Shows / Community Focus
Community Focus
"Community Focus" is the longest-running locally produced, community affairs program in the Brainerd area. Hosted by Tess Taylor and Eric Grant, Community Focus has covered everything from arts and entertainment to issues concerning health, public safety, education, and much more. If it’s happening in the Brainerd Lakes Area, it’s on Community Focus.
Episodes
- Community Focus
10-29-2026 Community Focus - Together for Brainerd Schools
Guests, Group Organizers Christy Ramler, Kate Kuepers, & Jessica Gangl See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Community Focus
10-28-2026 - Community Focus - Equilibrium Epilepsy Advocates
Guests are Founder Barb Mack and Board Member Loretta Campbell See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Community Focus
10-27-2026 - Community Focus - Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Guest is Matt Killian, President of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Community Focus
10-23-26 Community Focus- MnFire
Jen Elleraas, Board Member of MnFIRE, joins to discuss October's Fire Prevention Month and the importance of fire safety and awareness. She also highlights the…
- Community Focus
10-22-26 Community Focus-
Jennifer Lowe, Director of Foundation, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC) talks about their upcoming fundraiser entitled, Kaleidoscope, Stories Worth…
- Community Focus
10-21-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes Performing Arts
Joey Yow, Director of Central Lakes College Preforming Arts highlights the current performances of Sweeny Todd as well as their upcoming Garth Brooks tribute…
- Community Focus
10-20-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Sue Galligan, Director of Special Events, Brainerd Lakes Chamber, talking about the upcoming Business After Hours event, Lakes Area Voting Guide, 2027 Visitors…
- Community Focus
10-19-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Public Schools
Chip Rankin, Superintendent, Brainerd Public Schools ISD 181, visits about the district's Project True North and the plans going forward for the district…
- Community Focus
10-15-2025 Community Focus- National Drug Take Back Day
Talia Brodhead, Community Engagement Manager with the Minnesota Prevention & Recovery Alliance and Program Coordinator for the BLADE Coalition, and Jacklin…
- Community Focus
10-14-26 Community Focus- Stage North Theatre Company
Mark Oehrlein, Board President and Co-Director, and Gary Hirsch, Director, stop by to preview Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, coming to the Franklin…
- Community Focus
10-13-2026 Community Focus- City of Baxter
Brad Chapulis, Administrator, City of Baxter talks about the 2026 road construction season and the projects that are wrapping up for the season. Brad also…
- Community Focus
10-12-2026 Community Focus- City of Brainerd
Brainerd Public Works Director Paul Sandy and City Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director Jen Schumann join to discuss the winding down of the 2026 construction…
- Community Focus
10-09-26 Community Focus- Operation Grizwold
Pequot Lakes Mayor Tyler Gardner and Police Chief Mike Davis join to discuss Operation Grizwold, a community-driven effort to make Christmas brighter for…
- Community Focus
10-08-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Family YMCA
Shane Riffle, CEO of the Brainerd Family YMCA, joins to recap the success of their summer food program and highlight the many fall and winter programs now open…
- Community Focus
10-07-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County Engineer Tim Bray, Transportation Planner Matt Kallroos and Maintenance Manager Brian Berent join to discuss the county’s new Safe Roads for…
- Community Focus
10-06-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Faith Hamson, Marketing Coordinator for the Lakes Area United Way, previews the 2026 United Way Chili Cook-Off, happening Wednesday, October 14 at the Northern…
- Community Focus
10-05-26 Community Focus- Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts
Director Ben Gordon and actors Ginger Lupella and Patrick Smallman from GLAPA join to preview their upcoming production of Blithe Spirit. They discuss the…
- Community Focus
10-02-26 Community Focus- Relationship Safety Alliance
Lanai Epps and Mandy Flitch, Domestic Violence Advocates with Relationship Safety Alliance, join to discuss October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month events…
- Community Focus
10-01-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Dr. Kim Lynch, Interim President of Central Lakes College, and Erich Heppner, Interim Dean of Staples Campus, highlight October as Manufacturing Month. They…
- Community Focus
