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Drs. Ericson, Marek and Cohen: balancing career and family
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Editor’s Note
B forkner Moe Beth Forkner Moe is the editor of Southern Minn Girlfriends magazine.
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oy, how things have changed since I was in school! Education was, for the most part, one-size-fits-all. Today, so many schools and districts have moved away from that and are focusing on each students’ strengths, learning styles and more. From the traditional “3 R’s” for everyone, to today’s individualized education, it’s an entirely different world. We’re looking at STE(A)M careers in this issue. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) have been a focus, particularly for girls, for a couple decades now. STEM education integrates the content and skills of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into all aspects of a student’s learning. Adding the A for Arts gives students an even more well-rounded education, and gives them access to a variety of careers. From a basic standpoint, what might a STEM education look like for a young child? One example might be as simple as some easy cooking lessons. Cooking/ baking involves math (measuring the ingredients), science (there is certainly chemistry involved in putting the ingredients together in a manner that makes a good meal), technology (especially when using some of the new cooking products that are available today), and engineering (how can we fit this amount of raw material into, for example, the specific cupcake molds that we have?). And the Arts piece – well, who hasn’t marveled at how beautiful some baked goods are? That’s a simplistic example, for sure, but it shows how various subject matters can be woven into any lesson, for students from pre-K through college and beyond. Women are going into these fields more and more, increasing their earning power, expanding their roles in the fastest-growing industries, and acting as role models for the girls and young women who are growing up after them. Me? I was not a STEM student. It might be the way it was taught then (generally lecture-style, where I am more visual and hands-on); as an adult, I’ve become fascinated with a lot of these topics as they become more user-friendly and often tactile. Going to science museums is very interesting, because it’s easy to see how things work. Being a Mass Communications major and an English writing minor gave me a pathway to learning about these subjects and topics. I love to talk to people and tell their stories. My profession has allowed me to do that, to tell the stories of people who are wildly different than me and have wildly different career paths. I truly have the best of all worlds. We hope you enjoy this issue, as we share stories of amazing women who have some really fascinating careers and lives.
Cheers! Warmly,
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20 SPRING 20 MAR/APR
about us editor: Beth Forkner Moe
contributing writers: Kari Berit Grace Brandt Lisa Cownie Carlienne A. Frisch Julie Buchwald Haley Nancy Iglesias Trent Jonas Rian Dicke-Michels Beth Forkner Moe Katie Roiger Sara Schleuter
multimedia consultants: Jordan Andreas Amber Casterton CariAnna Chaney Kathleen Davies Jennifer Flowers Crystal Hobart Tom Kelling Mark Nelson Gayle Stelten
graphic designer: Kate Townsend-Noet Volume 12, Issue 2
Copyright© Girlfriends 2020 Published Mar/Apr 2020 by: Southern Minn Media 514 Central Avenue Faribault, MN 55021
contents features 5 STEM
Schools prepare students for a variety of careers.
8 Moms, Wives, and Surgeons
Drs. Ericson, Marek and Cohen are all surgeons at Northfield Hospital + Clinics.
10 Spring is on the Way
Fresh garden ideas from A to Z.
12 Where the Wild Things Are
Working with and learning about animals.
19 Covering New Ground
A talk with 410 Project Director Dana Sikkila.
23 A Place for Women in
Engineering Local engineer Alexa Lodis shares her
perspective on women in the field of engineering.
24 A Passion for the Arts A conversation with Noelle Lawton.
26 Girl Scouts & STEM
Making changes locally and globally.
29 Girlfriends at any age
The benefits of having a circle of girlfriends in our twilight years.
accessories
18 a man’s perspective 30 gf directory 3 editor’s note 31 unexpected caregiver 28 wellness on the cover:
Dr. Katya Ericson, Dr. Ashley Marek, Dr. Ellie Cohen. See Story on PAGE 8.
southernminngirlfriends.com Send releases and story ideas to:
Beth Forkner Moe at Girlfriends magazine bfmoe@southernminn.com
410 Project Director Dana Sikkila. See Story on PAGE 19.
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stem
Schools Prepare Students for a Variety of Careers
A
By Carlienne A. Frisch
s technology became progressively more important in the latter part of the 20th century, employers and educators became aware of the lack of female scientists and mathematicians to fill the needs of those traditionally male-dominated fields. Since then, some public charter schools have developed a strong STEM curriculum, drawing female students into science, technology, engineering and math programs. STEM schools prepare students for the advanced learning required for professions in fields such as microbiology, nursing, nanotechnology, computer graphics and software engineering. Two public charter schools in the area, founded to provide STEM education to area students, are the Cannon River STEM School in Faribault and Rochester STEM Academy. Both are tuition-free schools, a part of the public school system and open to any student interested in attending. Both schools, each of which has an enrollment of about half girls and half boys, are currently led by women.
CANNON RIVER STEM SCHOOL Cheryl Wendt, the Executive Director of the Cannon River STEM School, worked at the school for six years, first as the special educa-
tion coordinator, then as Assistant Executive Director. She became Executive Director of the K-8 school two years ago. “The Cannon River STEM School was developed by parents, scientists, engineers and educators from within the Cannon River Valley community,” Wendt said. “The school combines a STEM focus with a hands-on outdoor learning environment. We teach how to ask good questions and how to find the answers. It develops critical thinking and executive functioningCheryl Wendt, Executive -helping you organize your thoughts Director of the Cannon River STEM School. and make sense of the world around you. Beginning in kindergarten, we incorporate math and science learning. Students participate in a technological coding class, learning how patterns work. They practice those skills in another class, maybe creating a pattern in math class. Even in reading, they can look at letter or word patterns. In grades 6-8, each grade has nine weeks of (computer) coding class.” Students are involved in inquiry-based, project-based, place-based learning that extends beyond the walls of a traditional classroom CONTINUES ON PAGE 6 SPRING 2020
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renovated dormitory. In contrast to the historic aspect, there’s a SMART Board interactive white board. The surrounding land provides natural classrooms. “We use the ravine, prairie land, the cemetery and the brick yard. Students find items and identify them. Our project-based learning has included building a bridge over a stream, which involved math and engineering concepts,” Wendt said. “Project-based learning can incorporate many areas of curriculum. We have a full-time naturalist on the staff, and we incorporate the environment - citizen science - as part of everyday education. We have a bird-feeding station designed by students. In third grade, we have a composting project. Our older students remember it, and some have begun home composting projects.” The school’s plans include a weather monitoring station and solar or wind powered generation. “As a charter school, we are a public school and are held accountable to everything public schools must do - all the federal mandates,” Wendt said. “Everyone teaches reading. We have music and art classes. The art teacher can work with the classroom teacher to integrate the art lessons with an engineering project.” “Any student can do it,” she LEFT: Rochester STEM Academy said. “We’ve seen that women are student fencers at the Golden very capable, and we encourage all Gate Bridge. of our male and female students to excel. In grades 6 to 8, we identify students excelling in math, so when they enter Faribault High School, they may enroll in geometry or advanced algebra rather than basic algebra.”
ROCHESTER STEM ACADEMY
Cannon River STEM School. CONTINUED FROM page 5
into the natural environment and the community. Through an integrated curriculum, they learn to see all knowledge as connected, rather than artificially separated. Project-based and inquirybased learning enables students to see the connecRochester STEM Academy students. tions between what they are learning and the world around them. Strong reading, writing and comprehension skills are developed. The four buildings of the Cannon River STEM School, set on 55 acres leased from Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, offer both historic and environmental perspectives. Old Main, built in the late 1800s, houses grades 1-4, the media center and the administrative offices. Grades 5-8 are located in another building, and kindergarten classes meet in a 6
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Rochester STEM Academy is also a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 9-12, with a focus on minority students. About 25 percent of the students choose post-secondary enrollment options that prepare them to enter a college or university as sophomores or beyond. Many of the students and teachers have come from Arabic countries, including a significant number from Somalia. Interim Executive Director Sarah Schlake said, “The school opened in fall 2011 in response to the community’s need for a rigorous charter high school that would give a boost to children in terms of academics and future employment, thus benefiting Rochester’s industries. A community group was formed, and in 2010, it wrote the charter with the idea of serving a refugee population.” (All charter schools in the state are authorized and overseen by the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools, in accordance with Minnesota statutes. See sidebar.), Schlake, who has a teaching license and a Master’s degree in education, came by the Interim Director’s position naturally. “In our Sarah Schlake, interim Executive Director at the building, we share space with the Rochester Rochester STEM Academy. Math and Science Academy, also a charter
Cannon River STEM School.
