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Living in Recovery – Working in a Culture of Alcohol

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Conversations on the Creative Economy

NOVEMBER 15, 2016 | 8-9:30 AM HOVERSTEN CHAPEL

This presentation is FREE and open to the public. GET TICKETS

Professionals in recovery often hide their recovery because of a stigma that their addiction makes them weak or untrustworthy. In reality, these professionals have proven strength and grit in the face of extreme adversity. This stigma creates barriers to career advancement and belonging. Professionals in recovery face an additional challenge when they work in careers where relationship-building among colleagues, business, and networking is often accompanied by alcohol or a “happy hour” environment.
More than 11% of full-time workers face alcohol-related issues in a given year, and employers incur a cost of approximately $1,700 a year for each employee with an untreated drug and alcohol addiction. Corporate leaders can support the health and well-being of their employees, and save money, by acknowledging the detrimental affects of a culture of alcohol within their organization. Supporting employees in recovery benefits employees as well as the companies who recognize the effects of a culture of alcohol in business.

 

Join Chris Farrell from MPR as he interviews leaders working on changing the culture of alcohol in business and eliminating the stigma faced by professionals in recovery.

 

PARKING: There are a limited number of permits for spots on surface lots at Augsburg College. Please register for the event to get a permit. A permit will be sent to you after you have registered. There is also street parking around Augsburg that is available to you.

 

Chris FarrellChris Farrell
Chris is senior economics contributor at Marketplace, American Public Media’s nationally syndicated public radio business and economic programs. He is economics commentator for Minnesota Public Radio and host of its series, Conversations on the Creative Economy. An award winning journalist, Chris is a columnist for Next Avenue and the Star Tribune and a contributor to the New York Times. His most recent book is Unretirement: How Baby Boomers are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community and the Good Life.

 

Mike Sime
Mike Sime
Mike is the President/CEO and co-owner of Rapid Packaging and Berg Bag, a national distributor of packaging materials, shipping supplies and the packaging equipment headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Rapid Packaging was the title sponsors for Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games for 15 years and also supports many other local and national charities
Mike currently serves as Chairman of Augsburg College’s StepUP Program, is on the board of trustees for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, SCSU Recovery Community, Protecting Me/Protecting You and Dalco Enterprises. He is the former chairman of The Johnson Institute.

 

William MoyersWilliam Moyers
William is a best-selling author and the Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Relations for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. He is committed to eliminating barriers to recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. From “carrying the message” about addiction, treatment and recovery, to public policy and philanthropy, Moyers brings a wealth of professional expertise and an intimate personal understanding to communities across the nation. He uses his own experiences to highlight the power of addiction and the power of recovery. Moyers is the author of Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption (2006), a memoir that became a New York Times best-seller and is now in its third printing. His book, Now What? An Insider’s Guide to Addiction and Recovery, was released October 2012 by Hazelden Publishing. Moyers has appeared on Larry King Live and Oprah and is a regular contributor to Good Morning America. As a former journalist for CNN, his work has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today and Newsweek.

 

 Warren LarsonWarren Larson

Warren is the Director of Public Affairs for Sanford Health in Bemidji.  Over the years, Larson partnered with many organizations to address health-related issues.  Larson co-founded the Beltrami Tobacco Education Awareness Movement (B-TEAM), Northern Dental Access Clinic, Celebrate Kindness Campaign, Beltrami Wellness Education for a Long Life (B-WELL), and the newly established Bemidji Face It TOGETHER Chapter.  Larson enjoys working with community partners to address health-related issues and is grateful for working in a community with incredibly talented individuals willing to take on important initiatives.

Larson is also an active member of numerous civic groups, and holds board-leadership positions with several local, regional, and state organizations.  Larson was named “Minnesota Rural Health Hero” by the Minnesota Department of Rural Health, “Trustee of the Year” by the Minnesota Hospital Association, and received the Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health by the National Rural Health Association.  In 2013, Larson was recognized as the National C-Change Champion from the National Commission on Cancer, an award given annually to one individual.  In 2016, Larson received the American Cancer Society’s St. George National Award in recognition for his distinguished service in achieving the American Cancer Society’s goals.