09-30-26 Community Focus- Northland Arboretum
Trevor Pumnea, Executive Director of the Northland Arboretum, joins Community Focus with updates on the latest happenings at the Arb. He shares progress on the…
- Community Focus
09-29-26 Community Focus- Confidence Learning Center
Travis Grossman, Executive Director, Confidence Learning Center and Sharon Carr, Events & Marketing Director, Confidence Learning Center visit about the camp…
- Community Focus
09-28-26 Community Focus- Legacy Choirs of the Lakes Area
Kennedy Niska, Executive Director of Legacy Choirs of the Lakes Area, and Brian Stubbs, Director of the Legacy Chorale, join to talk about the organization’s…
- Community Focus
09-25-26 Community Focus CLC Performing Arts
Joey Yow, Director of Central Lakes College Performing Arts, joins Community Focus to preview a busy fall season! Joey highlights three upcoming tribute shows…
- Community Focus
09-24-25 Community Focus- The Center
Darcy Walkowiak, Executive Director of The Center in Brainerd, joins to preview several upcoming events. Darcy shares details on the Ageless Expo, the Fall…
- Community Focus
09-23-26 Community Focus- Vacationland Figure Skating Club
Laura Cook, President of the Vacationland Figure Skating Club, and VFSC Coach Mackenzie Papillon-Renford join Community Focus to unveil details for the club’s…
- Community Focus
The Trio is Back, Loonfest Updates and Flying First Class
Is flying first class really worth the upgrade? Plus, Janet is getting ready to go under the knife, and if your budget could use a little trimming too, BBay…
- Community Focus
09-22-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Matt Kilian, President of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, and Ali Beste, Marketing & Programs Manager, join to highlight two Chamber initiatives. Matt discusses…
- Community Focus
09-21-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Public Schools
Brainerd Activities Director Jack Freeman joins Student Council President Presley Glynn and Vice President Nolan Jendro to preview Brainerd Homecoming Week!…
- Community Focus
09-18-26 Community Focus- Pequot Lakes Okbobberfest
Julie Meister, Pequot Lakes Deputy Clerk, Mayor Tyler Gardner and Joe Klatt, co-owner of Snarky Loon Brewing Company, join to preview the inaugural…
- Community Focus
09-17-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing Energized
Kelli Johnson, SHIP Health Educator with Crow Wing County Public Health and Crow Wing Energized, along with Talia Brodhead, Community Engagement Manager and…
- Community Focus
09-16-26 Community Focus- Bridges of Hope
Tedi Russell, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager at Bridges of Hope, joins Community Focus to highlight several ways the organization is helping local…
- Community Focus
09-15-26 Community Focus- Crosslake Chamber
Crosslake Chamber of Commerce members Heather Jones and Brittany Rohwer talk about the upcoming Crosslake Days celebration. The event showcases the businesses…
- Community Focus
09-10-26 Community Focus- Coats for Kids
Tiffany Stenglein, Coats for Kids Coordinator with the Brainerd Family YMCA, and Carla Bahr, owner of Anderson Cleaners, join Community Focus to preview the…
- Community Focus
09-14-26 Community Focus- City of Brainerd
Nick Broyles, Brainerd City Administrator, visits about some grants the city received from the EDA, including a Facade Grant and another Sign Grant. He…
- Community Focus
09-11-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes ATV Club
Sheila Avenson, member of the Central Lakes ATV Club and event organizer, shares the history behind the 4th Annual 4-Wheelin’ for Kids with Cancer, happening…
- Community Focus
09-09-26 Community Focus- Camp Ripley
Tony Housey with Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs at Camp Ripley joins Community Focus to preview a historic weekend in Little Falls. The new Minnesota…
- Community Focus
09-08-26 Community Focus - Brainerd Lakes Sunrise Rotary Club
Members of the Brainerd Lakes Sunrise Rotary Club visit about their club and the upcoming Rose Sale. Her guests were Club President, Sharon Carr and the Rotary…
- Community Focus
09-04-26 Community Focus- Wild & Free
Katie Waugh, Wild & Free Wildlife Program Coordinator, joins to recap another busy summer at the nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center in Garrison. Katie…
- Community Focus
09-03-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Dr. Kim Lynch, Interim President of Central Lakes College, and Paul Priemesberger, Director of Secondary Relations, join to talk about the start of the fall…
- Community Focus
9-02-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County Veterans Service Officer Erik Flowers joins to discuss the many services available to local veterans and their families. Erik explains how the…
