Starting the day with some inspiration from Chris Mitchell at Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Chat from the session:
Coffee and Conversation
08:34:57 From Mary Magnuson (she/her) to Everyone: The chat log is part of the conference archive on the blog: https://blandinonbroadband.org/category/blandin-broadband-summit-2021/
08:41:11 From Mary Magnuson (she/her) to Everyone: If you attended the conference yesterday, fill out this two question evaluation (if you haven’t already.) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DWR9L9R
08:45:40 From Mary DeVany to Everyone: Snow in South Dakota today… 😉
08:49:50 From Christopher Mitchell to Everyone: I think Portugal is the most vaccinated country in the world
08:54:25 From Ben Winchester to Everyone: https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Intellectualism-American-Life-Richard-Hofstadter/dp/0394703170
08:55:10 From Christopher Mitchell to Everyone: Americans who are descended by Europeans were not a random sampling – we are the descended from the outcasts and adventurers willing to take a chance to leave … or who were cast out.
08:56:23 From Bernadine Joselyn (she/her) to Everyone: Christopher: yes, AND/BUT DNA itself gets washed out after 10 generations….
08:57:05 From Christopher Mitchell to Everyone: Sure – we are what – 4 or 5 generations from when most Europeans arrived? Not 10 I’m guessing…
09:14:32 From Bill Coleman to Everyone: Thanks for the kind words Christopher!
09:15:42 From Ry Marcattilio-McCracken (ILSR) to Everyone: https://muninetworks.org/broadbandbits
09:16:12 From Ry Marcattilio-McCracken (ILSR) to Everyone: https://connectthisshow.com/
09:16:22 From Ann Treacy to Everyone: Chris’ podcast is educational and fun – I often find myself listening for long than intended.
09:39:15 From Mary Magnuson (she/her) to Everyone:
Here’s ILSR’s report: https://muninetworks.org/reports/minnesota-broadband-land-of-ten-thousand-connectivity-solutions
09:44:57 From Mary Magnuson (she/her) to Everyone: Ry is right – this report (and two we are talking about a little later in this session) is linked from the agenda https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/broadband/annual-conference-2021/wednesday-october-13/ You’ll also be able to find them in the Blandin on Broadband blog conference archive later today.
09:45:36 From Bernadine Joselyn (she/her) to Everyone: I think that’s the main message: it takes work!
Christopher Mitchell, Director, Community Broadband Networks initiative, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Christopher Mitchell is a leading national expert on community networks and Internet access. On a day-to-day basis, Mitchell runs MuniNetworks.org, the comprehensive online clearinghouse of information about local government policies to improve Internet access. He hosts the Community Broadband Bits podcast as well as the live Connect This! Show, which airs on YouTube and Facebook. He was honored as one of the 2012 Top 25 in Public Sector Technology by Government Technology, which honors the top “Doers, Drivers, and Dreamers” in the nation each year. Mitchell earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Macalester College. He is also a professional sports photographer, shooting regularly for the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers and other clients in Minnesota.
Bernadine Joselyn has served as director of Blandin Foundation’s Public Policy and Engagement program since 2001. Here she leads efforts to facilitate the building of knowledge and catalyze community action around issues and opportunities that align with the Foundation’s mission of strengthening rural Minnesota communities, especially the Grand Rapids area.
Beginning in 2003 she has led the foundation’s broadband programming in rural communities across the state. She represents rural communities on the Governor’s Broadband Task Force.
A native of Minnesota, Bernadine has a master’s degree in international affairs and a certificate in advanced Soviet studies from Columbia University. Bernadine spent the first 15 years of her professional life in Soviet (and then post-Soviet) Affairs. She served seven years as diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, where — after an initial tour in New Delhi, India — she was assigned to Moscow, Russia, and Washington, D.C., focused on the U.S.-Soviet/Russian relationship. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Bernadine left the diplomatic corps to work on international academic and cultural exchange programs with the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) and subsequently the Eurasia Foundation, where she oversaw a $5 million annual grant program.
In 2000 Bernadine returned to Minnesota to complete a second master’s degree in public policy at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute.
Diane Wells has over 34 years of experience working with telecommunications and broadband issues for the State of Minnesota. She joined the Office of Broadband Development at the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development at its inception in 2013. Prior to joining the Office, Ms. Wells managed the telecommunications division at the MN Department of Commerce for eight years and served on the telecommunications staff of the MN Public Utilities Commission for 17 years. Ms. Wells received her undergraduate degree from St. Cloud State University and her M.P.A. from the University of Texas in Austin.
Kendra Jo is no stranger to the Island Institute’s mission. She first came to Maine, by way of her home state of West Virginia, as an Island Fellow on Islesboro in 2013. During her fellowship, she worked to connect island families to readily available resources on the mainland and revive the Social Services Liaison at the Islesboro Town Office. In the years since her fellowship, Kendra Jo worked for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association as the Community Programs and Operations Manager. She holds a BA in Human Development & Family Studies with a concentration in Rural Families from the University of Connecticut.
Edward Hilbrich, Manufactured Housing Project Coordinator, Libraries Without Borders
Joe Miller is Project Manager – Digital Equity and Strategy at Literacy Minnesota. He is at the forefront of research and development at the nonprofit when digital equity intersects with the literacy cause, which has included management of projects in partnership with the AmeriCorps Emergency Response Initiative and the Minnesota Department of Education. Prior to his current role, Joe taught English in North Minneapolis with Literacy Minnesota and North Sumatra, Indonesia with the Fulbright Program. His undergraduate degree is in economics and political science from St. Olaf College, and he has previous professional experience in operations at a nonprofit in the Brainerd Lakes Area, Minnesota Hockey Camps.
Kristian Braekkan joined Region Nine in February 2018. His work relates to resource development, economic development, and industrial projects. Kristian completed his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech in 2010. His research on industrial relations spans a wide variety of contexts, such as steel, coal, health care, manufacturing, and service industries. He has presented and published his research domestically and internationally.
Alejandra Bejarano joined Region Nine in August of 2021 as an economic recovery planner. As a previous Region Nine intern and Fellow for the 
Abraham (Abe) Levine is CEO of Brainware Partners, a high technology consulting firm specializing in executive and technical services for telecommunications, and software, in addition to companies in the trucking industry. He is also working with a major company in the streaming television industry and Chairman of the St. Louis Park, MN Community Technology Advisory Commission dealing with smart city applications.
Ann Treacy, Treacy Information Services, authors and manages the 
The planning team is getting excited. We’re looking forward to good ideas and conversation at the 