school, where I was the K-8 dean,” she said. “Many of the students are from the same families, so quite a few enroll in the STEM Academy. I moved to the STEM Academy as the Interim Director, and when the Director’s job is Rochester STEM Academy student fencers. posted, I plan to apply.” community is happy Seeking more “We have 130 that we are serving INFORMATION? students in 9th this population. We through 12th Charter schools are independently collaborate with the grades,” she said operated public schools that have the Mayo Clinic in stufreedom to design classrooms that “About 90 percent dent job shadowing meet their students’ needs. All charter are Somali. Rochof Mayo employees, schools operate under a contract with ester has a sizeable Cannon River STEM School Field Trip Day. volunteerism at the a charter school authorizer, usually a Somali population. Clinic and part-time non-profit organization, government Almost all of the agency or university, that holds the work at the Clinic after graduation.” support staff, including special education, paraschool accountable to the high The STEM Academy has been tracking the professionals, classroom aides, etc., are Somali.” standards outlined in the school’s graduates who chose the Post-Secondary Enroll Schlake admits to shamelessly plugging the charter. (See www.publiccharters.org.) ment Option (PSEO). “Nearly 100 percent of school’s fencing team. “The Rochester STEM them graduate, and Fencing Club has produced young women who many are accepted have qualified to compete in the Junior Olymin a college or pics, are scouted by some top colleges, such another institution as Cornell, and received national attention a of higher learning,” couple of years ago for sporting the Nike hijab,” she said. “Through she said. the community, we Schlake said an understanding of Somali keep track of where culture is important in raising awareness of the they are--especially STEM Academy among families of potential the first year after new students. She explained, “Somali is a very aural culture, so they still learn by chit-chat. We graduation. If they do events at the school, inviting people to come stick it out one year, in, we speak at mosques and at three ethnic they usually get a restaurants, but it’s still largely word-of-mouth.” degree.” “Our students are very much supported by Carlienne A. Frisch is a their families who want to have their children Mankato-based writer and Rochester STEM Academy students. educated,” she said. “I really believe that the volunteer. SPRING 2020
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Dr. Katya Ericson, Dr. Ashley Marek, Dr. Ellie Cohen.
M By Lisa Cownie
ost of us spend our childhoods dreaming of what we will be “when we grow up.” For some, that dream is brought into focus by an event in our lives. “I grew up in Gomel, Belarus, about 100 miles from Chernobyl,” Katya Ericson, M.D., said. “I was in elementary school when the Chernobyl nuclear accident happened, and I think in some way that influenced my desire to be a doctor.” For others, people that cross our paths help direct us. “I started out in journalism and during my internship at a newspaper, I had an assignment where I had to interview a volunteer
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each week. Many of the volunteers worked in healthcare and I was inspired by what a difference they made in the community. After interviewing two surgeons, I was inspired to go to medical school,” Ashley Marek, MD, FACS, said. For Dr. Ericson and Dr. Marek, the path to medicine – surgery in particular - seemed clear but it was not without its obstacles. In addition to the rigorous demands of obtaining a medical degree, they also faced challenges in a profession traditionally dominated by men. Drs. Ericson and Marek, along with Ellie Cohen, M.D., are all surgeons at Northfield Hospital + Clinics (NH+C). “Women are sorely underrepresented in this field,” Ellie Cohen, M.D., said. “Because of this, it can be hard to find mentors.” Mentors, in the field of surgery, can be crucial for women to help them balance the other thing they want to be when they grow up - a mom.
“My first daughter was born during the week of my orientation during the first year of surgery residency. After taking 5 weeks of maternity leave, I came back to work and had to catch up fast with my fellow classmates who were learning the ropes when I was learning how to be a new mom,” Dr. Ericson said. “Once I went back to work, my daughter stopped breastfeeding even though I had milk. I think she was protesting. I pumped for almost a year, but it was challenging. Most of the time it was once or twice in a 24-hour shift when I couldn’t take the pain any longer. “I was in my third year of residency when I was pregnant with my second child. I tried to hide my pregnancy for as long as I could because I didn’t want my colleagues to think I needed special treatment. I wanted to be treated as a surgeon,” she said. “With my second child, I also took only 5 weeks of maternity leave because of the restrictions from the American College of Surgeons. Surgeons who take too much time off during their residency are not able to sit for boards and become board-certified. I did manage to breastfeed and pump with my second child for almost a year, too, but I cringe when I think about it because a lot of it was done in hospital bathrooms between surgeries.” Dr. Cohen had similar challenges early in her career. “Being a woman, it’s often hard to find a work-life balance. During residency (surgical training), work weeks are often 80 hours and shifts can last up to 24 hours. If we do try and have a family during this time, many of us only get four weeks of maternity leave. Because of this, it can feel like a tug of war between your home and professional life,” she said. “But I do think this is changing. In my residency class, four out of five of us were women, and three of us were raising children – and gave birth during residency. It was a challenge, and often we were at work when we would rather be home, but we had the support of each other (as well as amazingly supportive families).” Indeed, the tide may be turning but, despite ongoing efforts by medical school and professional organizations, the number of women entering medicine - and surgery in particular - remains low. According to the Assocation of Women Surgeons, only about 19% of all surgeons in the United States are women and fewer than 10% of full professors of surgery are women. “At times, I have found myself doing more tasks such as organizing and planning that the men I worked with didn’t have to do,” Dr. Marek said. “When I would point out this discrepancy, I was told that
it was because I was the most organized and therefore better at it. However, this is a well-studied entity called ‘institutional housekeeping.’ Just as women tend to do more tasks around the home than men, so
ment. It fits my personality well,” Dr. Ericson, who is happy to see the tide finally turning, said. “Today the number of women choosing surgery is growing. My residency program has more women residents than
Dr. Katya Ericson, Dr. Ellie Cohen, Dr. Ashley Marek.
they also do at work.“ The lopsided numbers, and the challenges that came with it, didn’t stop these three women. It’s interesting how all of them, from three different places and three very different backgrounds, landed in the same spot – NH+C – in the same specialty: surgery. “My decision to become a surgeon solidified during my medical school clerkships. Surgery is a fast-paced and ‘think on your feet’ field where your actions can really save a life. A surgeon’s day is always different and requires constant learning and improve-
men, which is amazing. Things are headed in a positive direction.” All these women agree that gender isn’t what matters; heart is. “I chose this field to help people, and it is the best part of my job,” Dr. Cohen said. “Having people go into surgery with a problem and leave the operating room better is such a rewarding feeling. I consider it a privilege that people and their family members put their trust in me, and I strive to give them the best care.” Lisa Cownie writes from North Mankato. Her work can be found at lisacownie.com. SPRING 2020
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By Nancy Iglesias
Arbor
Dresser
Top your arbor with a floral cascade or crown of blossoms and buds.
Turn an old dresser into a 3 tiered planter.
Bucket Bouquets
a sweet statement of welcome to your friends and neighbors.
Even a bucket can look beautiful when filled with sweet blooms or baby’s breath.
Children’s Racetrack
Your munchkins will be thrilled with this fun play area. Succulents, miniature pines, and even a poured concrete track can turn a small flower bed into a fun little racetrack, complete with matchbox cars. 10
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Edges and borders can make
Fairy Gardens Let your imagination bloom with a tiny magical fairy garden.
Garden Gates Wooden or weathered, formal or floral, a garden gate can add interest or intrigue to your garden. Some gates can even be a canopy of flowers or greens.
Hanging Gutter Gardens
Kiddie Pool
Hang it from your porch or a big old tree. Gutters can make the perfect little planter boxes.
Turn a kiddie pool into the perfect large container garden. This would make a fun planting project to do with your kids.
Illustrations
Lights
Use extra props to turn mounds of brightly colored blooms into garden art.
Gardens can look magical day or night with a variety of strategically placed lights. Tea lights, candles, battery or solar powered, strings of lights, up,lighting, downlighting - so many ways to light up garden space.
Jars Big or small, jars can be the perfect vessel to plant herbs or display cut flowers inside or outdoors.
Mirrors Mirrored balls or framed mirrors can magnify the light and beauty of your blooms and buds.
Neighborhood Garden Whether veggies or flowers, why not share the work and beauty by joining with those on your block to create something the whole neighborhood can enjoy?
Office Gardens provide many benefits, including helping workers be more productive.
