Young Scientists Conference returns for fourth year in Staples, Minn.

Almost 200 students from central Minnesota schools spent the day immersed in science at Sourcewell's annual Young Scientists Conference, Oct. 8-9, 2026, at Central Lakes College – Staples campus.

Students in grades 3-8 experienced a wide variety of scientific topics firsthand. Science and technology professionals from around Minnesota hosted presentations showcasing their careers and areas of expertise, from magic to robotics.

Sourcewell’s Student Event Specialist, Crysta Blake, said Hudson the Magician opened the conference with a high-energy, interactive show demonstrating that magic is art, magic is math, and magic is science. Students were captivated and learned how observing, critical thinking, problem solving, and even creativity all play a role in STEM fields.

“This year’s theme was ‘Get Curious,’ and students connected well with the presenters showing genuine curiosity while participating in hands-on learning experiences,” Blake said. “The day was just pure fun and such a great atmosphere for digging in and getting curious. Presenters, teachers, and students were all smiles and had a blast throughout the day!”

“One of my favorite parts was seeing this conference grow to two days this year, which allowed us to welcome more students and build a stronger STEM community across our region.”

Presenters and topics included:

Keynote

Steve “Hudson” Cotariu

Hudson the Magician | STEM Magic Show

Get ready for a high-energy STEM experience where science and magic collide! Hudson the Magician combines mind-blowing illusions, surprising science, and interactive fun in an unforgettable STEM magic show designed to spark curiosity and excitement in students in grades 3-8.

Steve “Hudson” Cotariu has been performing magic for more than 40 years and is one of the fortunate few to have turned a childhood hobby into a career. Cotariu performs as Hudson the Magician for corporate, educational, and family audiences. He also owns and operates Twin Cities Magic Academy, where he helps kids build confidence and communication skills while they learn magic during summer camps. Cotariu’s career has taken him from the military to NASA physics laboratories to corporate boardrooms. And now to the stage. Along the way, one thing remains constant: curiosity.

Headwaters Science Center | Combustion

Fire! Fascinating human-kind for all of history. Whether seen as a life-giving tool or death-dealing disaster, its power is a force. In this demonstration, clouds of fire flash into the air, metals burn, and balloons explode. These phenomena and more are woven into a discussion of the basic nature of a chemical reaction using combustion as an example.

HSC first opened its doors in July 1993 with a few home-made exhibits and a small gift store. By March 1994, eleven large Science Carnival exhibits had arrived from Pacific Science Center and HSC celebrated the formal opening of its exhibit hall.

Mike DeLuca

Geology | Rocks and Minerals

Let's explore the fascinating world of rocks and minerals! We'll discover how they form and make up our amazing planet, and how to look closer to tell them apart. Get ready for an exciting hands-on experience with rock specimens and take one home with you to remember this incredible adventure!

Mike DeLuca has worked in mining, mineralogy, and education. He has a master’s degree in earth science mineralogy and he teaches geology around the country. He has worked with the Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum.

Megan Raschka and Jennifer Behm

Bell Museum | MN Frog and Toad Olympics

Students of all ages will love learning about the different frog and toad species in Minnesota and their amazing and unique adaptations for survival. Students will discover how Minnesota’s amphibians climb, hop, swim, camouflage, and survive our freezing winters — and compete to see if they can “out-jump” them!

Megan Raschka and Jennifer Behm are part of the Statewide Engagement team at the Bell Museum. Their goal is to bring the Bell Museum’s natural history and astronomy programs throughout the entire state to help create a museum without boundaries!

STEMbound | STEM Challenge: Explore, Design, Build, Solve!

Students: Ready to put your problem-solving skills to the test? In this hands-on STEM session, you’ll explore different maker tools and equipment and take on a short series of challenges, puzzles, and creative problems. There’s more than one way to solve a problem, so bring your curiosity and creativity. Explore the tools, try out your ideas, learn from what happens, and see what you can do!

STEMbound | Explore, Play, and Discover: STEM Maker Resources

Teachers: Explore, play, and discover STEM Maker resources available for your classroom! Try the same hands-on challenges as students, experiment with STEM equipment, and gather ideas for engaging learners. You’ll also explore EZR, our new rental system that makes it easier to see what’s available and check out equipment for use with your students.

Lakewood Health System | Life-Saving Science in Action

How do medical teams help people, in everyday appointments and in emergencies? Use an ultrasound machine to literally see your own heart beating, watch emergency medicine like CPR demonstrations firsthand, and explore an ambulance to learn everything it can do to help save lives!

Since 1936, Lakewood Health System has made it their business to ensure the health and well-being of their patients and communities. Located in Staples, Minn., they're focused on an entire spectrum of care, not just helping people get well, but staying well, at every stage of life.

Russell Strachan

Aerospace | Space & Aviation: Understanding What’s Up!

It’s not rocket science…or is it? Explore the vast world of space exploration and aviation with a former NASA engineer! Learn the nuts-and-bolts of spacecraft development, plus the latest advances in aviation. And that's not all: You'll also discover the many career opportunities that await you in this field. Buckle up and get ready for an adventure that you'll never forget!

Mr. Strachan has earned two degrees in aerospace engineering, and has worked in the military, government, education, and commercial worlds. His experience includes the Global Positioning System (GPS), the CIA, and the NASA Space Shuttle Program. He is also a substitute teacher in math and science at Brainerd and Pequot Lakes schools.

Curtis Robertson

Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference | FIRST Robotics

Robotics is a fast-growing field of competition that helps develop a love for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Come learn how high schools competing with the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) are changing the future for students. Come see a competitive robot in action, talk with some students currently involved with FRC, watch videos on what competitions look like, and see how FRC is a program that’s open to EVERYONE!

Curtis Robertson is a Global Field Operations Specialist in Minnesota for FIRST, a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) lead mentor, and a representative for the Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference and the Minnesota Robotics Coaches Association.

Tyler Grunewald

CLC: AgCentric | LEGO AgBots

Discover how technology is transforming the future of agriculture! Students in grades 3-8 will explore careers in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) and learn how AI and robotics are being used in the field. Then, working in teams, they’ll use LEGO pieces to design and build an agricultural attachment for an Edison robot, test their creation, and make improvements. It’s a hands-on challenge combining agriculture, technology, creativity, and teamwork!

