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
04-27-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing Master Gardeners
Brittany Goerges, Program Coordinator for the Crow Wing Master Gardener Program with the University of MN Extension came together to discuss the Gardening 101…
- Community Focus
04-24-26 Community Focus- Wild and Free
Katie Waugh, Wildlife Program Coordinator with Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation, joins us to talk about one of their busiest times of year-baby season…
- Community Focus
04-23-26 Community Focus- Bridges of Hope
Jana Shogren, Executive Director of Bridges of Hope, and Tedi Russell, Marketing & Community Engagement Manager, shared an exciting update on the recent…
- Community Focus
04-22-26 Community Focus- Smiles For Jake
Smiles for Jake Executive Director Sarah Smith and Program Coordinator & Board Member Mike Schmidt join the program to share the latest efforts in mental…
- Community Focus
04-21-2026 Community Focus - Crosslake Cares
Guest is John Bruder, Founder, President & Board Chair of Crosslake Cares See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Community Focus
04-20-2026 Community Focus - ISD 181
Guests are AnnMarie Lacher, Community Education Director and Kristin Schaffhauser, ECFE Teacher See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California…
- Community Focus
04-17-26 Community Focus- The Center
Darcy Walcowiak, Executive Director at The Center, joins Community Focus to highlight several upcoming events and opportunities to get involved. She previews…
- Community Focus
04-16-26 Community Focus- BLADE
Talia Brodhead, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Minnesota Prevention and Recovery Alliance and Program Coordinator for the BLADE Coalition, joins to…
- Community Focus
04-15-26 Community Focus- Northland Arboretum
Trevor Pumnea, Executive Director, Northland Arboretum, to talk about the many activities and classes available at the Arboretum. Trevor also did a winter…
- Community Focus
04-14-26 Community Focus- City of Baxter
Brad Chapulis, Baxter City Administrator, joins to discuss the latest developments on the Highway 371/210 overpass project. Brad expands on other road, new…
- Community Focus
04-13-26 Community Focus- City of Brainerd
Brainerd Public Utilities Director Paul Sandy and City Administrator Nick Broyles join to discuss the city’s upcoming wastewater treatment facility needs and a…
- Community Focus
04-10-26 Community Focus- Legacy Chorale of Greater MN
Guest Kennedy Niska, Executive Director, Legacy Chorale of Greater MN, joins to preview the April 27th presentation of Alzheimer’s Stories from Legacy Chorale…
- Community Focus
04-09-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Family YMCA
Shane Riffle, CEO of the Brainerd Family YMCA, joins us to recap the success of the 2026 Taste of the Lakes event and the impact it continues to have on the…
- Community Focus
04-08-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Sports Boosters
Guests Joel Clough and Nate Olson, Board Members, Brainerd Sports Boosters join us to talk about the 11th Annual Tapped and Corked happening Saturday, March…
- Community Focus
04-07-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Faith Hamson, Marketing Coordinator for Lakes Area United Way joins to recap the Brainerd Elks recent reading events at the Brainerd Public Library…
- Community Focus
04-07-26 Community Focus- Sexual Assault Services- BONUS
Heidi Fairchild, Executive Director of Sexual Assault Services, and Shelby Fitch, Lead Advocate, join to highlight Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the vital…
- Community Focus
04-06-26 Community Focus- Innovative Schools Project
Lindsay Riffle, Executive Director of ISP, Paul Drange, Chief Regional Solutions Officer at Sourcewell, and Randy Thompson, educator at Menahga High School…
- Community Focus
04-03-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity
Lori Rubin, Development Director, Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity, RuthAnn Veith, Realtor, J. Hanson Real Estate Group and Danielle Lambke, Star Dancer, talk…
- Community Focus
04-02-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Jon Aga, Associate VP of Advancement, and Sue Bremer, CLC Instructor at Central Lakes College, join Community Focus to talk about the upcoming Hats Off event…
- Community Focus
04-01-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Debby Erickson, Crow Wing County Administrator, joins to discuss the Land Services team seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the County Land…