Party Pull out your calendar now and plan to make good use of your outdoor spaces! A garden party can be frilly and floral with roses and tea sandwiches. But it can just as easily be the perfect idea for something a little more casual. Decorating with all things fresh makes it easy, breezy and so much fun!
Upside Down in a Bottle
Quotes
Who says things have to grow up?
Look for funny or inspirational quotes to hang in your garden.
Vertical Gardens Turn a tight space into a wall of greens, pinks or purples.
Water Gardens A water garden feature - with or without the fish - is sure to bring beauty and relaxation to a lovely corner of your yard.
Recycled & Upcycled
Xylophones
The seat of an old chair, the basket of a vintage bicycle, a broken bird bath or an antique metal headboard, just about anything can be turned into a planter or piece of garden art.
Every garden should have a little music flowing through it.
Stump Planter Don’t be annoyed by that ugly stump in your front yard; turn it into a vessel of beauty.
Terrarium A great way to bring a little green indoors to your office or home. If done right, terrariums are very low maintenance.
Yoga Simple or elaborate, a peaceful outdoor spot for yoga can be enjoyed day or night. Why not turn a peaceful corner in your yard into your own personal yoga garden?
Zen Garden With the right plan for a Zen garden, tranquility will abound. Nancy Iglesias is a freelance writer and storyteller. She is a Midwest girl through and through with roots and stories from Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. Whether she’s chatting with someone who is four or fourscore, she loves to hear their stories. SPRING 2020
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Where the Wild Things Are
W
By Beth Forkner Moe
ith the explosion in STEM careers over the past couple decades, women have found professional homes in careers their mothers or grandmothers could never have dreamed of. We talked to two women originally from Southeast Minnesota who both love art, music and theater, and fell in love with science – particularly wildlife research – while in college.
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Emily Buege Donovan is a Spatial Analyst and Database Manager for the Snapshot Wisconsin Project, a network of citizen-run trail cameras. The Project is part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. She focuses on the data and science area of the Project, maintaining data quality and translating the data into products that are useful for wildlife management. She graduated from Winona State University with a degree in Ecology, then earned a Master’s degree in Geography with an emphasis on environmental and natural resources. Her thesis concentrated on the spatial distribution of tropical fish nests in Belize. Katie Lieder is a Fisheries Technician with the La Crosse Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office in Onalaska, Wisc., which is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She has
worked there since graduating from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where she majored in Environmental Biology. She works primarily with the Asian Carp Monitoring Program, as well as on a variety of other fisheries projects. She also works with freshwater mussels when she has the opportunity. We visited with them about their careers – what they do, what they love about it, and advice they would give to other women considering working in this field. GF: So, Katie, tell us a bit more about the Asian Carp Monitoring Program and what they, along with freshwater mussels, tell us about the health of rivers, in particu-
lar where you work - the Mississippi River. KL: Asian Carp are invasive species found in the Mississippi and other rivers in the Midwest and elsewhere in the U.S. One way we can monitor for invasive carp is by going out and physically catching them, using gears like gill nets and electrofishing. We also track the movements of tagged carp with acoustic telemetry, so we can learn more about their behavior. I really like working with freshwater mussels because they are beautiful and unique animals that most people don’t think much about. They are also important indicators of water quality and improve the water quality in rivers by filtering water as they feed. CONTINUES ON PAGE 14 u u u
Katie Lieder LARGE PHOTO: Emily Buege Donovan canoeing with her dog.
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Katie Lieder CONTINUED FROM page 13
GF: What’s involved in the majors you chose, in layman’s terms? EBD: Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with their environment, including other organisms. KL: Environmental Biology exposed me to a wide variety of disciplines, like ecology, zoology, botany, fisheries biology, and natural resource management. I have classmates who have gone into fields like environmental education, water quality, and working for parks and wildlife refuges. GF: Did you always know you were going to be a scientist? EBD: Yes and no. I have loved animals more than anything my entire life, but it wasn’t until I went on a travel study to Belize that I realized it was something I could do. Before landing on science, I almost went down the art path. I thought maybe someday I could be a videographer for “Planet Earth.” I took as many of the ecology-adjacent classes as were offered in high school, but there were only a few of them. I might have started down the ecology path sooner if I had had access to more classes like wildlife biology, entomology, etc. I started to dabble in ecology classes in my sophomore year (in college), but didn’t commit fully until after my (travel study) trip to Belize. KL: I took all the normal science classes in high school and really enjoyed them, but I was big into band and focused on music more than anything else. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go into 14
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science when I started college. I’m a horribly indecisive person, but I soon started to realize I could see myself going into a science career. I’ve always liked animals and being outdoors, so working in a natural resources field was a good fit. Katie Lieder
GF: What types of internships did you do during college while working toward your degrees? EBD: I had an internship at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minn. It was a great experience; wolves are an iconic albeit controversial species, and I learned so much about their biology and the social implications of the species. I gave wolf-centric presentations to visitors, conducted educational programming for kids about the ecology of the north woods, and even got
Emily Buege Donovan
to do a little bit of care for the Center’s two arctic wolf pups – Axel and Grayson. KL: I was a student worker with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for a summer when I was in school. I worked in the biological monitoring program, electrofishing to sample fish in watersheds to learn about water quality based on what fish are present there. Some fish are sensitive to pollution, and their presence or absence in a stream can indicate problems with water quality. GF: Emily, can you explain more about Project Snapshot and what it does? EBD: One way we’re using the photos is for fawn-to-doe ratios, which is a metric that’s important for estimating Wisconsin’s deer population. We are currently identifying evidence of breeding in photos of birds, which will contribute to the Breeding Bird Atlas. I’m also trying to determine if it’s possible to supplement Great-Prairie Chicken surveys using trail cameras. Basically, instead of folks going out and sitting in a blind all morning, watching birds come and go from their breeding grounds, we’re seeing if cameras can alleviate some of the workload. We also collect date to help monitor Wisconsin’s elk population. I love the diversity of animal species I get to examine! GF: I understand, Katie, that your dad is one of the Project Snapshot volunteers. What do both of you think about that? EBD: One of the favorite aspects of my job is that I get to interact with a ton of incredible, enthusiastic volunteers. Snapshot WOULD NOT be able to function without the volunteers! KL: My dad loves the Snapshot Wisconsin program, and I love all the animal pictures he shows me from his trail cams!
GF: What do you enjoy most about your jobs? EBD: I love that I get to go to work and study animals. I feel a great sense of pride for that and I find it endlessly interesting. Perhaps the most challenging aspects are also what I find rewarding - there are a lot of puzzles that need to be worked out with a project the size of Snapshot Wisconsin. KL: The best part of my job is definitely getting to work outdoors on the river! That can be the most challenging part, too. There’s a lot of planning and hard work involved in
Katie Lieder
Emily Buege Donovan
preparing for field work. People see me out on the river and say, “I wish I had your job; you get to be out on the water all day.” It’s great, but there’s a lot that goes into making sure our work gets done safely and effectively.
Emily Buege Donovan
GF: Science has traditionally been male-dominated. As females in your profession, what have you seen and experiCONTINUES ON PAGE 16
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Emily Buege Donovan CONTINUED FROM page 15
Emily Buege Donovan
enced in regard to this? Have you felt accepted, or do we still have a way to go? EBD: I feel very lucky to have had a good experience as a woman in science thus far. There have been a few rare instances where I felt like I wasn’t taken seriously, but I have had great women in STEM role model (including my advisors and my supervisors). Wildlife has traditionally been a male-dominated field, as with most sciences, but more and more women have been entering. I do feel like, as a woman in STEM, there is still more you have to do to prove yourself. Thankfully, for myself, I haven’t felt discriminated against at all for my gender, but there are a lot of studies out there that show there are issues that still persist with bias. Overall, I think it’s getting better. For myself, I just try to do my best and figure that most of the people I would want to work with wouldn’t have any issues with gender bias anyway! KL: I’ve been lucky to have a lot of role models as a woman in science that are also women – wonderful mentors and co-workers and supervisors who encourage me and lead by example. But I know that’s not the case everywhere, especially in the fisheries world. But I think that’s changing. GF: What advice would you give to a woman who is thinking about entering your profession? EBD: My advice for women going into science would be to seek lots of opportunities for growth, such as internships, volunteer opportunities, and anything that can help you gain experience early on and make
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connections. Not only will it help you stand out in the crowd, but it can also help you determine exactly where your interests lie. In the sciences, there are so many fields and sub-fields, it’s important to find your niche (ecology pun intended). It’s also important to work with a broad diversity of people. A diversity of perspectives can shape your worldview, and you never know when a connection might help you take the next step. KL: I would tell women that if they see someone doing a job that they think they might be interested in, ask them about it! I’m always happy to answer questions about my job when people see me out in the field. Seeing other women in science careers when I was a student was really helpful. Representation is so important. GF: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? EBD: I love what I’m doing now, but I am actually preparing to apply for grad school again! I’d like to obtain my Ph.D. in spatial, movement, or migration ecology. I want to help develop our understanding of how animals use their environment and, ultimately, how we can conserve their environment to ensure its continued use. I can see a lot of avenues that might take me down that path, whether via a public agency, a non-profit, or an academic institution. KL: That’s a really good question! Sometimes I’m not so sure. I don’t think me from 10 years ago would necessarily have envisioned me now, so who knows where I’ll be in 10 more years? I would love to still be working in a natural resources field, whether that is fisheries or something else I haven’t even dreamed of yet. GF: What else would you like people to know about you? What are your hobbies, your interests outside of work, etc.? EBD: My most noteworthy hobby is probably puppy-raising for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). They give me a puppy; I raise it for 18 months, provide it with endless socialization opportunities, and teach it manners and commands. It eventually becomes a service animal for someone with a disability. I’m working on my third puppy – Raynor – right now and anticipate getting a fourth one soon! Beyond that, I still enjoy creating things, especially through photography and drawing. I love be outdoors and to travel, especially to places where there are a lot of animals to see. KL: Like I mentioned before, I do like music. I still play trumpet in the SMU band sometimes. One of my biggest hobbies is crafting – knitting and crocheting, specifically. I enjoy getting outdoors outside of work, too with hiking around La Crosse and gardening.