Tyler Grunewald is the Agriculture Program Coordinator for AgCentric, Minnesota State’s Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence. Based at Central Lakes College in Staples, Tyler develops hands-on learning experiences that introduce students to agriculture, robotics, automation, and emerging technology. He enjoys helping young people discover how science, creativity, and problem-solving connect to the future of agriculture.

The world is constantly changing, and our students are becoming less prepared to meet the demands.

Districts can place too much attention on traditional measures of success: Grades, attendance, graduation rates. We may even focus our limited resources on just getting students across that finish line of graduation. But then what? Many students are left with limited choices, unclear next steps, and very few tools to feel ready, let alone successful.

The myths of CCR separation

Often, school leaders approach career and college readiness (CCR) as an entirely separate entity. They look for a single CCR program, a single direct initiative that will cover all their students’ preparation for post-graduation life. Career and college readiness can easily become something “extra,” something separate from the core education work the school is doing.

This way of thinking restricts career and college readiness, putting it in a box and limiting what it can do. It leads to some of the most common and damaging CCR myths, including:

• “Career and college readiness is the job of the counselor.”
• “Career and college readiness is only for students who have no idea what they want to do.”
• “Career and college readiness is only a high school concept.”
• “Career and college readiness is different than core academics.”

These myths, and more like it, hold career and college readiness back from its potential to empower and engage students…in both their present learning, and their future success.

Take career and college readiness out of its box

The good news is that many districts are already doing important work that contributes to career and college readiness for students, every day. Strong academic programs, dedicated educators, student support systems, community partnerships, and meaningful learning experiences all play a role in preparing students for life beyond graduation.

Our opportunity is not about adding yet another initiative. Our opportunity is about recognizing, connecting, and strengthening the work already happening across the system. When career and college readiness is a shared responsibility embedded into the culture of a district, it becomes more than a program. It becomes a framework to help every student build the knowledge, skills, experiences, and confidence needed to navigate an ever-changing world.

Across central Minnesota, schools are finding success by moving career and college readiness beyond a standalone program and embedding it throughout the K-12 experience. The following four strategies provide a framework for creating that systemic approach.

Pillar 1: Vision and accountability

A clear vision and measurable indicators for student readiness are foundational to systemic CCR. Districts can then align strategic goals and resources, while using meaningful data to monitor progress and make decisions in service to students and community. This pillar is at the start for a reason: The vision for success, and the measurement of that success, need to be established before you start making any other big moves.

Pine River-Backus School District encountered this as they worked to develop their Portrait of a Learner in partnership with Battelle for Kids. The Portrait process asks, “what are we promising as a future vision to every student, in every grade?” It establishes competencies and dispositions to empower within every student, such as resilience, communication, and collaboration.

Along with 16 other districts in rural Minnesota, Pine River-Backus School district adopted and is mobilizing the AASA Redefining Ready indicators for career and college readiness. Research-based measures include:

• Engagement in Career and Technical Education
• Classroom attendance
• On-grade-level literacy and mathematics

These indicators create a breadth of progress measures that empower students to track their own readiness and seek out varied experiences.

Pillar 2: Academic and career planning

Students must take an active role in their learning at all grade levels, and this pillar builds a culture of goal setting and reflection from kindergarten through graduation. It offers opportunities at every grade for students to discover who they are and connect their interests, strengths, and goals with educational opportunities and future pathways. Students’ behaviors, coursework, experiences, and post-secondary options become an active choice, rather than a passive inevitability.

Verndale School District has been working to increase student voice and agency across all grade levels. As a small rural district with limited options for local business partners, Verndale has found a strong partnership with SchooLinks – a CCR digital platform for academic and career engagement.

Using the AASA Redefining Ready metrics within the SchooLinks platform has brought clarity and vision to students and families around readiness, while the Personal Learning Plan feature supports students in setting goals, reflecting on experiences, and actively planning for new learning opportunities aligned to their interests and innate gifts.

Pillar 3: Engaged partners

It’s no small feat to forge partnerships between schools, families, students, businesses, community organizations, and post-secondary institutions. However, these partner voices can help students visualize and experience their options as realities.

Staples-Motley School District has done targeted work in this area through their Hometown Careers Collective, focused on engaging community employers. Over 30 local businesses attended, talking with both students and staff about the work they do and the best path to get there.

The Hometown Careers Collective wasn’t just for the students, though: School staff got the chance to forge stronger connections with these local businesses and show them how they could be more involved as partners with the school for mentorship: work-based learning, updating equipment, sponsoring certification, and community-sponsored events.

Pillar 4: Rigorous Learning Experiences

Meaningful, high-quality learning experiences to prepare students for their next step are key to student readiness at every age, whether it’s the next grade level or graduation. We can often get stuck in the tension between learning experiences tied to academic standards and learning experiences tied to career exposure. But when districts position learning experiences around student readiness, that tension can become connection!

Sebeka School District’s approach includes a week-long readiness focus for every grade. For students in grades near graduation, this might involve highly practical skills, like writing a resume or practicing interviews for a job. For younger students, it involves talking to a local business, asking questions about how it runs, and presenting what they’ve learned. All experiences are tied back to academic and career planning through reflective conversation, empowering students to build their own connections.

Across grades, this approach gives students valuable, age-appropriate, life-ready skills such as perspective-taking, reflection, communication, and public speaking. It turns their future aspirations or interests from an abstract concept into a practical and personal toolbox. And it encourages them to start collecting those tools today.

Transform student futures through systemic CCR

The path forward does not require districts to start from scratch. It only requires a commitment to viewing career and college readiness as a shared responsibility that spans grade levels, classrooms, and community partnerships. By establishing a clear vision, empowering students through academic and career planning, engaging partners, and creating rigorous learning experiences, schools can build systems that prepare every student for an increasingly complex future.

The examples from rural Minnesota demonstrate that this work is not only possible: It’s already happening! The next step is to identify the strengths that already exist within your district, connect them through a common framework, and build a culture where every student graduates not only with a diploma, but with the skills, experiences, confidence, and direction needed to thrive in whatever comes next.

