BEMIDJI — A community works better when people come together, and there's an upcoming opportunity for Bemidjians to gather.
Naomi Carlson is a community development planner at Headwaters Regional Development Commission. The group has a stated mission to help communities in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods and Mahnomen counties be successful.
Carlson was a recent guest on Bright Spot on the KAXE Morning Show, where she told us about the Bemidji Community Latin Block Party, happening 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the American Indian Resource Center on the campus of Bemidji State University.
#ThisIsOurCityBemidji is comprised of the city of Bemidji, the development commission and BSU/Northwest Technical College, and they have been working on a comprehensive plan for Bemidji that looks ahead 10-20 years. In the meantime, the group has been planning events to bring people together, including a picnic in Nymore on July 29.
"I just heard overwhelming and positive comments throughout that event," Carlson said. "Even [afterwards], people were thankful that people are willing to come together and be part of something, and not be still in their own little pockets of the neighborhood."
"Our whole hope is to get connection to community and really bolster events that are already happening," Carlson said.
The Bemidji Community Latin Block Party coincides with Live United Day, where United Way of Bemidji Area invites the community to come together and give back in ways that are personally meaningful. National Hispanic/Latin Heritage Month has just begun and goes through Oct. 15, so Latin culture will be incorporated into the block party through food, music and dancing.
This is a free event, with transportation available by calling 218-368-1804. You may also ride your bike with the Pedaling Ninjas to the block party. Meet at the Paul and Babe statues at 4:30 p.m.
"I've met so many new people by just saying, 'Yeah, let's try something new together,'" Carlson said.
Listen to our full conversation above!
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The Bright Spot is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