Emily Buege Donovan
Beth Forkner Moe is the Editor of SouthernMinn Girlfriends Magazine. She loves learning about science adventures, even though she took as few science classes as possible in school and was a Mass Communications major, with a minor in English writing.
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A m an ’ s perspective
A
jonas Trent Jonas is a Twin Cities-based writer and divorced father of two. He is fascinated and frightened by women but is working through his issues.
s I write this, I am sitting near the Gulf of Mexico in Treasure Island, Fla.. It’s a sunny February morning: Slight breeze rustling in the palm fronds and I, literally, cannot see a cloud in the uninterrupted blue field of the sky. It’s 62 degrees out, on the way to a high in the lower 70’s. Not bad, right? You wouldn’t think so. Except, earlier this week, the high temperature in Antarctica was higher than the forecast high today in the Tampa Bay area. Let me say that again: Antarctica was warmer than Florida. Worse, it wasn’t even an isolated temperature spike. The Earth’s oldest continent set a record for the highest temperature ever recorded when the mercury grazed 65° Fahrenheit early this week. Two days later, it broke that record by almost 10 degrees. Seventyfive degrees! In Antarctica. This should alarm everybody. Polar ice caps cannot withstand temperatures like this. Melting ice caps mean rising sea levels. And rising sea levels mean that spots like the one where I am sitting as I write could very likely be under water in the foreseeable future. That goes for places such as Miami, New Orleans, New York City, much of Los Angeles and other coastal population centers. People should be alarmed. The climate crisis that we currently face - and when I say “we,” I mean the entire species of Homo sapiens as well as every other living creature on this planet - is of an unprecedented proportion. And the only way to do something about it is through science, communication and education.
the
imperative to innovate
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The science is there. However, younger people need to take up the mantle and push the boundaries of our ability to understand the causes, effects, and extent of climate change, as well as to figure out what we can do to halt, or hopefully, reverse it. This requires innovation and a shift in people’s perspectives - especially among those who set climate policy. The brilliant words of astronomer Carl Sagan make the best case for such innovation and why it is imperative. The same week that Antarctica set its high temperature record also saw the 30th anniversary of NASA’s famous “pale blue dot” photo. When Voyager 1 was more than a billion miles beyond Neptune, and just before it shut down its cameras and entered interstellar space, Sagan asked the Voyager team to turn the probe back toward our solar system to take a “family portrait” of its planets. The image that they captured of Earth was a pinprick of light, dimmer than some of the brightest stars we see in our night sky, in a filtered burst of sunlight. The image, in turn, inspired Sagan to publish his book, A Pale Blue Dot, in which he wrote: “Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every ‘superstar,’ every ‘supreme leader,’ every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there-on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.” The Earth is where we live. It is all we have. It is all those of us who are currently living will ever know. As Sagan said, “There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world.” This is why we need innovators: to correct the course of our species’ folly and conceits. We have, as Sagan wrote, a “responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”
A Talk with 410 Project Director Dana Sikkila
F By Grace Brandt
or the last five years, Mankato resident and artist Dana Sikkila has organized a truly impressive summer road trip. As director of the volunteer-run 410 Project art gallery, Sikkila has mapped out routes across Minnesota to collect works of art from artists all over the state, creating a new exhibit every year. In the last five years, she has covered more than 2,500 miles—and she has done it all on her bicycle. Really, it’s all there in the name: Project Bike. “It was kind of a project that was really based around my two passions: art making and biking,” Sikkila explained. “A lot of times [as an art director] you look at artwork on your computer and then it’s mailed into the gallery, and then people look at it and it’s mailed back. There’s no real connection between the gallery and the artist, let alone the gallery and the where they’re making their work. This was really diving into the very first steps of the artwork being made. The point of the project was to really highlight artists, especially artists living in the area, and showcase them being artists.” Every year, the project has grown and expanded, but Sikkila eventually decided to stop touring and push herself in other ways. Her 2019 ride was her last. But even though Sikkila isn’t biking across CONTINUES ON PAGE 20
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back and forth.” Sikkila said the project gained interest and support right away, especially through social media as people followed her updates. When she held a grand opening for the monthlong exhibit in October 2015, including an eight-minute video she had created about her travels, so many people attended opening night that her gallery couldn’t hold them all. “People were following [my travels] daily, and that helped keep me going,” she said. “If I didn’t get on my bike and force myself to push the pedals down, the project didn’t happen. It was totally up to me to get over the fact that I was tired. This was a bigger picture. This was about other people. I think people really caught onto that.”
Pushing forward
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Minnesota with a trailer full of art behind her anymore, Project Bike is far from over.
How it began According to Sikkila, organizing a statewide art tour via bike was an idea that brewed in her head for several years before she was brave enough to put it into action. However, thanks to a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, she was finally able to organize a trip in August 2015. For two weeks, Sikkila biked across southern Minnesota, covering 475 miles and visiting 10 artists. After interviewing them to learn about their work, she collected a piece or two from each, which she hauled home in the trailer attached to her bicycle. The work was then displayed in a month-long exhibit at the 410 Project in Mankato. “[The first] year was a total learn-as-yougo process,” Sikkila said. Perhaps the hardest part was the physical grind as she rode an average of 30-plus miles every day. “The main struggle [was] really having to push yourself physically that many days in 20
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a row,” she said. “My trailer, by the end, was nearly 100 pounds. And it was super hot. It gets really taxing on your body and on your brain. Then there’s having to push away how you physically feel and switch to mentally working, interviewing artists, as opposed to on your bike, when you have to keep pushing your legs. That was difficult, switching
Because of the physical strain and the difficulties of planning such a trip, Sikkila wasn’t sure that she was going to take another trip after her first one. However, a friend talked to her about how inspiring the video had been to so many people. “The project highlights the idea of selfmotivation—if you have an idea, you just have to make it happen,” she said. “You have to show people that you have to push yourself forward.” So, in the end, Sikkila decided to once again pump her tires full of air and hit the road. From there, the project continued to gain momentum, and she kept hitting the road every summer. Over the years, she has found artists from all backgrounds, ethnicities and ages, with the youngest participant only six years old. They live everywhere from Faribault to Eagle Lake to Red Wing. The art itself was also diverse, ranging from stained glass to sculptures to more traditional paintings. “When I’m selecting artwork for this
space, it’s all judged on the artwork,” Sikkila explained. “But with this project, it’s different: we’re judging the artwork but also the person, because it’s really important to me to bring in people of diversity.” Sikkila’s latest trip, which took place over 11 days in July 2019, started in Grand Marais and worked all the way back down to Mankato—more than 600 miles. It featured 10 artists, including a boat maker, a quilt maker, a costume designer and more. Sikkila said one of the best parts of Project Bike is giving local artists a chance to talk about their work and what inspires it. “Everyone was so excited that you were there,” she said. “It was really exciting for me to give people the opportunity to talk about their work. It really makes them feel positive about being an artist. One guy, he said, ‘I’m never going to be someone who’s on TV. But this is my one chance to be highlighted for something that I’m really passionate about.’”