More than 100 teachers and staff from schools in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe were selected by school administration for outstanding dedication, leadership, and innovation. For their achievements, they were celebrated as Educators of Excellence at one of two special events hosted by Sourcewell on Wednesday, April 29, and Wednesday, May 6, in Blacksmith Main at The Northern Pacific Center in Brainerd.

The event recognized and awarded local educators who positively impacted students and colleagues. This year, in addition to 53 Teachers of Excellence, 49 non-teaching staff were also named and recognized as Pillars of Excellence. The event was divided into two nights with school districts in each half of the region recognized at one of the two events.

An additional award called Innovator of the Year, given by the Innovative Schools Project (ISP), was presented to Randy Thompson from Menahga High School.

Andrea Mortensen, Regional Solutions Senior Project Manager at Sourcewell, reflects on this incredible event.

“We’re proud to host the annual Educators of Excellence celebration that recognizes outstanding educators and staff whose work is both deeply meaningful and incredibly demanding,” says Mortensen. “Their dedication shapes students, strengthens communities, and makes a lasting impact every day.” 

Educators from the following districts were honored: Bertha-Hewitt, Brainerd, Cass Lake-Bena, Crosby-Ironton, Crosslake Community, Freshwater Education District, Little Falls, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Mid-State Education District, Menahga, Northland Community, Pequot Lakes, Pierz, Pillager, Pine River-Backus, Royalton, Sebeka, Staples-Motley, Swanville, Upsala, Verndale, Wadena-Deer Creek, and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley.

The Educators of Excellence celebrations were broadcast live on Facebook for the general public, and recordings are available to view for both April 29 and May 6.  

View event program

Night 1 photo gallery

Night 2 photo gallery

Communities across central Minnesota have a new chance to celebrate their local champions. 

Nominations are open through August 7 for Sourcewell’s new Public Service Recognition Awards. These awards will recognize outstanding individuals in regional local government, public safety, and nonprofits who help their regions thrive through bold, creative thinking and dedication. 

Eligible individuals must serve Sourcewell’s region of central Minnesota, which includes Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Awards are divided into three categories: 

• Local Government: cities, counties, townships, or other government associations
• Public Safety: municipal or tribal police departments, sheriff’s offices, fire departments, first response teams, or ambulance services
• Nonprofit: 501(c)(3) nonprofits providing services in the region 

“We’ve got to celebrate excellence wherever we see it, and when better to start than Public Service Recognition Week?” says Charitie Herbst, Senior Director of Community Solutions at Sourcewell. “Our local leaders keep our communities thriving, but they rarely get the recognition they deserve. These exciting awards will tell just a few of the many, many stories of excellence throughout our region.” 

Nominations are now open at the page below and will close on Aug. 7. Recipients will be recognized for their achievements in fall 2026. 

Learn more >

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Sourcewell is a local unit of government serving central Minnesota. As a service cooperative, it is a self-funded agency charged by Minnesota state statute to partner with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. 

For more information, please contact community@sourcewell-mn.gov.

No matter how you solve it, local students found the formula for making math fun.

Students in fifth and sixth grades — representing schools from throughout central Minnesota, including Forestview Middle School, Browerville, Pierz, Pillager, Sebeka, Osakis, Henning, Verndale, Long Prairie Grey Eagle, and Mississippi Heights — participated in the final Math Masters competitions of the 2025-26 school year on March 6 and April 24 at Sourcewell, with many local students taking home top honors.

The Math Masters mathematics competition program challenges students to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills in mathematics. Students compete as individuals and on teams in eight rounds of competition. Students’ academic effort and achievement are recognized in each competition element: fact drill, individual round, and team competition.

Sourcewell Student Event Specialist Crysta Blake said teams brought their competitive nature and positive outlook to each challenge.

“Watching the students not only solve but also excel at the math questions in each round of the competition was so rewarding!” Blake said. “The impressive display of math skills and the camaraderie among the students really was a proud moment for educators to see. And we had a lot of parents and grandparents at the 6^th grade competition cheering on the kids, which added a fun element to the competition.”

Grade 5 team results

First place: Forestview Alpha

• Milo Kaiser
• Lily Morgan
• Seth Sjostrand
• Lexi Miller
• Jameson Siemers 

Second place: Forestview Beta

• Connor Kuepers
• Chase Lord
• Brady Herman
• Annie Holbrook
• Abby Friehammer

Third place: Henning

• Braxton Balbach
• Kaylee Godding
• Lane Greenwood
• Reegan Hoelscher
• Ted Larsen

Fourth place: Pierz Red

• Ben Britz
• Brantley Zupan
• Avery Seppelt
• Kaden Gunther
• Cullen Herman

Grade 5 individual results

• First place: Seth Sjostrand, Forestview
• Second place: Milo Kaiser, Forestview
• Third place: Graham Batdorf, Mississippi Heights
• Fourth place: Braxton Balback, Henning
• Fifth place: Connor Kuepers, Forestview
• Sixth place: Brady Herman, Forestview
• Seventh place: Zeke Krause, Pillager
• Eighth place: Zeb Klein, Forestview
• Ninth place: Camden Kazeck, Mississippi Heights
• Tenth place: Annie Holbrook, Forestview

Grade 5 fact drill results

• First place: Milo Kaiser, Forestview
• Second place: Connor Kuepers, Forestview
• Third place: Zeb Klein, Forestview
• Fourth place: Cullen Herman, Pierz
• Fifth place: Karter Schlegel, Pierz
• Sixth place: Chase Lord, Forestview
• Seventh place: Braxton Balback, Henning
• Eighth place: Brady Herman, Forestview  
• Ninth place: Alex Rangen, Forestview
• Tenth place: Ben Britz, Pierz