- Community Focus
9-01-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Faith Hamson, Marketing Coordinator with the Lakes Area United Way, joins to recap the success of this year’s Stuff-A-Bus school supply drive and the impact…
- Community Focus
08-31-26 Community Focus- Actors Repertory Theatre
Patrick Spradlin and Beth Selinger, Co-Founders of Actors Repertory Theater, chat about their upcoming performance of "Lend Me A Tenor" that will be performed…
- Community Focus
08-28-26 Community Focus- Walk to End Alzheimers
Brenda Conley, Interim Walk Manager for the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, joins to preview this year’s walk, happening Saturday, September 26 at Forestview…
- Community Focus
08-27-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Catholic Churches
Kevin Denny, Director of Development for Brainerd Catholic Churches, visits about the upcoming Run for the Son Faithful 5K/10K Walk/Run - a community event and…
- Community Focus
08-26-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area TZD
Lt. Carla Beierman & Lt. Lance Turcotte with the Minnesota State Patrol visit about the success of the B.I.R. Event over the weekend and how there were no…
- Community Focus
08-24-26 Community Focus- Regional LAC
Heather Stanley with the Regional Local Advisory Council joins Community Focus to discuss what Regional LAC is all about and the role it plays in supporting…
- Community Focus
08-21-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Public Schools Foundation
Jessica Gangl, Executive Director of the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, and Cohen Gangl, an 8th grader at Forestview Middle School, join to talk about…
- Community Focus
08-20-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing Energized
Taylor Lesmeister, Public Health Educator with Crow Wing County, joins to talk about radon and why it’s an important health concern for Minnesota homeowners…
- Community Focus
08-19-26 Community Focus- CRMC Championship
Jack Wawro, Tournament Director, and Jen Lowe, Director of the CRMC Foundation, join Community Focus to preview next week’s CRMC Championship at Cragun’s…
- Community Focus
08-18-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Sue Galligan, Director of Special Events, Brainerd Lakes Chamber about a number of upcoming Brainerd Chamber events. She highlighted the Blue Ox Leadership…
- Community Focus
08-17-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Public Schools
Chip Rankin, Superintendent of Brainerd Public Schools, joins to discuss what has been a trying first couple of months on the job and how the district is…
- Community Focus
08-14-2026- Community Focus- Crow Wing Master Gardeners
Brittany Goerges, Program Coordinator for the Crow Wing Master Gardener Program with the University of Minnesota Extension, visits about what a Master Gardener…
- Community Focus
08-13-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Family YMCA
Shane Riffle, CEO, Brainerd Family YMCA talks about current youth happenings at the YMCA. They talked about fall programs for kids and adults. They also…
- Community Focus
08-12-26 Community Focus- Sexual Assault Services
Heidi Fairchild, Executive Director of Sexual Assault Services; Brittany Bottem, Advocate and Event Coordinator; and Curt Pribnow, Criminal Justice Instructor…
- Community Focus
08-11-26 Community Focus- City of Baxter
Baxter City Administrator Brad Chapulis joins Community Focus to discuss the latest happenings around the City of Baxter. Brad recaps the primary election…
- Community Focus
08-07-26 Community Focus- Relationship Safety Alliance
Cindy Westberg, Criminal Justice Advocate, and Linai Epps, Advocate at the Louise Seliski Shelter, discuss the programs and services offered by Relationship…
- Community Focus
08-06-2026 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Erich Heppner, Dean of Staples Campuses, Central Lakes College, visits about the upcoming Fall Semester and the opening of enrollment. Erich then discussed the…
- Community Focus
08-05-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Debby Erickson, Crow Wing County Administrator, is joined by Finance Director Nancy Malecha and Business Analyst Matthew Donley to discuss the County’s Popular…
- Community Focus
08-04-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Faith Hamson, Marketing Coordinator with Lakes Area United Way, joins Community Focus to talk about the annual Stuff A Bus school supply drive in partnership…
- Community Focus
08-03-26 Community Focus- Camp Knutson
Jarod Griffin, Camp Director, Camp Knutson and Volunteer Brenda Peterson talking about the 40th annual Quilt Auction to raise money for Camp Knutson. See…