A tough decision Sikkila said she usually started planning for Project Bike sometime in the winter, which is when she started considering finishing the tour for good last year. By the end of
2019, she had already successfully completed five tours, but they came with sacrifices, too. Sikkila wasn’t able to exhibit her own artwork for much of the year as she planned the tour, and she has turned down job and residence offers because she needed to be in Mankato to oversee the project. Now, she started thinking about what would be best for her to keep growing as an artist as she continued serving the Mankato community. “I sat down and asked, ‘What is the purpose of doing it again? And how can the project can expand from here?’” she recalled. “So then we made the decision that it really needed to close out.” To truly commemorate the last trip, Sikkila hired a professional film crew, Kaboom Productions, to follow along during the entire tour. Other years, she has worked with film makers to create a short video of the trip, but this last tour will have a true full-length documentary. “It was by far the most intense one we’ve done so far, because of the elaborateness of the filming process and managing people,” she said. “It was a great experience, but Kyle [my riding partner] and I were still biking the same amount each day, filming and biking
Filling up this summer Sikkila said she isn’t sure what to do with her summer yet once the airport display is ready to go, but she is content with not having any large plans or projects in the works. She will have an exhibition of her own art in Minneapolis this summer, and she’s also interested in pursuing her PhD. “At first, I really identified myself as, ‘I’m Dana from Project Bike,’” she recalled. “Now I’m like, ‘Now what?’ But I think during the tour, I was solidifying in my mind that my brain was ready to be challenged in a different way. Everything’s really up in the air right now, but I think I’m okay with that. Something will come up, that’s for sure. It’s just taking all the energy that I put into Project Bike and seeing how that can transfer to something else. My brain’s always thinking of new things.”
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each night until midnight. We’d sleep a few hours and get back up and bike again.” While a shorter version of the documentary aired last October during Project Bike’s exhibition at the 410 Project, the full version will premiere in May.
A new road The tour may be over, but Sikkila said she wants the project to keep going forward. One major milestone will happen in June, when the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will open a display case retrospective of Project Bike. The retrospective will span five display cases in Terminal 1 and run for six months. It will include pieces of art that Sikkila collected from rural Minnesotan artists, televisions running documentaries about the tour, pictures, maps and even Sikkila’s bike and trailer. According to Sikkila, the airport approached her last year about putting up the display, and she has been working as the project’s curator. Originally, the airport offered her a small display case and asked for some pictures, but Sikkila insisted on showcasing not just herself but the artists who had worked with her throughout the years. CONTINUES ON PAGE 22
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A quick sketch of Dana Sikkila
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“They’re like, ‘Who are you? Can we trust you?’” she recalled. “It took about a year, and I really pushed hard with them, and I was like, ‘I can do this, you’ve got to trust me.’ So they ended up agreeing to giving me the biggest display cases that they had.” One of the most difficult parts of the project, Sikkila said, has been choosing which artists to feature in the display. She had space for only 12 artists but has worked with so many over the years that it was a challenge to narrow them down. “That was excessively hard, because we gained really close relationships with all these artists,” she said. “It was really showcasing artists that I feel like their artwork is speaking just a little bit bigger than just the object itself—people who have really engaging stories that I feel other people could relate to.” The exhibit opens June 26. While it was hard to stop touring, Sikkila said she’s excited to see the next phase of Project Bike. “It’s kind of bittersweet, but I feel like it was something that, if it didn’t come to an end, these opportunities wouldn’t have been,” she said. “Instead of touring, it’s just doing something else with it, which is really exciting. The project really started from nothing, and now it’s going to be in one of the largest viewing spaces in the state. It’s a really great conclusion honoring the project and all of its efforts.”
Sikkila grew up in Litchfield and moved to Mankato for college. A self-described “problem child” in high school, she said she never wanted to attend college but was convinced by her mother to try at least one semester. She chose to study scene making at MSU-Mankato, and she quickly fell in love with her new environment. Ultimately, Sikkila switched majors to study printmaking and sculpture, earning a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts. She returned to MSUMankato some time later to earn a Master’s of Art in printmaking, as well as a nonprofit leadership certificate. It was during this time that Sikkila got involved with the 410 Project, even showing her first exhibit there when she was 21. And while she continued to make art, she also grew interested in helping manage a place where other artists could thrive. “Making work is really impactful, but giving people a way to make their work and show their work is also impactful,” she said. “I [saw how] the 410 Project could be really beneficial to the community, more than just people showing their work.” Besides volunteering as the 410 Project’s director since 2012, Sikkila also teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the MSU Department of Art.
Grace Brandt is a wandering reporter whose home base is Mankato.
The 410 Project The 410 Project is a volunteermanaged art gallery and experimental space in Mankato. Unlike many other galleries that are funded by the state or local universities, 410 Project’s upkeep is paid for through community donations. “People kind of see us as the underdog [because] we’re just a
group of people down here, [who] know this is important and want to contribute to our community,” Sikkila said. “We’re a space for artists run by artists.” Besides offering a space where artists can present their work, the 410 Project also hosts classes, workshops and lectures. These events—and their consistently low prices of $5-10—are made possible
by grants that Sikkila writes. “We never want money to be a barrier for anyone to come in here and participate in anything,” she explained. “[The Project] runs completely out of a labor of love.” The 410 Project is located at 523 South Front Street in Mankato. To contact them, email the410project@hotmail.com.
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A Place for Women in Engineering
S By Sara Schleuter
till considered a male-dominated industry, the field of engineering is experiencing women making their way in the field. However, much more needs to be done to help women feel included in this arena. According to a 2018 Forbes article, women make up more than half of college students nationwide. While more women today are earning college degrees than their male peers, the areas of STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math) are still incredibly male-dominated. In today’s workforce, only 13% of engineers are women. And sadly, more than 30% of women who have left the field of engineering have done so because of organizational company culture. Organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) are hoping to change these facts by supporting and encouraging the thousands of women all over the country hoping to make a career in this field. We had the opportunity to hear from a local female engineer. Alexa Lodis, a process engineer at Boston Scientific, shared her perspective on women in the field of engineering and what advice she would give to aspiring female engineers. Lodis graduated in 2016 from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. degree in biomedical engineering. By continuing the conversation and encouraging those women in our lives who are interested in the field of engineering, we can be poised to help close this gap and create a balance in the field of engineering that will benefit everyone.
GF: So tell us, what inspired you to want to go in the field of science and engineering? Specifically, what drew you to the field of biomedical engineering?
AL: When I entered high school, I actually didn’t have the field of engineering on my radar. I was obsessed with TV shows like House so I was interested in medicine at the time. However, I joined FIRST robotics my senior year and loved it which made me investigate engineering. I enjoyed the team aspect of robotics combined with the technical challenge. It seemed more fun than work which made me think I should seriously consider it as my degree in college. However, I was not willing to give up my medical interest which is why I decided to study biomedical engineering. GF: Generally engineering has been a male dominated industry. What are some challenges or hurdles that you have faced in this industry? AL: My first full-time engineering job out of college was at a rural manufacturing plant so I ended up being the only female engineer in the process engineering group. It was a bit challenging because I was trying to learn how to be an actual engineer while trying to navigate some unconscious bias that existed because it was a male-dominated industry. I focused on doing the best I could on my work as well as working on my confidence in my work which allowed me to gain my coworker’s trust and respect. I tried not to stray from being myself even though I was different from most of the group. Another challenge that I have noticed as a female engineer is that there aren’t a lot of female technical leaders. This means that it is hard to find female role models that have a lot of technical experience. I’ve joined organizations like SWE (Society of Women Engineers) so that I can find these role models, even if they are not at my direct workplace. GF: What would be some advice you have for young women who want to pursue study in the field of science or engineering?