Grade 6 team results

First place: Forestview MEAKA

• Marly Shaw
• Kara Swanson
• Everett Grams
• Anelle Haataja
• Arah Halbersma

Second place: Forestview Subway Workers

• Elim Anderson
• Sullivan Bratney
• Emmaline Smith
• Stella Vang
• Ruby Shaw

Third place: Pierz Red

• Finley Virnig
• Jet Troops
• Landyn Melby
• Letty Woitalla
• Jackson Bruse

Fourth place: Osakis Silverstreaks

• Seth Moore
• Abby Otremba
• Erik Schwope
• Caleb Cozart
• Mackenzie Niehaus

Grade 6 individual results

• First place: Elim Anderson, Forestview
• Second place: Marly Shaw, Forestview
• Third place: Abby Otremba, Osakis
• Fourth place: Arah Halbersma, Forestview
• Fifth place: Sullivan Bratney, Forestview
• Sixth place: Everett Grams, Forestview
• Seventh place: Henry Kessler, Pierz
• Eighth place: Sawyer Herschey, Pillager
• Ninth place: Finley Virnig, Pierz
• Tenth place: Eva Rymsza, Forestview

Grade 6 fact drill results

• First place: Marly Shaw, Forestview
• Second place: Everett Grams, Forestview
• Third place: Elim Anderson, Forestview
• Fourth place: Delaney Jerve, Forestview
• Fifth place: Finley Virnig, Pierz
• Sixth place: Letty Woitalla, Pierz
• Seventh place: Hannah Larson, Forestview
• Eighth place: Eva Rymsza, Forestview
• Ninth place: Carter Root, Forestview
• Tenth place: Stella Vang, Forestview

Student teams from Aitkin, Pine River Backus, and Brainerd school districts will advance to the state-level Knowledge Bowl competition after placing top four in the regional senior high event this February.

All four teams (listed below) move on to the Minnesota State Knowledge Bowl tournament, which will be held in the region on April 9-10 at Cragun’s Resort near Brainerd.

32 student teams from 17 different school districts competed at February’s event, which challenges participants’ knowledge of history, math, science, literature, and more in both timed written and real-time “buzz in” rounds.

“The excitement in this competition was clear!” said Crysta Blake, Sourcewell student events specialist. “These students came to show off their skills and knowledge…but they came to win, too, and their competitive drive was clear throughout the day.”

Knowledge Bowl, sponsored locally by Sourcewell, is for students in grades 6-12. Students test their memory, critical thinking, reflexes, and teamwork in day-long competitions throughout late winter and early spring.

Teams:

First place – Aitkin 1

• Tanner Koonce
• Aaron Morris
• William Vogtlin
• Tolo May
• Carsyn Miller

Second place – Pine River Backus 2

• Matilda Brozetti
• Jethro Charpeutier
• Morgan King
• Logan Poser
• Leland Tima

Third place – Brainerd 1

• Emmalyn Boesen
• Drea Diede
• Tucker Hanson
• Kyle Sandberg
• Thomas Verrips

Fourth place – Aitkin 2

• Eliot Christensen
• Reese Wendlandt
• Will Henline
• Jeffrey Brassard
• Elizabeth Morris

Local nonprofits were awarded over $740,000 in December to advance mental health, food security, homelessness assistance, and more throughout central Minnesota, thanks to Sourcewell’s Impact Funding.

Each of the eight recipients presented projects for consideration at a day of review and celebration last month in Staples, Minn. Nonprofit representatives from throughout the region voted on which projects to fund, choosing these eight for their vision and potential for community impact. The event also included updates from past funding awardees.

“Review Day is a highlight of every year for our team and our region,” said Tammy Filippi, Senior Resource Development Administrator at Sourcewell.

“It’s not just about allocating funds for community impact: It’s about coming together to share and celebrate past impact, too. It’s a chance to honor the meaningful progress our nonprofit leaders have already created, while embracing the new possibilities this day will open for them — and our communities.”

To be eligible, a project had to clearly demonstrate how it would have a direct impact on communities within Sourcewell’s service region. Votes were reviewed and ratified by Sourcewell’s Nonprofit Advisory Council, comprised of local nonprofit leaders who ensure community input is at the heart of Sourcewell’s funding process.

Sourcewell’s Impact Funding is supported by revenue generated from its national cooperative purchasing program. Program service fees generated through Sourcewell contracts are reinvested in central Minnesota communities via projects like Impact Funding.

List of projects funded:

The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes; Lakes Area Food Shelf

Community Garden

A community garden will help The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes provide nutritious fruits, vegetables and herbs to the Lakes Area Food Shelf (LAFS) in Pequot Lakes, and potentially to the new food shelf that LAFS is working to establish in 2026, as well as creating a small revenue stream for the Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes through sales of produce at area farmer's markets or food stands. This will help Outreach BLA's ability to package more meals, provide more resources to our community within the food space.

PORT of Crow Wing County, Inc. dba. PORT Group Homes; Relationship Safety Alliance

Community Connect

Community Connect, a partnership between Port Group Homes and the Relationship Safety Alliance, empowers families across Region 5 through education, support, and connection. The project provides parenting workshops, community support groups, and family events that strengthen relationships and build resilience. Together, the partners are helping families grow stronger and communities become more united.

Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project; Wellness in the Woods

Restoring Hope and Cultivating Community

Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project in collaboration with the Sacred Pathway and Wellness in the Woods programs have rolled out a project for Investing in the Next Generation that covers the spectrum of support and services for youth and families that absolutely has a 'Guaranteed Return".

Relationship Safety Alliance; Essentia Health/St. Joseph's Medical Center

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)

Relationship Safety Alliance, in partnership with Essentia Health/St. Joseph’s Medical Center, will relaunch the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program to restore trauma-informed medical and forensic services in Region 5. The program will ensure survivors age 13 and older have timely access to compassionate care, evidence collection, and follow-up support, improving health, safety, and justice outcomes across central Minnesota.

Smiles For Jake; Lakes Area Heroes

Hero Smile Kit Program

Smiles for Jake and Lakes Area Heroes are partnering to launch the Hero Smile Kit project, an innovative initiative supporting the mental health and wellbeing of local firefighters, first responders, and law enforcement across Region 5. Together, they will distribute 1,000 kits containing mental health resources, suicide prevention tools, and encouragement to those who serve. Through this effort, both organizations aim to reduce stigma, strengthen resilience, and create a ripple effect of hope throughout our rural communities.

