING THE SHIPPING LANES OPEN ON THE GREAT LAKES.

IN THE DULUTH SUPERIOR HARBOR, THE COAST GUARD CUTTER ALDER HAS BEEN OUT BREAKING ICE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE 2021 SEASON.

JOINING US NOW IS ENSIGN KYLE HANSEN, THE DECK WATCH OFFICER ON THE U.S. COAST GUARD'S ALDER.

WELCOME ENSIGN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THEY GO UP TO THUNDER BAY, PERHAPS?

TALK TO US ABOUT THE ICEBREAKING DUTIES YOU HAVE.

KYLE: AS WE PREPARE FOR THE SEASON, WE MAKE SURE THE LANES ARE OPEN IN BOTH DULUTH SUPERIOR AND THUNDER BAY UNTIL THEY GET THROUGH THE LOCKS, THE CANADIAN COAST GUARD VESSEL.

DENNIS: YOU HAVE A MISSION WITH BUOYS.

WHEN DOES THAT BEGIN?

KYLE: IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

SOME BUOYS ARE SEASONAL, REPLACED IN THE WINTER AND SUMMER.

THEY WILL BE OUT IN THE NEXT MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF, REPLACING THOSE.

DENNIS: WHAT ELSE DOES A COAST GUARD DO?

I IMAGINE YOU WOULD BE INVOLVED IN RESCUE MISSIONS.

KYLE: IF NECESSARY, IF WE ARE THE CLOSEST UNIT.

THERE ARE MANY SCATTERED AROUND THE COAST.

DENNIS: HOW BIG AN AREA DOES THE COAST GUARD CUTTER ALDER HAVE?

KYLE: THE AREA OF OPERATION IS LAKE SUPERIOR AND PARTS OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

WE HAVE 100 ACE NAVIGATION BUOYS.

FOR ICE NAVIGATION IT IS MOSTLY DULUTH SUPERIOR HARBOR.

DENNIS: WE HAVE VIDEO OF THE ALDER BREAKING ICE.

WHAT ARE ICE CONDITIONS LIKE?

KYLE: MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

MAXIMUM WAS 44%, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, 13%.

BOTH OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE ICE BUILDUP ON THE GREAT LAKES.

IT IS MORE ICEBREAKING THAN WE DID LAST YEAR, BUT NOTHING WE CAN'T HANDLE.

DENNIS: TELL US ABOUT THE ALDER.

HOW BIG OF VESSEL?

KYLE: 225 FEET LONG, 46 FEET IN WIDTH.

WE CAN HANDLE THREE FEET OF RE-FROZEN BRASH ICE.

AFTER THIS ICE BREAKS, IT WILL REFREEZE AT WEIRD ANGLES AND IT IS HARDER TO BREAK THAN JUST STRAIGHT PLATE ICE.

DENNIS: HOW BIG A CREW DO YOU HAVE?

KYLE: 50 PEOPLE.

DENNIS: ARE THEY ALL ON THE SHIP AT ONCE, OR YOU HAVE SHIPS?

KYLE: WE HAVE FOUR HOUR SHIFTS.

WE TRY TO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE UNDERWAY.

IF THERE IS A FIRE LEAKING ON BOARD, WE CANNOT CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

DENNIS: WHAT MISSIONS MIGHT YOU BE CALLED TO?

KYLE: WE HAVE HAD TO DO DIRECT ASSISTANCE.

A VESSEL CAN'T GET INTO THE HARBOR BECAUSE OF ICE, WE HAVE TO LEAD THE WAY.

DENNIS: HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE ALDER, OR WHAT THE COAST GUARD IS DOING?

KYLE: TO SOME EXTENT.

LAST SPRING, WE HAD OUR SPRING BUOY SEASON.

THAT HAPPENED MID MARCH WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

WE HAD TO DO THE ENTIRE RUN ALL AT ONCE.

INSTEAD OF GOING OUT FOR A FEW DAYS, FEW WEEKS, WE DID IT IN ONE-RUN.

IT TOOK A MONTH AND A HALF.

DENNIS: ARE YOU INVOLVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT?

KYLE: CORRECT.

WE DID RECREATIONAL BOARDINGS AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS WEARING LIFE JACKETS, FOLLOWING SAFETY PROTOCOL.

DENNIS: ENSIGN KYLE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪ ♪ DENNIS: IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS FEATURING BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICA.

THIS WEEK WE TALKED WITH THE LIBRARIES' HEAD OF MARKETING ABOUT THE FEATURED BOOKS.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM A WOMAN WHO HAS WORKED FOR 45-YEARS TO ERADICATE SEXISM AND RACISM.

SHE IS A SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR AND HAS WRITTEN A MONTHLY HISTORY STORY FOR THE FOND DU LAC TRIBAL NEWSPAPER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

>> IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

SOMEONE ONCE SAID, IF WE DON'T KNOW THE PAST, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

ALL THESE CONTRIBUTIONS WOMEN HAVE MADE AND ARE STILL MAKING, TO THIS DAY.

MY NAME IS LEANNE.

I AM THE HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING FOR THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

NORMALLY, THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY LIKES TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

HOW CAN WE NOT?

WE HAVE A LOT OF BOOKS IN THE FACILITY.

WITH THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, THE MAIN LIBRARY AND OUR BRANCHES ARE CLOSED TO PUBLIC ENTRANCE.

THE PUBLIC CANNOT COME IN.

NORMALLY WE LIKE TO SHOWCASE BOOKS AROUND THE AREA, GO ALL OUT, BUT WE HAD TO SHIFT THIS YEAR.

WE ARE STICKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA INSTEAD TO HIGHLIGHT BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE WOMEN.