New MSP TechHire Scholars Program

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In Partnership with
Fairview Health Services and the City of Minneapolis

 

TechHire Scholars
Yonas Gebrekristos, Nicolas Adducci, Sara Mueller, Mohamed Sharif, Mohamed Safi Not pictured – Samira Jama

The City of Minneapolis and Fairview Health Services both identified the need to diversify the health information technology field. Funding from the City has enabled Fairview Health Services to partner with Augsburg College to create the MSP TechHire Scholars program. Augsburg students Yonas Gebrekristos, Nicolas Adducci, Sara Mueller, Mohamed Sharif, Mohamed Safi, and Samira Jama will start their semester long internships on September 19.

This partnership with Fairview and the City of Minneapolis will focus on increasing workforce diversity at Fairview and will provide access to IT jobs in the health sector to underrepresented students.

According to the Twin Cities Business Journal, 5,500 tech workers were hired in 2015 in Minnesota. Unfortunately, 20,000 openings went unfilled. With a high level of competition to hire employees with the necessarytechhire skills and education to fill tech positions and a limited amount of H1B visas to hire skilled workers from overseas, it is increasingly apparent that the Twin Cities must create new strategies for developing the future workforce. Collaborative partnerships between employers, government, and academic institutions will create a comprehensive strategy to ensure our region continues to be economically vibrant.

The Model
The pillars of the TechHire program have been carefully selected in response to the unique situation and challenge students of underrepresented communities face while in college and entering the workforce.

The pillars are:

Internship
Students are provided a paid internship by the host organization which introduces them to the Health IT field.fairview_brand_teal

Scholarship
A scholarship is provided to cover the cost of credits for the internship. Scholarships alleviate the financial burden students face by reducing the amount of student loan debt and/or the need for a paid work during the school year.

Professional Development
Many of the students enrolled in this program have little-to-no professional business experience. Nor do they have guidance on how to operate in a professional workspace. Augsburg College provides students enrolled in this program workshops on interpersonal communication, professional dress, dealing with conflict, and other topics young professionals face in the workplace.

Through current programs of a similar model 23 scholars have completed 24 separate internships; 80% of scholars have been employed in fields relevant to their degrees; students that participated in this program graduated with about $10,000 less in loan debt than the average Augsburg student.

If your organization is interested in diversifying your workforce and providing opportunities for young professionals, contact Lee George at 612-330-1629 or LGeorge@Augsburg.edu.

An Ethic of Stewardship

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President Pribbenow at Cargill

President Pribbenow gives keynote address at Cargill’s Ethics Week

Christopher Annand, Masters of Business Administration ’09 alum and Director of Global Ethics and Compliance at Cargill, created Cargill’s Ethics Week three years ago when he first joined the organization. Each year Christopher has grown the events and programs occurring throughout the week and this year invited President Pribbenow to give the keynote address to a global audience of Cargill employees.

Cargill Ethics Week is an employee celebration facilitated by the Global Ethics and Compliance department in the month of May. For a five day period, the company provides employees a series of events, communications and reflections around Cargill’s Guiding Principles, a set of seven principles that provides the foundation for the organization and its efforts across the world. In 2016, Ethics Week featured a kickoff podcast with the Chief Compliance Officer, Marcel Smits, a special Keynote Speaker address from Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow and even a short cartoon featuring the animated versions of Cargill’s cargill postercompliance leaders. Although the week has concluded, Cargill employees are reminded of the Guiding Principles on a regular basis, and this summer will welcome an updated version of the Code of Conduct in 22 different languages.