AL: If you want to go into the field of science or engineering, I highly encourage job shadowing before you go to college. This will provide you hand-on insight on whether or not the field is for you. It is hard to know if you will enjoy the profession without experiencing it or working on projects that involve science or engineering skills. There are so many opportunities now to immerse yourself in STEM through school clubs like robotics, camps at colleges, programs through SWE or TechnovationMN, or even free events like Hour of Code. GF: What are some goals or ambitions that you have in your career? AL: Generally, engineering has different paths you can go on, which include people management or a more technical route. I personally want to become a technical leader so that younger female engineers have more role models to look up to. I also currently have an interest in exploring the power of artificial intelligence for automating manufacturing inspections, so I hope to grow in that specialty as well. GF: Anything else you would like to share to aspiring females in the field of science and engineering? AL: I think joining an organization such as the SWE or another group that focuses on empowering women in science and engineering will be extremely powerful in enabling your success. I have also found that a company’s work culture can be equally or even more important than the work you are doing. My final piece of advice is that you do not need to be an expert in math to be in the field of science and engineering; if you are willing to learn and are passionate about solving problems, you will do great! Sara Schlueter is a writer and editor in Minneapolis with a passion for storytelling, all things Minnesota, and being involved in the community. SPRING 2020
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A Conversation with Noelle Lawton
N By Katie Roiger
CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour, Towards Tomorrow by Tommy Riefe, Photo credit Gregg Andersen
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oelle Lawton, self-professed theater geek, never imagined herself as director of a regional arts movement despite her love for the creative fields. The Mankato native originally left the Land of 10,000 Lakes at 18 to pursue a career on the stage. “I had aspirations of being an artist,” Lawton said. “I studied that and stuck around the Chicago area for about 15 years.” Lawton was fascinated by the arts movement in Chicago and enjoyed the cultural exposure she found during her stay. When she moved back to Mankato with her husband and two kids in 2009, she was surprised to discover that a similar arts movement was brewing on a smaller scale in Southern Minnesota. Even better, the movement was welcoming any and all volunteers with heartfelt enthusiasm. “I found when I came back that it was really easy to get involved in Mankato,” remembered Lawton. “(In) such a large urban area (like Chicago), I think there’s a lot of barriers. That’s what was so awesome about coming back to a smaller community. Any effort that you made, people were so thankful [for].” Thanks to Mankato’s tight-knit community, opportunities to get involved in multiple arts initiatives were plentiful. When Lawton started working part-time for community theater organization Merely Players, she heard about a collaboration happening between the City Center Partnership and the newly-founded, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts. The groups were working to spearhead a new Sculpture Walk program in Mankato’s downtown area that would feature a new display of sculptures by local artists every year. One of their key leaders had left just as the project was making headway and the organizations were looking for a
Silo Art Project, work in progress, by Guido Van Helten, Photo credit Sara Hughes.
replacement. “I just kind of raised my hand and said well, that sounds like fun!” Lawton laughed. Ten years later, the Walking Sculpture Tour is a much-visited local attraction, complete with a self-guided audio tour and a voting process for which sculpture will be purchased for permanent residence by either Mankato or North Mankato. It is responsible for the giant Godzilla statue on the North Mankato side of Veteran’s Bridge and countless happy memories for residents and visitors alike. Lawton has been an active force behind the Sculpture Tour ever since her first experience with it. After working for the City Center Partnership for a few years, she applied for and received the role of Director for the Twin Rivers Council for the Arts. “When the director position opened up at Twin Rivers, I thought, you know, I’m more passionate about arts and culture and it’s a bit more in my wheelhouse than urban planning,” Lawton said. Lawton feels incredibly lucky to have been part of local artistic initiatives from painting original artwork on city utility boxes to commissioning the ongoing silo art project in partnership with Ardent Mills. “It’s an idea that we had floating around for (about) six years,” explained Lawton. “We’re always looking around at infrastructure within the city center and looking for ways to reimagine it, to be a draw to bring people downtown.” Twin Rivers chose internationally recognized artist artist Guido Van Helten to create a giant mural celebrating regional heritage on the side of Ardent Mills’ silos. The mural,
people such as Van Helten, Ziemke, and Luoverlooking the Minnesota River, is often the brant, especially in light of the impact that art first view travelers have of Mankato. has had on her personally. Although she feels “What the artwork and project represents she is naturally an introvert, her devotion to is key to the values of Twin Rivers,” Lawton theater drew her out of herself and into the said. “We really see ourselves as a creative experiences of others in a profound way – a visionary. We want to do things that bring joy phenomenon she thinks is true of any art to people.” form and an important part of any commu Lawton herself finds joy in being able nity’s culture. to support local artists, particularly other “One of the things I’ve really taken away women. Twin Rivers helps local craftspeople and cultural influencers to receive recognition from working in the arts here in Mankato is that you are meeting so many different people and support from their community. “It’s traditionally women who are the major from all walks of life,” Lawton said. “There’s this universal language that we all speak supporters of arts and culture,” Lawton said, when we have a passion for the arts. That’s referencing the local institution Singing Hills the beauty of it.” Chorus, a choir that provides a creative outlet for persons with Alzheimer’s and other deKatie Roiger is a freelance writer who works out of the mentias. Program director Sandi Lubrant and greater Mankato area. She enjoys exploring every town she music director Kristin Ziemke’s stated goal on visits and knowing where to find the best Italian restaurant in any 40-mile radius. Singing Hills’ website is that each and every chorus member finds joy through artistic expression. “It’s this cool initiative that’s bringing community members together,” Lawton said. “They’re having tremendous success right away, and everyone looks like they’re having such a good time!” Lawton loves seeing creative movements by Movers & Shakers panel discussion 2019, Photo credit Melissa Ketchum. SPRING 2020
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Girl Scouts & STEM Making Changes Locally & Globally
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Under the Space Shuttle.
By Julie Buchwald Haley
uliette Gordon Low and her first Girl Scouts of the USA blazed trails in 1912. In a time when women and girls were expected to cook and clean and tend to children, Low and her Scouts were hiking, camping, swimming, learning about the stars, and playing basketball. They were sharing adventures, learning that girls can do anything, and helping those in need around the world. Juliette and her girls may not have known it then, but they were also blazing trails in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Today’s Girl Scouts are carrying on the mission to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” The local council is Girl Scouts River Valleys, which serves more than 28,000 girls in 26
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partnership with 9,000 committed volunteers and adult members throughout 49 counties in southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and one county in northern Iowa. Scout troops in Northfield have concentrated on STEM learning and projects for about the past 20 years. Part of being a Scout is learning about and trying new and varied activities to earn badges and awards. Some activities include taking trips to STEM-centric locations such as River Bend Nature Center, Prairie Island nuclear power plant, Xcel Energy, the wind turbines at St. Olaf College, and a military base. During a trip to Goodsell Observatory at Carleton College with former troop leader Debby Walser-Kuntz, a biology professor at Carleton, the girls learned about both historic and modern telescopes, identified stars and constellations, and worked on asking thoughtful questions. “When we left the Observatory and looked
up to the night skies, we identified Northern Lights,” Debby said. Many of the Scouts have made trips outside of Minnesota to places like Huntsville, Ala., and the U.S. Space Camp on the grounds of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center museum. They learned about space exploration, aviation and robotics, sat in control rooms, took space walks, visited an International Space Station, built parachutes, and walked under a space shuttle. They also enjoyed meeting Robert “Hoot” Gibson, the pilot and astronaut who commanded the crew of the first Space Shuttle to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir, and who was the first person to shake hands with Russian astronaut Vladimir Dezhurov when the doors between the stations were opened. Another memorable trip took them to Costa Rica, where they camped, backpacked, and studied mangrove forests along the Pacific
Butterfly Garden at LBS.
coast. Mangroves are filtration systems that protect coasts and habitats from erosion and are critically important to Costa Rica’s environment. The Scouts helped collect and plant seeds while working in a mangrove nursery – a large pit with seedlings of various ages exposed to the extreme ocean tides. Part of the work included planting seeds in recycled containers, packing them in with ground soil, then planting the entire unit in the nursery. Studies show that girls become interested in STEM subjects around the age of 11, but often lose that interest when they’re 15. Research also shows that girls prefer subjects where they can see the impact they are making in the world. So, during these formative years, the Girl Scouts program encourages girls to be empowered to think about how STEM subjects and activities can change the world. They are learning to be both good students and good stewards of our world. When Scouts Ainsley Nutt and Jeanette Pelletier, both 16, talk to peers about making a difference in the world, they speak from experience. Jeanette’s Gold Award project will take her to Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, this year. She’s working on raising awareness about vision loss and creating sister schools between the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and a school in Tbilisi. Ainsley’s Silver Award project included rescuing more than 1,200 beginner reader books from a recycling bin, then organizing and delivering them to a youth center in the Dominican Republic. The Scouts are gaining skills and experience in communication, organization, time management, fundraising, diversity, and travel, all of which translate to a wide
variety of careers. They’ve also worked on local projects including building and maintaining a butterfly garden at the Laura Baker School and planting trees at the Carleton Arboretum. “It’s pretty amazing when I realize I’m making a difference, not just talking about it,” Jeanette said. Part of the work the Scouts do all year long is fundraising. Each spring, it’s Girl Scout Cookies time, a program that started in 1917 by Girl Scouts and their moms as a way to fund their activities. It has steadily improved and increased since then to become a major fundraiser for many troops across the country. Seventy-six percent of proceeds goes to the troop itself, with 24% going to the Cookie program and bakers’ costs. Selling cookies helps the girls develop important skills in communication, math, and organization. And it helps to ensure that trips can be made by any Girl Scout interested in participating. Cookie sales also help girls develop lifelong friendships. “We love that all the girls want to spend time together,” Kelly Stanton-Nutt, mom to Ainsley, and Jenny Pelletier, Jeanette’s mom and Troop 25258’s leader, said. One of the many benefits of Scouting is that girls feel that they have important, intelligent voices to be heard and considered. The Girl Scouts continue to encourage girls to become leaders across all subjects, helping them build courage, confidence, and character. And the Scouts are most certainly making the world a better place. Julie Buchwald Haley is a freelance writer, new grandma, and PTSD survivor who works full-time, volunteers part-time, and is a pet parent to three. She returned to Minnesota after a 30+ year absence to make new memories with her parents.