ANYONE THAT WANTS TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT WOMEN'S HISTORY OR LEARN IT THEMSELVES THEY CAN CALL US OR LOOK AT THE CATALOG.

WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO CARRY A STACK OF BOOKS THEY CAN READ AND PICK UP AT CURBSIDE.

THIS IS A BOOK " WHO DID IT FIRST?"

60 ACTIVISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS THAT REVOLUTIONIZED THE WORLD.

THIS IS REALLY COOL.

THIS IS THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN TO PUBLISH A BOOK, IN 1883.

IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

ESPECIALLY WORKING AT A LIBRARY.

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY WOMEN AUTHORS.

BOOKS ON WOMEN ARE STILL SHIFTING HISTORY.

WE HAVE A HUGE YOUTH SERVICES.

PRE-PANDEMIC, WE HAD A LOT OF KIDS COME IN, READ BOOKS AND PICK OUT BOOKS.

WHAT BETTER WAY OF SEEING THEMSELVES, WHAT THEY CAN BE IN THE FUTURE, BY PICKING OUT A BOOK?

FRIDA KAHLO IS A HUGE LATINX AND FEMINIST ICON.

HER BOLDNESS, BRAVERY AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE IS SOMETHING A LOT OF LATINX PEOPLE LOVE.

AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LATINO AS WELL.

COMING FROM LATINX AND BEING A FEMINIST ICON, I HOPE ONE DAY TO BE REMEMBERED FOR MY BOLDNESS AND BRAVERY, JUST LIKE SHE WAS.

I FEEL A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE SHIFTED HISTORY WITHIN THE PAST YEARS.

2020 AND INTO 2021.

I ALSO FEEL WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO FOR WOMEN.

THAT IS WHY THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS AMAZING, TO HAVE CHILDREN CHECK OUT BOOKS.

THEY ARE SEEING THEMSELVES ON THE COVER OF THE BOOK, AND INSIDE OF THE BOOK AND SAYING, IF SHE CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT, TOO.

WOMEN'S VOICES DO MATTER.

A LOT OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE PUT THEIR VOICES ON PAPER.

NOW WE CAN CHECK THEM OUT FROM THE LIBRARY AND DIG INTO THEIR PAST LIVES AND SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH TO PAVE THE WAY FOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> WE ARE OVER HALF THE POPULATION.

WE NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AND RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY AS MOTHERS, BUT IN THE WORKFORCE AS WELL.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINE CARLSEN.

I GREW UP IN THE OLD VILLAGE OF FOND DU LAC IN WESTERN DULUTH.

THEN LATER MOVED OUT WEST TO TACOMA, WASHINGTON, WHERE I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND.

THAT IS WHERE I BECAME MORE AWARE OF WOMEN'S ISSUES, OUT IN WASHINGTON.

I WAS HUNGRY FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WOMEN.

WHEN I HOOKED UP WITH THE TEACHER, MISSES SNYDER -- MRS. SNYDER, SHE WAS, TOO.

WE WORKED IN THE 1970'S ON COLLECTING INFORMATION.

WE WERE IN THE CLASSROOM OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MRS. SNYDER WAS THE TEACHER AND I WAS THE TEACHING ASSISTANT.

SHE WAS VERY INTO HISTORY.

SHE KNEW I WAS INTO WOMEN'S HISTORY, SO WE WERE MAKING AN OLD-FASHIONED CLASSROOM.

THEN WE HAD OLD-FASHIONED HISTORY TO GO WITH IT.

PARTICULARLY, WOMEN.

THAT WAS 1977.

WOMEN WERE NOT PAID AS MUCH AS MEN, THAT WAS FOR SURE, OR GIVEN THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT, JOB-WI SE.

A LOT OF WOMEN WERE AT POOR PAYING JOBS.

WE WERE EXCLUDED IN HISTORY, IN EDUCATION.

IT WAS TIME TO START LOOKING AT THINGS AND CHANGING THINGS.

THAT WAS THE MOVEMENT THAT WAS OUT THERE.

I WAS RIGHT IN THEIR -- THERE.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE A MAN PUSHING A STROLLER DOWN THE STREET.

THAT IS GREAT THAT MORE MEN ARE TAKING PART IN CHILD REARING AND MORE WOMEN ARE OUT THERE WORKING, IN POSITIONS OF POWER AND AUTHORITY, AND GETTING PAID WELL, GETTING AN EDUCATION.

WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, THE CHOICES WERE TEACHER OR SECRETARY OR NURSE.

THAT WAS IT.

I THOUGHT THERE WERE NOT MANY CHOICES, BUT NOW THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN.

THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT IS A POSITIVE ASPECT.

THAT IS WONDERFUL THAT CHANGE HAS COME.

I SUPPOSE THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

MY MOST FAVORITE COLUMN IS "NO PERSON."

I AM GOING TO MAKE A SNOW PERSON RATHER THAN A SNOWMAN SHE WILL CHANGE AS FAST AS SHE CAN SHE WILL HAVE A WIG OF SILVER LIKE MY DEAR OLD MOM A CURVE TO HER HIPS THROW THOSE COAL BLACK EYES AWAY MAKE THEM GREEN LIKE MAN I AM NOT AGAINST MEN, BUT MUST IT ALWAYS BE A HIM?

AS A KID I ALWAYS MADE SNOWMEN.

WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SNOWMEN?

I THOUGHT, HOW ABOUT SNOW PERSON.

DENNIS: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS MAINTAINS THE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WEBSITE, WHICH ENCOURAGES THE STUDY, OBSERVANCE AND CELEBRATION OF THE VITAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST FROM "ALMANAC NORTH" BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU WILL 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 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 DENNIS ANDERSON.

STAY HEALTHY EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!

♪