President Pribbenow’s presentation, Promises to Keep: An Ethic of Stewardship, challenged the audience to understand when “remarkable gifts and pressing needs meet each other” and how to create abundance in the face of increasing demand for efficiency. Both Augsburg and Cargill are celebrating their 150th anniversary, have a global impact, address food sustainability, and work at being good stewards. Annand said “President Pribbenow’s remarks on the role of ethics and stewardship in business clearly resonated with Cargill employees who understand the responsibilities we have with our communities at home and across the globe. Augsburg and Cargill have rich legacies in service and it was a great honor to have President Pribbenow share his observations and reflections with employees in Minneapolis and over 20 other countries.”

Cargill has been a champion for Augsburg’s mission by previously supporting the American Indian Scholarship Fund and the Minnesota Urban Debate League. Augsburg is proud of the Auggie alumni who have found a purposeful career path at Cargill and are striving to be great stewards of their remarkable gifts.

If you are interested in how your company can partner with Augsburg College contact Lee George, Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at George2@Augsburg.edu.

Corporate Sponsors Help Make Scholarship Weekend a Success

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Burton - Students

Twin Cities PBS, Wells Fargo, Mall of America, Beckman Coulter, and Lerner Publishing joined forces to present a matinee appearance by actor, director, and educator, LeVar Burton, best known as the host and producer of Reading Rainbow.

Scholarship Weekend is an annual event during which bright students from around the country visit campus to compete for Augsburg’s top scholarships. Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, prospective students met with their future classmates and professors, explored labs and classrooms, and got a brief taste of life as an Auggie.

In his opening remarks, President Paul Pribbenow thanked the sponsors for making it possible for over 500 high school students to attend a special appearance by Mr. Burton.

In an hour-long address, Burton covered a wide range of topics ranging from literacy and technology to youth development and mentorship. Burton urged attendees to consider the role of reading and creativity in the process of innovation and career development. He also quoted Jazz singer Dianne Reeves, saying “Be Still. Stand in love. And pay attention.”

In addition to attending Burton’s keynote address, sponsor representatives also took part in a special VIP Educator’s Brunch, toured a student research poster show, and learned about Augsburg’s River Semester – the nation’s first ever college semester taught entirely on the Mississippi River.

To learn about other sponsorship opportunities at Augsburg College, please contact Jay Peterson, Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, at 612 330-1592.

U.S. Bank Veterans’ Lounge Continues to Bring Auggie Vets Together

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A year after it opened, the U.S. Bank Veterans’ Lounge continues to be an important part of the educational journey of Augsburg student vets and has become a quiet respite for the College’s community of veterans.

“Many of our students are commuters, here for long days and on evenings and weekends, so the lounge becomes ‘home base’ when they are on campus,” said Lori York, Augsburg’s School Certifying Official. York also serves as liaison between current and prospective students and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dave Adams, a student in Augsburg’s Masters of Business Administration program, is grateful for the camaraderie and comfort the lounge provides.

“My crew, the group of four who all came together from the same National Guard unit, love the lounge,” Adams said. “It gives us a great place to meet before class and compare notes, as well as a quiet place to go when we have small group breakout sessions.”

Adams also acknowledged his appreciation for the treats–gifts from Augsburg staff members–that often appear in the lounge.

“I was truly dragging when I got to school yesterday. Walking into the lounge to meet the other guys and seeing cookies was just a nice surprise and a simple touch, but it did make a difference in the night.”

But the U.S. Bank Veterans’ Lounge, located in the Oren Gateway Center, is more than just a getaway. It’s also come to represent the connections and community of veterans who are all pursuing their next call.

“When I drop in at the Veterans’ Lounge, I see students meeting each other, sharing their past experiences,” said York. “Today when I stopped by, a student who is in his last semester here was greeting a new student and welcoming him to campus. They immediately jumped into a conversation about their time in the military, where they’ve served, when they got out. These students gravitate toward one another and they gravitate toward the lounge to find their comrades. The lounge is key to building and keeping this community at Augsburg.”

The connection between student vets and U.S. Bank, recognized as a top corporate supporter of veterans and military families, doesn’t end there.