Jeanette & Ana. Planting in the Mangrove Nursery.
A few famous Girl Scouts: Sally Ride, astronaut and physicist Tammy Duckworth, Senator (D-IL) and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mae Jemison, engineer, physician, and former astronaut Eileen Collins, retired astronaut and U.S. Air Force Colonel Sandra Day O’Connor, retired Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Janet Napolitano, attorney, university administrator, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Madeleine Albright, former U.S, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former U.S, Secretary of State Geraldine Ferraro, attorney and first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major political party Gloria Steinem, journalist and social political activist Dr. Joyce Brothers, psychologist and columnist Linda Chavez-Thompson, former President of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas
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W e l l n e ss
Ancient Wisdom
meets
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Modern Medicine
By Rian Dicke-Michels
he Human Era is said to consist of the last 12,020 years, but illness and disease are as old as time. While much more recent medical history took us away from nature, medical research over the last 50 years is steering us back to our roots. Ancient Eastern medicine and wellness practices are now being integrated into hospitals and clinics across the country, all due to modern research. The way we test and follow up with patients has evolved, as well as how we research long term effects of certain drugs and treatments. Recently, “Time” magazine published a special edition on alternative medicine and expressed the relevance of these ancient practices that are re-emerging, with science to back it up. Almost as though our body is a bio-machine that houses a consciousness, our mindset around healing and the social support we receive can either assist in the process or hold us back. We are finding that psychological distress and fatigue can actually worsen symptoms of any disease. Unfortunately, it isn’t prevention that is turning most people toward alternative medicine. In 2016, the CDC reported that approximately 50 million Americans were suffering from chronic pain, and that U.S. deaths related to heart disease and cancer were on the rise. Rather than treat a series of symptoms solely with prescriptions and treatments that bear a host of side effects, science is now looking into avenues of healing that treat the whole human. So, what are these alternatives and how can they help? • Chiropractic Care – Considered a “manipulative therapy,” the National Institutes of Health has reported that approximately 30 million adults are receiving chiropractic treatment annually. Instead of using pharmaceuticals to numb pain and reduce inflammation, just a few weeks of chiropractic adjustments will address physical misalignments that cause pain and inflammation, or block energetic flow. • Massage Therapy – Often considered a luxury, massage goes handin-hand with other healing therapies. Touch therapy manipulates soft tissues and has a variety of benefits, including but not limited to lowering blood pressure, increasing production of endorphins and serotonin (natural mood regulators and painkillers), and lowering cortisol levels (the stress hormone). • Yoga – A practice dating back more than 5,000 years, yoga is a moving meditation that is also considered a low-impact form of exercise. It has been adapted to meet a wide variety of body types and ability levels. • Acupuncture – This healing technique is more than 3,000 years old and uses needles at different pressure points on the body; 361 points to be exact. This can be used to treat asthma or chronic pain, relieves discomfort from digestive conditions, boosts immunity, relieves headaches, and can also relieve allergies.
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• Herbs and Teas – Every plant on this earth is unique in its own way. Each one has its uses, and modern-day herbalists are harnessing that power by creating tinctures, salves, teas, tonics, and other tantalizing products that heal, soothe, and ease. With their knowledge of the plant world, they are able to combine herbs that will cater to your individual needs. • Nature – It is common these days that people are unable to get outside as much as they should. In 2018, the National Health Service of Scotland began issuing “nature prescriptions” to treat mental health disorders. • Cannabis and CBD – This plant extract is growing in popularity now that it is widely accepted due to its healing properties.* Cannabis and CBD are being used in cancer patients, seizure sufferers, those living with chronic pain, even those diagnosed with anxiety/depression and ADD. (Source them responsibly.) • Spirituality – Belief in something bigger and greater than the Self doesn’t require us to follow any given faith, but having any sense of spirituality can increase mental/emotional health. • Gut Health and Food – Beyond satiating hunger, food provides the body with vitamins and nutrients. What we eat gets broken down and absorbed via the digestive system to be divvyed up throughout the entire body. Therefore, our gut health affects everything else. Meditation – As the saying goes, “Mind over matter.” Whether you meditate for relaxation, brain training, or reducing stress, it is a way to treat a number of ailments by using the power of the mind. Melding the Eastern and Western idea of health is, in my opinion, an intelligent and intuitive approach to the future of medicine. Where these alternative therapies were once considered “woo woo”, we are now learning how effective they can be in treating a variety of ailments. We are already encouraged to have regular visits with dentists and physicians, yet these other forms of healing are still considered “alternative.” Everything from immune health, gut health, mental health, and physical health are all tied into one another, and in an ideal world, our “treatment plan” could be both individualized and preventative. Who knew how innovative the ancient texts and traditions would be in the 21st century? Ed. Note: A review of the latest research, published in September 2019 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, finds there’s a growing body of preclinical and clinical evidence to suggest that CBD oils may hold promise for treating conditions such as chronic pain and opioid addiction. But few clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of CBD have been reported, and more research involving humans is needed before health care providers can say definitely that they’re helpful and safe, according to Mayo Clinic researchers. “There are many intriguing findings in pre-clinical studies that suggest CBD and hemp oil have anti-inflammatory effects and may be helpful with improving sleep and anxiety,” says Brent Bauer, M.D., an internist and director of research for the Mayo Clinic Integrative Medicine program. “But trials in humans are still limited, so it is too early to be definitive about efficacy and safety.” A highly passionate woman and mother of two children, Rian Dicke-Michels is also an MSU graduate and 500RYT; a certification she received at the Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center in 2019. Her education in psychology, experience as a yoga pracitioner, and the reality of raising small humans drives her to always be seeking new information. She is an advocate for nature, health, and wellness. “My life is a continuous journey towards healing and Self-love,” she says. “I am honored to be growing with you.”
L-R: Bonnie Abely. Susan Cook, Winnie Kunst, Evie Swenson, Betty Maas, and Lois Barrer.
Girlfriends
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By Nancy Iglesias
morning meet-up to share a cup of coffee with your best gal pals, heading outdoors for a long walk, planning a shopping trip for some new spring décor, lunching out and ending the day with an evening of games preceded by happy hour-- these could be the antics of a gaggle of girlfriends of almost any age. And while it could be the carefree calendar of a group of women in their 30s, 40s or 50s, it’s actually a day/week in the life of a group of girlfriends in a popular senor living community in St. Peter. Like fine wine, some might say that girlfriends just get better with age. It’s a growing trend for girlfriends over 60 to move into senior communities during retirement age. Heather Deshayes, Marketing Director for the Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter, said, “We’re trying to break the stigma of what a ‘Senior Living Community’ is. First, let’s talk about what it is NOT... It is NOT a nursing home! It is an apartment complex where the only rule is that you have to be over 55 to live there. It is completely independent. You don’t have to stay in your apartments, there is no nursing staff. It is just a building with apartments that houses folks over 55.” In a recent issue of Redbook magazine (July 24, 2019), Alex Watt listed 25 reasons why we
all need girlfriends. Alex stated that “our brains are actually wired to feel the joy and sadness of close friends. And that empathy can lead us to more personal and professional success, while making us happier.” Included in the benefits of having a circle of girlfriends are things like lower stress, greater productivity, greater longevity, improved selfesteem and improved memory. The author goes on to say that a woman with a strong network of female friends will have more fun, feel more like she belongs, grieve easier in the face of loss, have a higher tolerance for pain and just generally enjoy life in a greater way. The women of Heritage Meadows seem to be living proof of that. Resident Susan Cook said, “One wonderful thing about living here is, when I lived alone, I had to invite people to my house to visit. Now, I just walk out my door and enjoy coffee with my friends.” Susan and her friends enjoy crafting together, shopping, fun adventures, card clubs, and happy hour. They meet daily in the dining room for coffee and conversation. Girlfriend and fellow resident, Lois Barrer, said, “I think most people think this is the first step to a nursing home; however, we are NOT a nursing home. We are very active, we have tons to do and enjoy having our friends next door.” Bonnie Aebly moved in last fall. She said, “I was lonely living in my last place. Now I laugh, shop, craft and enjoy having new friends. There’s always something to do and someone to do it with.”