Emily Emergency Food Shelf; Bridges of Hope

The Bridging Service Gaps in Rural Communities Project - Resource Connection Services

The Bridging Service Gaps in Rural Communities project will provide Crow Wing County residents connection to basic needs supports like nutritional support, housing assistance, employment resources, mental health referrals, and other critical supports all in one place. In partnership with Bridges of Hope and its Resource Connection Services program, residents who visit Emily Food Shelf, Lakes Area Food Shelf, and Central Lakes College will have access to nutritional support and can meet with a Resource Specialist to connect to assistance with completing important forms required to access basic needs support.

Lakes Area Food Shelf; The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes

Brainerd Lakes Area Food Shelf

The Lakes Area Food Shelf and The Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes are establishing a second food shelf in the southern portion of Crow Wing County in order to bring healthy, nutrient-rich food to the families who live and work in this area.

Bridges of Hope; Lighthouse Beginnings

The Pathways Project

The Pathways Project is a new collaborative effort led by Bridges of Hope and Lighthouse Beginnings to reduce long-term homelessness in Crow Wing County. By aligning staff and resources across local service providers such as Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen and My Neighbor to Love Coalition, the project will help residents overcome barriers to stability across a continuum of care. Through coordinated case management, transportation, and outreach, the Pathways Project helps residents access basic needs supports, employment, and stable housing.

Following finalization this week by Sourcewell’s Board of Directors, seven nonprofit organizations will receive a combined total of $500,000 while 22 local government agencies will receive just over $1 million in funding.

According to Paul Drange, director of regional services at Sourcewell, the selection and allocation of funds was done a bit differently this year. Funding requests on behalf of local government agencies were reviewed by the Community Solutions Advisory Committee, comprised of local government staff from across central Minnesota. Organizations that passed the initial review were then entered into a lottery drawing, and projects were awarded at random until funding was exhausted. 

“We changed up our process from previous years for our local government members,” Drange explained. “This year we wanted to fulfill requests around basic needs within their office/service areas. Some asked for office furniture, flooring, technology, etc. Since all proposals were similar in scope and were smaller dollar amounts per request, we decided to use the randomizer to award the dollars. The advisory committee seemed to like the process, and our team thought it went very well.”

Nonprofit applications followed past practice: applications were reviewed by Sourcewell staff and its nonprofit advisory council; then eligible projects advanced to Review Day, held June 14 at Sourcewell. Here, staff, volunteers, and board members of nonprofit organizations in Sourcewell’s five-county area of service (Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties) were invited to hear each project proposal and then vote and rank projects for funding.

Sourcewell Community Solutions Specialist Tammy Filippi said more than 75 nonprofit representatives from throughout the region participated in Review Day, ranking the requests and making recommendations for funding.

Both Drange and Filippi noted that the $1.5 million in funding awarded for 2023 is more than double what was awarded in 2022.

“We were able to act on feedback and needs that our members were sharing with us,” Filippi said of the sizable increase. “Last year we assessed our process and changed it to allow members to apply for funding that will support their entity in ways that are meaningful and impactful to them.”

Programs voted to receive financial support include:

Nonprofit funding
 

Project: Textile Recycling Pilot Project
Organizations: Bridges of Hope and Salem West
Description: $100,000 to purchase a fabric baler, skid steer, weighing station, and other equipment needed to open the first onsite recycling center in their service area. Using donations from BoH's Common Goods thrift stores and Salem West's Mustard Seed Thrift Store, they will collect textiles in unsellable condition or unsuitable for re-use, collectively recycling and diverting 435,900 pounds of textile waste from local landfills annually. Recycled textiles will be sold to create an additional revenue stream for both organizations, allowing them to serve more families and individuals each year, helping them meet immediate basic needs and build a foundation for long-term health and stability.

Project: Farms-to-Food Shelf, Phase II
Organizations: Lakes Area Food Shelf, Pine River-Backus Family Center/Food Shelf, and CommUnity Meal Program
Description: $56,246 to offer year two of the Farms-to-Food Shelf program that provides fresh, nutrient-rich fresh produce to low-income families who cannot afford to purchase it. The produce is grown by 10 local farmers/growers dedicated to building strong, healthy communities. The program is supported by schools, physicians, business, area nonprofits, and community members who volunteer to help farmers with planting, maintaining crops, and harvesting.

Project: LUCAS Devices: Enhancing Emergency Response
Organizations: Crow Wing County First Responders – Zones 2 and 3 
Description: $43,392 to purchase two LUCAS devices. These devices will improve patient outcomes and reduce the physical strain on first responders during CPR. By working together, both agencies will foster knowledge-sharing, improve response efficiency, and create a stronger emergency medical service network, ultimately benefiting the communities they serve.

Project: Restoration from Addiction and/or Homelessness
Organizations: My Neighbor to Love Coalition (MNTLC) and Lighthouse Beginnings (LHB)
Description: $94,000 to create two course sets: Life Skills and Employment Readiness and Supportive Friendship. These courses, together, will maximize success for those who want to increase their income and stability, enter the workforce, become more self-sufficient, and improve relationships and life skills. Courses are targeted for the benefit of those experiencing homelessness, those in recovery, and/or those experiencing poverty, but are open to anyone who wants to learn.

Project: Forever Horses
Organizations: Pohl Children’s Scholarship Foundation, LLC and Mounted Eagles, Inc.
Description: $30,000 to create a partnership program called Forever Horses. This program will provide funding for children experiencing illness or grief and their families to participate in equine-related activities free of charge. Forever Horses will provide horsemanship as a release or avenue to deal with the difficult emotions related to illness or grief.

Project: SANE Pilot Program
Organizations: Sexual Assault Services and WeARE
Description: $100,000 to provide a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) pilot program which provides patient-centered, trauma-informed services to all who seek assistance in local emergency departments after a sexual assault. Sexual assault is a serious public health problem affecting every community, and people of all genders, ages, and socio-economic status. This community collaboration, based on best practices of expert medical care and compassionate evaluation and treatment, is an important step in working toward the goal of a healthy community.