Andy Norgard, pictured above (rear), is one of several Auggies to complete internships at U.S. Bank in recent years. A former member of the Marine Corps and Augsburg’s Student Veteran Representative, Norgard completed a Financial Analyst internship at U.S. Bank last summer and has recently been offered a job at McGladrey, one of the nation’s top accounting firms.

For the second consecutive year, Augsburg was named a Military Friendly® School, a list which is compiled through extensive research and a free, data-driven survey of more than 10,000 VA-approved schools nationwide. Military Friendly Schools have gone above and beyond to provide transitioning veterans the best possible experience in higher education. As of fall 2015, there were nearly 120 active members and military veterans attending Augsburg, a notable number for an institution of Augsburg’s size. The College graduated more than 20 military veterans this past spring and summer.

We are proud to partner with U.S. Bank in its continued support of veterans in both higher education and business.

Augsburg Awarded $447,986 Career Ready Internship Grant from Great Lakes

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Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work

With a three-year Career Ready Internship Grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, Augsburg College will create over 220 new paid internships during the 2015-2018 academic years.

Augsburg was one of 33 colleges and universities in Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin that received a combined $12 million in Great Lakes grants to make internships more equitable for their students with financial need. The college was awarded $447,986.00, which will be allocated toward student internship wages, transportation, and administrative support.

Augsburg’s Strommen Center for Meaningful Work will collaborate with businesses and nonprofit organizations to create new opportunities for paid internships. “Over the course of this three-year grant, Augsburg will have an opportunity to build relationships with dozens of employers in the Twin Cities metro area,” said Keith Munson, Director of the Strommen Center. “Those relationships will benefit the college and our students for years to come.”

[Click here to watch: Internship Stories from the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work]

This is the second Career Ready Internship grant Augsburg has received. A 2014 grant of $150,000 created nearly 60 paid internships for students with financial need.

Munson credits the success of the first grant to the formation of a cross-campus implementation team. The Strommen Center worked with staff and faculty from Business Administration, STEM Programs, Sabo Center for Citizenship and Democracy, Masters in Business Administration, Graduate Admissions, Alumni Relations, Corporate and Foundation Relations, and the Office of Institutional Advancement to identify prospective employers.

“Paid internships benefit students, colleges, and employers,” said Richard D. George, Great Lakes President and Chief Executive Officer. “Students gain meaningful workplace skills and are more likely to earn degrees and use their internship experiences to help secure good jobs upon graduation. Colleges will see increased completion and job placement rates, and employers gain a pipeline to fresh talent. It’s a win-win-win.”

“I am delighted that Great Lakes shares our values with regard to experiential education,” said President Paul Pribbenow. “The Strommen Center plays an integral role in students’ overall education and helps to prepare them to make meaningful contributions to our communities. Our partnership with Great Lakes makes an enormous difference for our students.”

After three months of administrative planning, employer outreach, and student recruitment, staff will begin placing eligible juniors and seniors in paid internships in January 2016. The Great Lakes grant period continues through May 2018.

To learn more about internships at Augsburg College, please click here to visit the Strommen Center website. 

Photos above were taken at Augsburg’s Fall Career and Internship Fair in September. For more photos, click here to visit our Flickr page.

Increased Participation at the 3rd Annual Mayor’s Debate Challenge

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MNUDL Mayor's Challenge 1
Participating students and judges: Mayor Chris Coleman, Christopher Oquist (Roosevelt High School), Angela Arikyu (Como Park Sr.), Ash Farah (South High School), Dwight Smith (Washington Technology Magnet), Barb Schmitt (Microsoft), and Donald Lewis (Nilan Johnson Lewis).
MNUDL Mayor's Challenge 2
Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Michael Goar and District Counsel Steve Liss meet Don Lewis of Nilan Johnson Lewis.
MNUDL Mayor's Challenge 3
Dean Eyler of Gray Plant Mooty, Chairman of MNUDL’s Advisory Board, gave the introduction at the event.

