Are you in Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo and want to learn more about the people, places and things within your community? This weekly newsletter is for you!
Meadowlark Informer - Issue 05 (Late, but not forgotten!)
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Sorry for the late Issue - I have been a little under the weather. Nevertheless, some interesting tidbits and stories from our community have been compiled for your benefit and reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy! Artist & Community SpotlightThis week's artist, Mike Benson, is also our Community Spotlight! Mike's journey with painting, started after retirement as a way to keep his mind active, having been inspired by his bird watching. He started with painting birds that he would see on wood and then cutting them out as 3D wall art - sometimes adding additional natural aspects like perches and branches. From there he decided to branch out (pun intended) into painting everyday people, places and events within our community. His artistic process is unique, in that he doesn't paint from memory or just what he sees - he uses photography to capture the moment and then he interprets it through painting. With a focus on community, his Folksy art style perfectly captures the care and love that he has for the moments and people that he captures within his paintings. In some of them, he also incorporates historical aspects of the area or adjusts visual perspective. His painting, The Lost Room, is a perfect demonstration of historical incorporation. It depicts a small symphony style performance in a room of individuals. The room in question no longer exists, as it was heavily damaged during a historical flood, and the people, all public figures who may have been guests in this room throughout time, likely never encountered each other in such a way. After researching the room and its use during its time of existence, he compiled a list of individuals that have or could have graced its space and used it to create the scene. The painting seems to jump off the canvas with his use of layering individually painted elements to create depth and also denote their individual presence within the space. Aside from speculative or adjusted art, he also creates pieces of everyday occurrences, like meetups, people working in the community or buildings of note. Whatever the case, each painting he creates is duplicated and provided to the individuals that are depicted, one of which can be found in Sammy's Pizza on Broadway in Fargo! Through his involvement in the Lion's Club, he also contributed to the creation of the "Spirit of the Sandbagger," a tribute to the way our community came together to protect one another during periods of heavy flooding, more specifically in 1997 and 2009, which can be found arching over an entrance to the Riverside Gardens on the corner of 1st Ave N. & 2nd St N. in Fargo. In addition to sharing his artistic interpretation of our community, Mike devotes his time to SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), which is a group of retired individuals that provide mentoring to small business owners. He also attends and participates in StartupBREW, a weekly, local entrepreneurial networking group hosted at the Prairie Den from 8 am - 9:30 am on Wednesdays. While he hasn't taken commissions, he is always excited to meet new people and capture moments, so if you see him around be sure to give him a holler! Business SpotlightMost business owners and nonprofits know the struggle of getting connected to the right people and resources that truly align with their values. Oftentimes, they will sacrifice quality, aligned work for a lower price, sometimes to the detriment of their business or mission. Meanwhile, for an independent contractor, it can be difficult to find projects that align with their purpose, especially if they're just starting out or don't have a marketing or advertising budget. For Janessa Storlie, this challenge was all too real. Having been on both sides of this fence, she knows that current business systems don't support aligned work, instead they favor profit and loud advertising. That's why she started Aligned Hire. The concept, while still blooming, is a cross between the yellow pages and Match.com. It's a place where businesses can go to bypass the system and match with independent contractors that align with their values and meet their needs - all in one convenient place. How it works is independent contractors create a profile that outlines their primary service, mission, values, humanitarian group interest (Veteran Support, Food Insecurity, LGBTQIA+, etc.), qualifications, certifications and price range. They will also have the opportunity to provide trainings and tutorials to help businesses navigate common issues and programs. Businesses and nonprofits can then search through these profiles using any of the listed criteria to find a contractor that aligns with their unique needs. The purpose is to shift the search from price to alignment, creating synergy through shared purpose and values, in turn maximizing project outcomes, while building relationships and connections in the business-sphere. If you're a contractor or business that is looking for this kind of connection, you can learn more by emailing hello@alignedhire.co or calling 701-970-9621. Janessa also has a newsletter for navigating aligned hiring and intentional relationship building. You can sign up to receive it at AlignedHire.co. Recipe of the WeekThis week's recipe for Chipotle Mayo was submitted by Frances W. My husband and I made this and served it with Scotch Eggs and holy cow was it flavorful. I wish I would have taken a picture, because it was also visually appealing. Food for your eyes, mouth and soul! Ingredients
Directions
Note: You can also do this with a mason jar and immersion blender. Did you know?The population of West Fargo rose by 60% between the years 2000 and 2010! That's approximately 10 times the average growth for a city within a 10 year period in the U.S. Sources:
Out on the TownIf you're looking to fly the nest, here are some fun things to do. . .
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Meadowlark Informer
Are you in Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo and want to learn more about the people, places and things within your community? This weekly newsletter is for you!
Happy Memorial Day! It's a beautiful, warm day - perfect for coming together with our friends, family and community to celebrate the lives of those that made the ultimate sacrifice. For all those that have served or are actively serving our country, thank you for your service. To the families that have lost a loved one in service to our country, we appreciate you and your sacrifice more than words could ever express. I hope you all enjoy the highlights in today's issue of Meadowlark Informer....
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Today we are covering a vast array of local community members and their endeavors. From supporting our Ukrainian guests fleeing from a warzone, art that gives new life to animals who have passed, and Fargo's newest bakery - all the bases are covered with this one. I hope you enjoy! Community Spotlight Michael Southam Michael Southam retired in Chicago during the pandemic. His life was relatively quiet until his parents began requiring more care in 2022. Since he was retired, it made sense...