Project: Hope on Purpose
Organizations: Wellness in the Woods and The Shop
Description: $76,362 for a program that will utilize the creativity of youth and persons in recovery to educate communities about seldom-discussed topics: substance use and the prevalence of mental health-combined challenges. Hope on Purpose will reach out to corrections staff with compassion and caring to learn from, and share with them, concerns about their safety.

Government agency funding
 

Project: Town hall remodel (ADA compliance)       
Organization: Birchdale Township             
Description: $28,354 to update and improve town hall so that it remains a vital community resource for the future.

Purpose: Public safety personnel wellness project
Organization: City of Brainerd – police and fire departments
Description: $50,000 to promote physical and mental wellbeing of staff and volunteers with the purchase of exercise equipment and "Check Up from the Neck Up" mental health opportunities.

Purpose: IT and phone upgrades
Organization: City of Crosby        
Description: $50,000 for IT and communication improvements to increase communication capacity and maintain a high level of customer service while supplying better connectivity for community members at the community center. Fiber connections for speed and durability coordinated with a new phone system will facilitate improved communication among staff and members of the community.

Purpose: Updating outdated equipment
Organization: Crow Wing Township
Description: $41,000 to purchase a zero-turn mower, sub-compact utility tractor, and quick hitch snowblower.

Purpose: City upgrades
Organization: City of Deerwood  
Description: $50,000 for auditorium upgrades create a more efficient and welcoming space for council meetings, as well as update the lighting in the fire hall to ensure the safety of volunteer firefighters.

Purpose: Serving Our City to Serve our Community
Organization: City of East Gull Lake
Description: $50,000 to purchase software and equipment to service residents, as well as provide repairs to failing infrastructure.

Project: City hall repairs
Organization: City of Federal Dam            
Description: $50,000 to help improve the structural integrity of the Federal Dam City Hall by fixing sagging floors, leaning walls, and replace floor joists. The updates will enable the city hall to resume hosting community events and open the doors to the public.

Project: Weather sirens
Organization: City of Fifty Lakes 
Description: $50,000 to invest in a weather warning system and ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.

Project: Turnout gear
Organization: Flensburg Fire Department
Description: $50,000 to purchase 17 new sets of turnout gear to better equip firefighters and promote safety.

Project: Gearing Up to Impact Firefighter Safety  
Organization: Garrison Fire and Rescue 
Description: $50,000 to purchase new equipment and a fill station for SCBA air bottles for firefighters.

Purpose: Motorola radio purchase
Organization: City of Lake Shore 
Description: $48,761 to update police department radios to meet state requirements, enable officers to cross communicate with multi-jurisdictional agencies throughout the area, and help with emergency response within neighboring communities.

Purpose: Firefighter turnout gear              
Organization: Little Falls Fire Department              
Description: $43,850 to purchase 10 complete sets of turnout gear to outfit new firefighters hired in 2023. Current turnout gear is no longer NFPA compliant as it is over 15 years old. The new turnout gear will provide for the firefighters' safety while training and when responding to emergencies.

Project: Ed Pollard Community Center renovation              
Organization: City of Osakis         
Description: $50,000 to help renovate the Ed Pollard Community Center and better serve the community.

Project: City hall renovations
Organization: City of Pequot Lakes           
Description: $50,000.00 to renovate city hall to create more accessible space for the public and more functional space for staff.

Purpose: Firefighter turnout gear and voice pagers            
Organization: Pine River Fire Department              
Description: $45,110 to purchase new firefighter turnout gear and voice pagers, improving communication and safety.

Purpose: Emergency extraction tools
Organization: Randall Fire Department
Description: $40,000 for mechanical tools to provide rescue for trapped victims. This portable equipment will enable rapid extraction in difficult circumstances while keeping responders safe while rescuing community members.

Project: Emergency management              
Organization: City of Royalton     
Description: $46,091 to help enhance communication capabilities between emergency departments, making it easier and more timely to view and disseminate information to enhance response.

Purpose: City Hall/Council safety updates              
Organization: City of Sebeka        
Description: $50,000 to update City Hall for increased efficiencies in public interactions and provide increased safety measures.

Purpose: Central Square CAD and records transition
Organization: City of Staples        
Description: $50,000 to transition to a new records system and mobile data system that will provide for computer-aided dispatch for the Staples Police Department.

Purpose: Vehicle upgrades           
Organization: City of Upsala        
Description: $50,000 to help replace both a plow truck and public works truck to improve safety of city staff and ensure infrastructure remains well maintained.

Purpose: TruNarc handheld narcotics analyzer     
Organization: Wadena County    
Description: $39,204 to purchase a TruNarc Narcotics Analyzer to be used to promote law enforcement safety while working to stop the ongoing trafficking and distribution of illegal narcotics in central Minnesota.

Purpose: Equipment update
Organization: City of Walker                       
Description: $31,000 to help purchase radar units, laptops, breath test machines, a Halligan tool, patrol rifles for the police department.

Five beach-friendly opportunities:

1.      Pop in your earbuds and catch up on an Ed Soul podcast or two. These segments are typically an hour or less and range in topics from cultures to careers and everything in between. Whether you’re on a walk, gardening, on the boat, or on the couch, tune in after you tune out for the summer!

2.      Ever wonder what it would be like to be a farmer or a chef? Why not learn from one by participating in a paid externship? Sourcewell sponsors week-long, paid externships for teachers to work with a local business and help build school-to-business relationships as well as connect educators and classrooms with real-world skills.

3.      Stare at the waves and catch some rays when you join us for the 2023 Sourcewell Educator Summit. Formerly known as the Minnesota Summit, this two-day networking opportunity – Aug. 8-9 – is taking place at the beautiful Breezy Point Resort and will feature keynotes and presentations from leading experts in education. Make a date with your colleagues and join us lakeside for this end-of-summer experience.

4.      Whether it’s from your couch or one of our classrooms, consider signing up for one of our many summer courses. With such a broad array of opportunities, including Trauma-Informed Practices and Using STEM in Any Classroom, you’re bound to find something to help you continue your professional development through the summer months.