 

On Wednesday May 13th, Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) held its third annual Mayor’s Debate Challenge. This year, Christopher Oquist (Roosevelt High School) and Ash Farah (South High School) represented Minneapolis Public Schools and debated against Angela Arikyu (Como Park Sr. High) and Dwight Smith (Washington Technology Magnet) who represented Saint Paul Public Schools.

The four debated on the topic of containing or eliminating the spread of invasive species in Minnesota lakes and waterways. Each presented an informative and sometimes humorous case. Although both teams presented thorough research and strong arguments persuading the affirmative and the negative, two out of three judges voted the negative the winner. (Mayor Coleman very diplomatically declared a tie.)

Don Lewis, of Nilan Lewis Johnson, shared his thoughts on the individual strengths and personalities of each debater.  Lewis shared, “Ash, you were the most quiet of all the debaters, but by using thoughtful pauses, you were the easiest to listen to. The pauses allowed the listener to follow your arguments without straining.”

These bright students were an inspiration to the 150 people who attended the annual event.  As active citizens who advocate for themselves and their communities, we are confident these young people will lead us well into the future.

THANK YOU to the following businesses and individuals for sponsoring the 2015 Mayor’s Challenge:

Changemaker Sponsors:  UnitedHealth Group, Gustafson Glueck PLLC, Nicols Kaster, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, and Microsoft.

Table Sponsors: Kristin Cronin-Cole, George Dow, Jerry & Sandy Eyler, Sarah Fossen, Fasail Hadi & Veena Iyer, Nick Khatri & Family, Aaron Klemz, Meg Luger-Nikolai & Pete Nikolai, Ashwin Madia, Joseph Musilek, Mark Raderstorf, Heather Riddle, Linnea Solom, Alex Thiele, Deluxe Corporation, Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP, Fagre Baker Daniels LLP, Gray Plant Mooty, Greene Espel PLLP, Merchant & Gould, Nilan Johnson Lewis PA, University of Minnesota Communications Dept., and Zimmerman Reed Attorneys.

We’d also like to the thank the following corporations and foundations for supporting MNUDL’s operations and programs: Carolyn Foundation, The Donaldson Foundation, Social Venture Partners Minnesota, Dorsey & Whitney Foundation, Arthur N. Rupe Foundation, H.B. Fuller Company, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation, and The Saint Paul Foundation.

 

Corporate and Foundation Partners Help Bring Peacemakers and Peacebuilders Together at the 27th Nobel Peace Prize Forum

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Under the auspices of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum inspires peacemaking by focusing on the work of Nobel Peace Prize laureates and important international peacemakers and peace builders. For more than 27 years, the Forum has been one of only three programs officially associated with the Norwegian Nobel Institute.

The 27th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum took place March 6th, 7th, and 8th at the Radisson Blu in downtown Minneapolis. Speakers included:

Honored Laureate U.S. President Jimmy Carter 
Gro Harlem Brundtland, Deputy Chair of The Elders and Former Prime Minister of Norway
Monica McWilliams, former Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and signatory to the Good Friday Agreement.
Honored Laureate the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, represented by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü
Adama Dieng, the United Nation’s special adviser on prevention of genocide,
Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye of Kaduna, Nigeria
Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of our Nature
Sanam Anderlini, co-founder of the International Civil Society Action Network
Roxanne Mankin Cason, CEO of the Cason Family Foundation
Ingrid Stange, founder of Partnership for Change

As proud host of the Forum, Augsburg College helped bring together a wide range of corporate and foundation sponsors and academic partners.

The Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Augsburg College are grateful to our partners, donors and supporters for making this important international peacebuilding opportunity possible. We are proud to thank:

Dialogue Sponsors:  University of Minnesota (Humphrey School of Public Affairs, School of Public Health; College of Biological Sciences); Medtronic; Bush Foundation; University of Minnesota Health

Youth Forum Sponsor:  Youthrive

Media Sponsor:  Minnesota Public Radio

Peace builder Sponsors:  El-Hibri Foundation; University of St. Thomas; Pacific Lutheran University

Delegate Sponsors:  University of California, Sacramento, Sanford Health; Robins Kaplan LLP; Augustana College; St. Cloud State University; Smaby Family Foundation; Winds of Peace, Robert H. Bruininks, and McGough Construction.