- Community Focus
03-30-26 Community Focus- Outreach Program of Brainerd Lakes
Shawn Hanson, Executive Director of The Outreach Program, joins us to talk about how their organization is helping provide meals to families locally and across…
- Community Focus
03-27-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area Heros
Guests Isaiah Moengen, Founder and Executive Director, and Allyson Moengen, Board Secretary, stop by to share details on the upcoming Hero’s Banquet happening…
- Community Focus
03-26-2026 Community Focus- Relationship Safety Alliance
Mary Savage, Volunteer Coordinator and Facilities Manager with the Relationship Safety Alliance, along with Steph Charles, Lead Visitation Supervisor at the…
- Community Focus
03-25-2026 Community Focus- Vietnam Veterans Day
Mark Persons, Vietnam Veteran, and Webmaster, Brainerd VFW, with Buford Johnson, Vietnam Veteran, to talk about the Vietnam war, and about National Vietnam…
- Community Focus
03-24-26 Community Focus- Blue Ox Business Academy
Guests Colleen Dols, Office Manager of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, and Seanay Berghuis, founder of Talent Development Co, join the conversation to preview the…
- Community Focus
03-20-26 Community Focus-
Guest Brad Pieper, Chair of Local Organizing Committee- Hockey Day Minnesota 2027 previews the once-in-a-lifetime event coming to the Brainerd Lakes Area July…
- Community Focus
03-19-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing Energized
Crow Wing Energized representatives, Rena Bolt, Community Health Specialist, Essentia Health, and Kelli Johnson, SHIP Health Educator with Crow Wing County…
- Community Focus
03-18-26 Community Focus-
Ginger Agustinack and Lane Larson, Legendary Women of Brainerd Public Schools Committee Members, talking about the annual Legendary Women Hall of Fame…
- Community Focus
03-17-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Chamber
Sue Galligan from the Brainerd Lakes Chamber and Ashly Gilson of the Mid Minnesota Builders Association preview the upcoming Brainerd Lakes Home Show and Expo…
- Community Focus
03-16-2026 Community Focus- Brainerd Public Schools
Guests Taylor Demuth and Peter Grant stop by to talk about Future Warriors Night coming up March 25th. The event invites incoming kindergarten students and…
- Community Focus
03-13-26 Community Focus - Brainerd Freemasons
Guest is Chris Glassman, Member of Aurora Lodge See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Community Focus
03-11-2026 Community Focus- Camp Ripley
Tony Housey and First Lieutenant Colton Rossow from Camp Ripley Public Affairs stop by to discuss the installation’s goals for 2026 and provide a look back at…
- Community Focus
3-10-2026 Community Focus- Ronald McDonald House
Kelly Pederson, a Ronald McDonald House Charities mom, joins to share her family’s emotional journey as her four-year-old daughter, Lacie, undergoes multiple…
- Community Focus
03-06-2026 Community Focus - Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Minnesota
Guest is LeRoy Ailts, Brainerd Plunge Coordinator See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Community Focus
03-05-2026 Community Focus - Central Lakes College
Guests are Nick Hiesserer, Dean of Career & Technical Programs and Jon Aga, Associate Vice President of Advancement See Privacy Policy at…
- Community Focus
3-4-2026 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Guest Jory Danielson, Administrative Services Director with Crow Wing County, joins to talk about several important updates for residents. He highlights…
- Community Focus
3-3-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Guest is Faith Hamson with United Way, sharing info about their "Once Upon a Storytime" at the Brainerd Public Library. Also how to get involved in their…
- Community Focus
3-02-2026 Community Focus- Camp Knutson
Guests Jessy Eide from Moonlite Bay and Jared Griffin, Camp Director at Camp Knutson, stop by to preview the 25th Annual Ice Tee Open at Moonlite Bay. This…
- Community Focus
02-26-2026 Community Focus- Brainerd Hockey
Justin Jerve, Board Member of the Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association, stops by to talk about their upcoming “Try Hockey For Free” event happening March 3rd at…
- Community Focus
2-25-2026 Community Focus- Actors Repertory Theater
Guests Patrick Spradlin, Co-Producer, Actor and Founder of Actors Repertory Theater and Cory Johnson, Co-Director and Actress about their upcoming production…