5.      Borrow a book for the beach from Sourcewell’s lending library! Any education professional in Sourcewell’s five-county service area can take advantage of our library! There are hundreds of titles to peruse and use. So, check out what you can check out when you decide to check out for the summer! Phew!

Whatever you decide to do, we hope you find time to relax and recharge. Thank you for another great school year, and we’ll see you in August!

Sourcewell is an active participant in regional educator recruitment and has been exploring that very question for years.

While the need for teachers and support staff increases, so have the outreach efforts to not only bring new educators to the area, but to also appeal to high school students considering a career in education to come back following college graduation.

Christine Grams is a school workforce specialist at Sourcewell and is part of a team dedicated to solving the educator shortage throughout central Minnesota. As much as a solution to the problem is needed today, Grams says the impact of the work being done in Region 5 and beyond will most likely be seen and felt down the road.

“From participating in large, statewide efforts like Action Network to Elevate Teaching to positively impact the narrative around the teaching profession in general,” Grams says, “to creating and sustaining pathways into the teaching profession, area districts should begin to feel the impact of the work and the increase of teacher candidates to our region as time goes on and the programs grow.”

A collaboration between St. Cloud State University and Sourcewell is focusing on the front end to attract high school students to the education profession through an Introduction to Education course.

This course, offered each semester to juniors and seniors at schools throughout Sourcewell’s five-county service area, offers interested students their first real deep dive into what it’s like on ‘the other side of the desk,’ and earns them three college credits in the process.

Unique to the model is the online delivery format that brings together students from across the region into one class for synchronous meetings and integrated coursework with intentional classroom observation hours in their home district classrooms.

“Our hope is that many of these students will determine that a career in education is, indeed, the right path for them to follow,” Grams notes. “Once these same students begin their formal post-secondary preparation, deliberate collaborative partnerships with university education professors and clinical experience coordinators will help ensure schools in Region 5 remain front of mind as a place the students want to return to as student teachers and, ultimately, as educators.”

Creativity has been key in incentivizing student teachers to come, or come back, to the area following college. In 2021, the Central Minnesota Student Teacher Program was developed with that intent at heart. Having placed 10 student teachers through this program to date, the first student teacher program placements were made in the spring of 2022 and included three education-major students from SCSU. Of the three students that participated in and completed the program, two remained in the area and were hired as teachers by Region 5 schools.

Rose Johnson was one of those students.

“I fell in love with teaching when I realized I wanted a job where I would be able to interact with people everyday and always be able to continue my education,” Johnson says.

The now first-year social studies teacher at Verndale High School initially heard about Sourcewell’s student teacher program while attending SCSU.

“The program helped place me in a school close to where I lived and wanted to be employed after college. As a student teacher, I was placed in a fabulous school that went above and beyond to help me become successful.”

Johnson was placed with veteran Verndale teacher Sam Schmitz, who today serves as Johnson’s teaching partner and classroom neighbor.

“The student teacher opportunity really opened doors to help me find employment in the region and connect me with a fabulous educator to have as a cooperating teacher for student teaching,” Johnson says. “And by participating in the program through Sourcewell, it has continued to provide me with resources like the New Teacher Academy and Catalyst training – both of which have helped me learn strategies for successful teaching and provided me with a good base of knowledge to apply in my classroom.”

Grams says Johnson’s success story is exactly the intent of what her team strives for.

“We want to create positive and supportive experiences for aspiring and new teachers to keep them in the profession.”

If you are interested in hosting and mentoring a student teacher in your classroom, contact education@sourcewell-mn.gov.

To learn more about Sourcewell’s recruitment efforts, visit mn.sourcewell.org/education/teacher-recruitment.

Not only is Maddy, a student with special needs, on track to graduate this year from the Lincoln Education Center in Brainerd; but her dad was also selected as a champion of the program to speak at the ribbon cutting event for the new Setting IV facility on November 22, 2022.

The Lincoln Education Center is the fourth Setting IV building in as many years to open its doors in Region 5. The facility’s ribbon cutting also signified a culmination of several years of discussions, a significant financial commitment, and dreams realized.

Where it started

In 2016, special education leaders from around the five-county region – including Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties – met with Sourcewell leaders to discuss the growing need for Setting IV facilities. The group discussed possibilities that would provide local students with significant behavioral or mental health challenges access to programming in an alternate setting.

As a result, the Sourcewell board committed $21 million to come alongside school leaders and help build four Setting IV facilities throughout the region:

• Freshwater Education District in Wadena
• Mid-State Education District in Little Falls
• Up North Learning Center in Walker
• Lincoln Education Center in Brainerd

“Sourcewell's ability to walk alongside these organizations to provide state-of-the-art facilities for teachers to work and students to learn is our way of being a force multiplier for our special education partners,” explained Sourcewell Director of Regional Programs Dr. Paul Drange.

“Our communities are positively impacted when these students are better prepared for life after school and are able to better contribute to our communities in a positive way. These facilities help to ensure that.”

Building for the future

In 2017, the Freshwater Education District in Wadena and the Mid-State Education District in Little Falls were each provided approximately $5 million by Sourcewell to construct Setting IV facilities. Both officially opened their doors to begin serving students and their communities at the start of the 2019-20 school year.

Each facility was designed with students’ unique needs in mind to provide an environment that sets them up for success.

Freshwater Education District – Wadena

In 2019, more than 50 students became the first to occupy the district’s first and only Setting IV facility. The building serves grades 2-12 enrolled in Freshwater's Setting IV program and is also the main office for district staff.

Freshwater administration and staff worked closely with planners to design a building specific to the needs of the students, including:

• Connected classrooms offer better flow and easier transitions
• Lockers in the classrooms improve safety and supervision
• Windows above head height give natural light without outside distraction
• Small workspaces give students a break within the room
• Calm colors and dimmable lights ease tension
   

Mid-State Education District – Little Falls

Two days after its Wadena counterpart cut the proverbial ribbon to their new Setting IV facility, the Mid-State Education District welcomed the public to tour their 35,000 square-foot building – serving students in grades K-12 with unique needs requiring a specialized environment.

Located in Little Falls, the school serves the communities of Isle, Onamia, Pierz, Royalton, Swanville, and Upsala, and has a facility partnership with Little Falls Community Schools.