Prior to moving to Heritage Meadows, Bonnie said her social life was fairly limited. She often felt isolated and alone. She joked that her biggest outing of the week was going to Dollar General. Her family expressed concern and encouraged her to think about moving into Heritage Meadows, but she was not excited about that option. She thought it was just a glorified nursing home, and she was not ready to give up her independence. Once she made the transition, she realized that she actually gave up very little and in fact had gained so much more. Many of the residents still drive, and it’s not unusual for them to go together grocery shopping, to church, or to Michael’s for crafts supplies. They might also be seen on nearby walking trails. In between their outings, as good friends are apt to do. There are also quieter moments to share laughter, memories, lots of coffee and even a few tears. While many of the women have bonded over good times and pleasantries, many of them have also found solace in being able to share their losses and grief with one another. When asked if they have a grief support. That’s what friends do for one another.” In her earlier years, Bonnie had been a senior companion. She told the story of regularly taking her client to a community park bench to people watch. It was a way for her client to be out in the
Bonnie Aebly
community and for them to share a little slice of life together. And that sense of being together seems to be one of the most important factors for an enjoyable quality of life as we age. Results from CONTINUES ON PAGE 30 SPRING 2020
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Directory EVENT RENTAL SPACE PILLSBURY COLLEGE PREP
Hold your next event at the historical campus of Camp Pillsbury. Large auditorium, dining hall, conference rooms, ample meeting space and dormitory sleeping quarters that hold up to 750 overnight guests. Perfect for corporate events, weddings, concerts, leadership retreats, youth development retreats and more. 507-214-2200.
Winnie Kunst
MEDIA
RIGHT: Standing, L-R: Susan Cook, Mary Jacobson, Bonnie Abely. Seated, L-R: Lois Barrer, Evie Swenson, Winnie Kunst, Betty Maas.
APG Southern Minnesota Print | Digital | Events
Our content reaches a larger audience than ever before. From newspaper, web design, digital advertising, special products and services we are here to help you reach your maximum audience. Contact Regional Director of Adverting Mark Nelson at mnelson@faribault.com or 507-333-3109 to set up your meeting to see what best fits your needs.
SUMMER CAMP CAMP PILLSBURY
Camp Pillsbury is a unique day and sleepaway summer camp, offering over 100 activities! Flying trapeze, circus arts, musical theater, sports, magic, horseback, gymnastics, dance, technology, musical instruments and waterski– all in the same day. So many activities to choose from! Camppillsbury.com 507-214-2200.
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a University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study seem to affirm what the women of Heritage Meadows are living out. While longevity was definitely impacted by loneliness, researchers also found “that people who were experiencing loneliness were less likely to be able to do simple daily tasks and activities, such as walking around the block, dressing and showering and carrying objects as light as 10 pounds.” Another large study done at the University of Michigan by William Chopik affirms the power of friendship on both the physical and mental health of aging adults. Who knew that a having good friends as we age could provide so many benefits? Heather Deshayes may not have read these studies, but she seems to be at the center of creating an environment at Heritage Meadows where friendships abound. She enjoys planning special outings and activities for her residents. Listening to her giggle when speaking to and about her “girls” was indeed heart-warming and life-affirming. Deshayes said, “Americans are living longer and
Don’t miss our next issue, out in mid-MAY. Women and Adventures: • Book review • Unexpected Caregiver • Wellness • Man’s Perspective • Larissa Lathrop, technology and entertainment entrepreneur • Essay on resiliency • Women-only trips 30
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are much more active than they used to be. Finding an active senior living community is nice, but finding one with friends is even better.” Heritage Meadows is part of the Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter and has 28 oneand two-bedroom apartments up to 900 square feet. Everything is included in the rent, including the noon meal. They even do housekeeping and laundry. There are bay windows, beautiful views, garages, full kitchens, and a completely remodeled community. Senior living communities are perfect for couples, best friends, or making new friends! Nancy Iglesias is a freelance writer and storyteller. She is a Midwest girl through and through with roots and stories from Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. Whether she’s chatting with someone who is four or fourscore, she loves to hear their stories.
Express Yourself!
• Mother-daughter entrepreneurs • Female welder, carrying on a family tradition • Mother-daughter mentors - Big Sisters • Geo-caching • The art of tattoos ....and more!
MAY/JUN ISSUE DEADLINE IS APRIL 10TH Have an idea or suggestion?
Contact Beth Forkner Moe at bfmoe@southernminn.com
unexpected caregiver
Berit Kari Berit, author of The Unexpected Caregiver, gives dynamic presentations that provide real-life help to family & professional caregivers using her practical S.A.N.E. Method™. Follow her at www.KariBerit.net
When the Caregiving Expert Becomes the Receiver of Care
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t’s my turn to receive care. I recently had an operation on my heel to fuse two bones to correct the wear and tear from an old injury. I had been walking in pain, bone-onbone for several years, and when the pain interrupted my daily life, it was time to have it fixed. Even though my husband and I prepared for my period of immobility, we were still caught a bit “flat-footed” by just how much I would be unable to do for myself. To facilitate the best recovery, I need to keep my foot elevated above my heart, 90% of the day for a solid two weeks. That’s a lot of time lounging. And I’m a pretty fastidious housekeeper, which translates to me either asking my husband to do more than he’s accustomed to, or balancing on crutches to wash dishes, vacuum the floor, or clean a toilet. It’s a prickly issue and requires compromise from both of us, even though I’m convinced my way is the right way (Smiley face here!). There’s a multi-stepped dance that takes place when the person receiving care isn’t accustomed to asking for help and the person giving care is doing double-duty work. We decided that the most innovative step we could take is to move to the first floor of our house, opening up the sofa-sleeper couch, and setting up camp. The couch is butted up to my desk, where I have nearly everything I need. Even though I much prefer to sleep in my bed, I’ve made this work, as has my easy-going husband. With him away during the day, we’ve also talked about what I need and how I can structure my days while living on my back.
Besides the basics of having a ½ gallon of drinking water and healthy snacks at hand, we brainstormed various projects that I can accomplish from the couch bed. The problem is not a lack of things to do; rather, it’s the antsy feeling of being physically trapped that interrupts my productivity. I have to play games with myself: If I make so many business calls or write x-number of emails, I tell myself it’s okay to read from my novel, watch a movie, or take a nap. Now, with the end of my physical down time approaching, I look at my list of things to do and wish I could have another couple of weeks to get it all finished. However, I am reminded of my doctor’s admonition that healing requires rest. And ‘rest’ needs to be an item on my to-do list! I also keep my S.A.N.E. Method™ close at hand—reminding myself that it’s okay (and necessary) to be Supported by others, Appreciated by myself (for what I CAN do), Not feel guilty about resting (as my healing depends on it), and finally, feeling Energized—that this surgery is a positive event, one that will enable me to return to the activities I love. This time of being a care receiver has enriched my understanding of how challenging it is to be dependent on someone else. It’s also solidified the importance of good communication, ingenuity, and patience between caregiver and care receiver. SPRING 2020
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A Full Continuum of Care Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter is committed to helping area seniors live fully and live well. Our services include rehabilitation therapy and post acute care, skilled nursing home care/memory care, independent and assisted living, and interior access to the hospital, clinic and fitness center.
Call today to learn more. Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter Heritage Meadows - Independent Living 1302 W Traverse | (507) 931-8545 Benedictine Court - Assisted Living 1906 N Sunrise Drive | (507) 934-8817 Benedictine Health Center Skilled Nursing, Rehab and Memory Care 1907 Klein Street | (507) 934-2203
www.blcstpeter.org