June 23, 2021
Bridging Divides: The Power of Local Leadership
Sponsor

SDG Alignment

Dave Durenberger, Lori Sturdevant, and Ben Schierer discuss Minnesota’s political history of bridging divides and the lessons we might apply to today’s challenges.
About the Panelists

Dave Durenberger
Dave was born, raised, and educated on the campus of St John’s University, served in US Army, graduated with a law degree from UMN, joined Harold Le Vander in his firm and his chief of staff as Governor and then former Governor Elmer L. Andersen at H B Fuller. After retiring from the USS he spent 19 years on faculty at the University of St Thomas and created its National Institute of Health Policy. Now retired Dave and his wife Susan live in St. Paul and also in San Rafael, CA

Lori Sturdevant
A native of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, Sturdevant is the author, co-author or editor of 12 books and a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award. She and her husband Martin Vos live in St. Paul.

Ben Schierer
Ben and his wife, Tessa, along with their five children own and operate Union Pizza & Brewing Company and Tōast in downtown Fergus Falls. He graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1992 and from Metropolitan State University in May of 2020.
Ben served as Co-chair for candidate Tim Walz’s Community Prosperity Council and on Governor-elect Walz’s and Lt. Governor-elect Flanagan’s transition advisory committee. He was selected as a 2020-2021 Bush Fellow and is currently a MPA candidate at the Humphrey Institute.

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