Through this new facility, and for the first time since its formation in 1971, all district programs were able to be located under one roof – enhancing efficiencies and collaboration.

With the help of a design and planning team, each ‘neighborhood’ within the facility was designed with age- and disability-appropriate areas for sensory and behavior regulation, a lunchroom, and spaces to meet recreation needs.

Also included was an area for transition-aged students between 17- and 21-years-old to participate in career exploration and job skills training and coaching.

Completing the big picture

In 2020, the Sourcewell Board of Directors voted unanimously to commit over $10 million to help construct two additional Setting IV facilities within its five-county service area. Based upon prior conversations with school districts and considering areas of priority, both Brainerd and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley were selected by the board to receive this funding.

Up North Learning Center – Walker

In August of 2020, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Public Schools broke ground on a 17,000-square foot, Setting IV facility on 9.4 acres of land, then opened its doors to students in the fall of 2021. With $5.2 million provided by Sourcewell, the district was able to provide students a facility including:

• Six classrooms created specifically for children with autism and emotional behavioral disorders
• Multiple reflection rooms
• State-of-the-art technology
• A multipurpose room for meals, as well as large group activities
• A large playground
   

Lincoln Education Center – Brainerd

The Lincoln Education Center, dedicated November 2022, serves special education students and hosts transitional programming within the Brainerd School District. Features include:

• Classrooms all located on one level so students with mobility challenges have access to the entire building
• Facilities that students in the transition program (students ages 18-21) need as they prepare for life in the community (ie: laundry, kitchen, etc.)
• Small, quiet spaces where students can take a sensory break within the classroom
• Paint colors and lighting designed for those with sensitivity to sensory input

Present at the Brainerd ribbon cutting, Sourcewell Executive Director and CEO Dr. Chad Coauette verbally reaffirmed his organization’s vision and mission to reinvest in local schools and communities.

“As an organization, we are service driven and dedicated to reinvesting in our cities, counties, schools, and nonprofits,” Coauette said. “By funding these facilities, the impact will be realized by the entire region, and we feel very good about that.”

On April 3, forty-seven potential teacher candidates attended the Education Job Fair held at Sourcewell where 18 of our 25 Region 5 school districts participated in this first-of-its-kind event in Staples.

According to event organizer and Sourcewell Teacher Recruitment Specialist Mary Klamm, participants came from Bemidji State University, St. Cloud State University, Concordia College-Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead, St. Scholastica, College of St. Benedict, and St. John's University. Some of the attendees will be student teaching next fall or spring.

The Job Fair portion of the event ran from 5-7 p.m. However, potential teacher candidates had the option to attend professional development sessions earlier in the day, including Google Classroom, Virtual Reality in Education, Techniques for a Successful Job Interview, and ENVoY - a series of classroom management techniques.

But for half an hour on Monday, July 16, the machines and debris settled as educators, administrators, contractors, and community members gathered for the official groundbreaking ceremony of Freshwater Education School District's Level IV special education facility, estimated to open summer 2019.

The new 32,000 square foot facility will serve approximately 50 students from 13 central-Minnesota school districts, plus serve as the central office location for Freshwater.

Jena Osberg, who's worked with Freshwater's Level IV program since 2007 and has been the program's facilitator for the last two years, says a customized learning environment will have a significant impact.

“There's a number of things that have to happen for students to be successful in a school setting,” said Osberg. “One is you have to have a quality staff. You have to have people who are willing to go above and beyond – Freshwater has that. You also have to have good programs and curriculum that can change and adapt to students' needs; we've got that, too. But a third thing is the learning environment that students come to every day. I am thrilled to know that we're going to see our students success based on the fact that this building was created just for them.”

Federal policy requires schools to provide access to Level IV programming in a separate school setting for students who struggle to succeed in the general education setting due to significant behavioral or mental health needs. Level IV provides structured behavioral, academic, and mental health programming for students who spend the majority of the school day outside the regular classroom, have an individualized education plan, and often require intensive special education services.

Freshwater administrators and staff are looking forward to a building that fits the unique needs of its student population. Everything – from the layout, lighting, and color scheme – was designed with intention.

Osberg says all the classrooms will be connected, offering better flow for easier transitions. Lockers will also be located in the classrooms for enhanced safety and ease of supervision. The facility will also feature clerestory windows – horizontal windows above head height that offer natural lighting without the temptation of distractions from outside.

“We'll also have extra, smaller areas for kids to work,” said Osberg. “Sometimes we have a student who gets really overwhelmed with the noise, or just needs to step away. We'll have built-in areas to take a student so they can work. We've worked with our building designers on sensory-based details – colors that are calming and lights that can be dimmed. We're even building in sensory spaces and individual spaces within the classrooms so I can be teaching my class and guide a student to a special workspace; they're still with us and not totally separated.”

Freshwater has been dreaming of such a space for nearly 10 years. It started to become more of a reality in October 2016 when area special education leaders met with Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) staff.

“We had a meeting about how we could work together in Region 5 to serve our special education students more intentionally,” Sourcewell Director of Regional Programs Paul Drange said. “One item that came out of that meeting was this – what was needed for Level IV facilities in our region. We allowed ourselves to dream a bit that day and the discussions from that meeting set the wheels in motion that brought us here, to today's groundbreaking.”

Sourcewell has committed $5 million to the building project as part of its strategic reinvestment in Region 5.

“This is a true collaborative effort between several entities – Freshwater, its member school districts, the city of Wadena, and Sourcewell,” Drange said. “Our staff couldn't be more pleased with the work that's being done to support area students, families, and educators.”

Freshwater's full-voting membership includes Menahga, Sebeka, Henning, Wadena-Deer Creek, Verndale, Staples-Motley, Bertha-Hewitt, Browerville, and Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, plus Frazee, New York Mills, Perham-Dent, and Pillager which are considered associate members.

Sourcewell has also committed $5 million to the Mid-State Education District in Little Falls for its Level IV special education facility. That project will break ground in August and is set to be complete September 2019. Mid-State serves Onamia, Pierz, Royalton, Swanville, Upsala, and Isle school districts.