- Community Focus
2-24-2026 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Sue Galligan, Director of Special Events with the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, joins to preview a busy stretch of networking and community events across the region…
- Community Focus
2-23-2026 Community Focus- Vacationland Figure Skating Club
Guests Michelle Gonska, Board President, and Laura Cook, Board Secretary and Show Chair, stop by to preview the 51st Annual Ice Show at the Essentia Health…
- Community Focus
02-20-2026 Community Focus - Smiles for Jake
Guest is Executive Director, Sarah Smith See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- Community Focus
2-19-2026 Community Focus- Crow Wing Energized
Guests Kelli Johnson from Crow Wing County Public Health and Kara Schaefer, Community Health Specialist with Essentia Health, join to discuss the 8th Annual…
- Community Focus
02-18-2025 Community Focus- Legacy Chorale of Greater MN
Kennedy Niska, Executive Director of the Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota, joins to preview this weekend’s highly anticipated Disney Spectacular…
- Community Focus
2-17-2026 Community Focus- Crosslake Chamber
Mallory Goerges, Crosslake Parade Committee Chair, and committee member Alisha Novak join the show to preview the 52nd Annual Crosslake St. Patrick’s Day…
- Community Focus
2-13-2026 Community Focus- Ice Fest
Becca Rugemer, Director of Marketing for IceFest, joins the show to preview this year’s highly anticipated winter celebration. She shares details on the…
- Community Focus
02-12-2026 Community Focus - Brainerd Family YMCA
Guest is CEO Shane Riffle See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Community Focus
2-11-2026 Community Focus- Stage North Theater
Gary Hirsch, Director, Wendy DeGeest, Choreographer & Costumer, and Music Director Kennedy Niska from Stage North Theater stop by to preview their upcoming…
- Community Focus
2-10-2026 Community Focus- City of Baxter
Brad Chapulis, Baxter City Administrator, joins to discuss the latest developments on the Highway 371/210 overpass project, including an important update from…
- Community Focus
2-9-2025 Community Focus- City of Brainerd
Guests are Nick Broyles, City Administrator, and Jessie Dehn, Brainerd City Engineer, discussing the upcoming Highway 210/Washington Street Reconstruction…
- Community Focus
2-6-2026 Community Focus- Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts
Ben Gordon, Director, Ally Hartwig, Stage Manager, and Amelia Heinecke, cast member and Master of Ceremonies, join the show to preview the upcoming…
- Community Focus
2-5-2026 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Dr. Hara Charlier, President of Central Lakes College – Brainerd Campus, joins to highlight February as Career and Technical Education Month and discusses the…
- Community Focus
2-4-2026 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Debby Erickson, Crow Wing County Administrator, joins with an update on plow truck hours so far this winter. She also reminds residents to update their…
- Community Focus
2-3-2026 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Guest is Faith Hamson with United Way, discussing their Partner Program grants and how local organizations can apply for funding. Faith also explains how…
- Community Focus
2-2-2026 Community Focus- Happy Dancing Turtle
Guests Quinn Swanson, Executive Director of HDT, and Michelle Hoefs, Program Coordinator at HDT, join to preview this Saturday’s Back to Basics event. With…
- Community Focus
1-30-2026 Community Focus- Lakes Area Women of Today
Guest Becky Hale joins us to preview the 11th annual Choose Your Happy event, happening Saturday, February 7th at the Brainerd American Legion. Becky shares…
- Community Focus
1-29-2026 Community Focus- VFW
Guests are Mark Persons, Vietnam Veteran and Webmaster for the Brainerd VFW, and Eusebia “Chappy” Rios, Chaplain at the Brainerd VFW, to talk about Four…
- Community Focus
1-28-2026 Community Focus- Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza
Guests are Sheena Ziegler, Event Chair, Andrey Jay, Brainerd Jaycees President, and Matt Rhoda, Co-Chair, with a full contestant rundown for the 36th Annual…
- Community Focus
1-27-2026 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Guests are Lori Scharenbroich, Athena Awards Advisory Board member, and Sarah Kinkeade, Athena Awards Committee Chair. They explain the mission and impact of…