Chris Tarbox
From The Editor: The Road Goes Ever On
Photo courtesy of BigStock/Melis Even though this time of the year would normally be jam-packed with beautiful wedding celebrations, the specter of COVID-19 has made it a lot harder for couples to plan and especially execute their special day. A lot of couples have been forced to either scale down their ceremonies dramatically, or even…
From The Editor: An Appetite For Summer
Photo courtesy of BigStock/evgenyb It’s not a stretch to say that this summer is going to be a lot different than the summers we’re normally accustomed to. With the COVID-19 pandemic still at large, we need to be a lot more conscientious about maintaining proper hygiene and social distancing practices to keep ourselves and each…
Embracing Diversity, Fostering Change
Benjamin Rue is the Program Coordinator for The Forum on Workplace Inclusion at Augsburg University. Photo by Mike Hnida For 33 years, The Forum on Workplace Inclusion has been a proud, beloved Twin Cities institution, a learning and development organization that emphasizes the importance of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. As…
Heroes at Home: Jay Martin
Jay Martin is a registered flight nurse with North Memorial in helicopter emergency medical services. Photo by Ryan Coit Although many of our amazing medical professionals and first responders at home are doing all they can to combat COVID-19 in Minnesota, the broader spread of the virus is so complex and precarious that some of…
Heroes at Home: Beth Mejia
Beth Mejia is a MRI technologist in radiological services for North Memorial Health. Photo by Mike Hnida A little over a year ago, Lavender proudly featured Beth Mejia as our 2019 Pride Edition cover star. A MRI technologist in radiological services for North Memorial Health, Mejia also serves as the national vice chair for Gay…
Heroes at Home: John Cunningham
John Cunningham is the chief of the Brooklyn Park Fire Department. Photo courtesy of the City of Brooklyn Park As the chief of the Brooklyn Park Fire Department, John Cunningham has been dedicated to a life of public safety, even way back in his middle school years. “I’ve been over on the fire service for…
Success From All Walks Of Life
Before COVID-19 put a halt to group activities, 1st Lt. Foster, front, could be found in the Kuwait Aerobics tent teaching Kung Fu to his fellow deployed Soldiers. Photo by Trevor Foster, courtesy of Sgt. Sydney Mariette When discussing their coming out story, 1st Lt. Trevor Foster admits that the story’s had its highs and…
From The Editor: Pride, Equity, and Justice
After the senseless, tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, the Twin Cities have become a major focal point in an ever-continuing discussion on how endemic the evils of systemic racism and inequality are in our society. Floyd’s murder cast a worldwide spotlight on how the…
Pride and Dedication
Sgt. Garret Rombal, right, has served with 834th ASB Alpha Company since 2008. Photo courtesy of Garret Rombal For Sgt. Garret Rombal, it was a no-brainer: he was meant to serve his country. “My first thought was with the active army or Marines, but my brother convinced me to [join the National Guard] instead,” said…
U.S. Supreme Court: Civil Rights Law of 1964 Protects LGBTQ Workers
Photo courtesy of BigStock/zimmytws The Supreme Court of the United States ruled today that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits the discrimination of workers based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The 6-3 ruling on Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia and Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda, and R.G & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. v….
