Mackenzie Grubbs

In my hometown, we liked the phrase, “everyone knows everyone!” Right in the middle of farm country, my little town’s community was inherently rural-centric; this laid the foundation of my appreciation for rural living. The small, tight knit community provided a safety net over my childhood. I was walking to school by the time I was in the fourth grade, just two blocks down the street from my house. My summers were spent biking to the public library, a huge stack of books in my bike basket, just two blocks the other way. Community came naturally to our small town.

When I left home for college, I craved the experiences of big city life, full of diversity, growth, and opportunity. Living in the Twin Cities area for over five years helped me to understand the paths I wanted to pursue in life, and the places I wanted to live. I appreciate the time I had in a city setting, but now, having found my way back to rural living, I want to help foster the same diversity, growth, and opportunity that I once sought out separately from rural life, right here.

My husband and I, along with our young children, relocated to the Iron Range without a single connection to the area. Despite this, we have been met with nothing but warmth and hospitality. I feel fortunate to be able to give my children the opportunity to experience all the wonderful benefits of rural living, especially when the local communities are focused on providing the best resources that they can, to as many people as they can.

I never expected that my passion for writing and storytelling would lead me to marketing and communications, but after spending time in these roles, it’s clear how important well-crafted narratives are to an organization’s goals and missions. Before finding my way to the Blandin Foundation, I worked in higher education, sharing the stories of students, alumni, and partners to communities both locally and globally. Connecting with people and making a positive impact through my work has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career, and I look forward to the work I’ll be doing with the Advocacy Team here at the Blandin Foundation. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there’s always a story to tell.