To learn more about the Forum, please visit nobelpeaceprizeforum.org.

For information on sponsorship opportunities for 2016, please contact Amanda Scherer at 612-330-1720, or scherera@augsburg.edu

Celebrating Five Years of Partnership with Travelers EDGE

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trav_1797+K_300dpi_largeThis year, Augsburg College received our fifth award for the Travelers EDGE internship program. The Travelers EDGE, $115,000 grant award, is allocated for the Travelers EDGE partnership, a comprehensive college readiness, career awareness, and college success program for low-income, first-generation students of St. Paul Public Schools.  Students must remain in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.5, demonstrate financial need, and express an interest in exploring careers in business, financial services, economics, computer science, and related fields.

Student Reflections:

  • “As an EDGE scholar, I was able to meet some great people and expand my network by making connections with individuals I would have probably never gotten the chance to meet if I wasn’t a part of this amazing program.”
  • “In terms of personal growth, I feel like I am more confident in presenting myself to people.  I know what my strengths are and I can talk about it to other professionals and potential employers.  I am meeting people that I may potentially work for one day and that to me is exciting.”

Program Overview

The program seeks to increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to college, help them to graduate, and build awareness of careers in the insurance and financial services industry. Janet Morales, manager of College Access Partnerships coaches the students, facilitates financial literacy programming with the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work, and coordinates mentorships with Travelers employees. Five students participate in the program per year, which also includes the opportunity to apply for competitive Travelers internships in St. Paul, MN and Hartford, CT.  Annually, one student per year has been offered a position post graduation.

Five Year Celebration in April

Travelers’ support, partnership and engagement with Augsburg College has been a tremendous asset and a true demonstration of a strong corporate and academic collaboration. Mike Newman, Travelers Vice President of Community Relations, is a champion for Augsburg College and cares deeply about student success. To honor this long partnership, Augsburg Corporate and Foundation Relations and the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work is hosting a celebration for Travelers and an opportunity to share this model with other corporations in the region.  April 7, we are inviting corporate recruiters, internship managers, faculty, and students currently in the program to celebrate and discuss the future of workforce development in Minnesota.

If you are a representative at a local corporation, please email scherera@augsburg.edu if you would like to know more.

THANK YOU, TRAVELERS EDGE!

Sponsors Help Build Interest in STEM Majors and Meet Bill Nye Too!

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Beckman and Bill

Bill Nye made a special Valentine’s Day appearance at Augsburg College to proclaim his love for science.

Known to most of us for his television program Bill Nye “The Science Guy”, for which he has won 18 Emmy awards, Nye now has a day job as the CEO of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest non-governmental space interest organization. He is the author of many books for young readers, as well as the recent bestseller Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation. 

Nye, one of the world’s most sought after speakers on the topic of climate change and the environment, was invited to campus to urge young people to pursue STEM disciplines and to use science to change the world.

The event was part of Scholarship Weekend, a time when bright students from around the country visit campus to vie for the institution’s top scholarships.  Saturday morning’s activities, which also included a VIP breakfast and a student research poster show, was sponsored by Beckman Coulter, Lerner Publishing, and Microsoft.

In his opening address, President Paul Pribbenow thanked the sponsors for making it possible for over 700 high school students with an interest in the STEM fields to visit campus and attend Nye’s keynote presentation. The total attendance for the sold-out event was nearly 2,000.

“The young people in this room,” continued Pribbenow, “both current students and prospective ones, are here because they believe that science can save the world, and that through scientific experiment and experiential education they themselves can save the world.”

Thanks to Beckman Coulter, Lerner Publishing, and Microsoft for being a part of this amazing event!

Click here to WCCO (CBS) coverage of the event.