Live United by Erin Haag

 

Things are rocking and rolling here at United Way of Freeborn County! We’re excited to announce that we have hired Kristin Bergdale to join our staff.

Kristin is a familiar face around town. Born and raised in Albert Lea, she has a passion for community service. With her degree in marketing and communications, Kristin has applied her skills professionally as a freelance designer and marketing consultant. She’s also used those skills as a volunteer committee member for events such as the Governor’s Fishing Opener, Halloween Spooktacular and The Holiday Bazaar. Kristin was featured in the Tribune’s Prairie Profiles in May with the article, “Continuing  to Grow.” Reading that article would only further cement how the United Way is the perfect landing place for her talents.

Kristin lives in Albert Lea with her husband Mike, and their 6-year-old daughter Lindy. She enjoys fishing, being outdoors, music and anything chocolate. I’m starting to suspect that I’d be able to pay her in her favorite Kit Kat ice cream drumsticks, chocolate and coffee. Unlike me, Kristin has a deep love of coffee. You can often find her at coffee shops around town working on a project, connecting with the community and sipping away. I’ve been fortunate to work on projects with Kristin in the past, and I’ve learned very quickly you can’t go anywhere with her without being introduced to four or five new people. I hope if you see me or Kristin around town, you’ll come over and say hello and share your passion for our communities.

As we drive to day care, my children have a routine. They call it their goodbye prayer. They name off our neighbors, and blow kisses. “Bye bye Bonnie and Tom. We love you. May God keep you safe.” Our list has been growing, and it now includes public spaces. “Bye bye Miss Patty” as we drive by our library. We’re at the point now where they spend their entire car ride to anywhere local blowing kisses and telling stories about the people who live and work there.

While this seems like a cute kid story, the underlying message is deeper. For a happy, healthy, vibrant community, it’s essential to build connections. It’s essential to think of our neighbors, to lend a hand when needed. By building connections — by living united — we build a culture that we can be proud of. At its essence: Culture is community.

United Way of Freeborn County is hoping to display a visible and tangible representation of the culture of Freeborn County. Maybe you’re a proud Norwegian that handmakes lefse. Maybe your culture is being native Minnesotan and being absolute that gray duck is the proper way to play the game. Have a traditional native dress from your home or ancestral country? We want to see it and photograph it!

We invite you to come to our photo booth at Wind Down Wednesday on July 19 and share your culture. We’ll provide signs and the photographer, you provide the culture and the representation of our county.

Interesting in volunteering for this project? We’re also looking for volunteers to help staff the booth and volunteer photographers to bring our vision to life. Call our office at 507-373-8670 to let us know how you can help.

Despite the late spring and cool weather we’ve had lately, I’m assuming by July it will be a little steamy for coffee. But Kristin and I both firmly agree that ice cream dates are great options, too. We hope you’ll come and join us sometime and join the conversation about living united here in Freeborn County.

Erin Haag is the interim director of the United Way of Freeborn County.