I developed a fondness for news at a young age. This led to me aspiring to be a broadcast journalist. During college, I was an intern at WISN New Channel 12. I absolutely loved the hustle and bustle of the newsroom. My life circumstances didn’t allow me the opportunity to pursue my dream job. Instead, my first job out of college was as a health educator for a Milwaukee nonprofit organization.  This led me to many years of working in the non-profit sector. I also worked on the executive team of a Mayor and as the first communications officer for the local health department. 

My career path always included me utilizing my communications degree and expertise. I’m still a self-proclaimed news junkie, I believe that having factual and updated information allows us to make well-informed decisions. It is interesting how we have full-circle moments in our lives. I wasn’t able to become a broadcast journalist, but now I host LinkedIn Live shows. I enjoy the process of doing the research for each episode as well as all of the pre and post-production work. I’m not actually in a news studio or at a fancy news desk, but I’m able to empower my viewers with timely information. I guess dreams do come true! 

Editor’s Note: In 2010, the Fargo-Moorhead Rotary Foundation, which is supported by five Rotary clubs in the Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, USA, area, raised 100 percent of the funds needed to build a Miracle Field in Moorhead. Keith Brokke shares how they were able to make an impact with their project.

By Keith Brokke, past governor of District 5580 (Minnesota, North Dakota, USA) and a member of the Rotary Club of Fargo-Moorhead AM

In the spring of 2010, a Rotary member came to us with the idea to build a Miracle Field, a special field with a rubberized, barrier-free turf that allows children with disabilities to play baseball safely. We had previously built a universal playground five years before in Fargo to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Rotary. We felt a Miracle Field was a good fit for our Fargo-Moorhead Rotary Foundation.

Since we had worked successfully with the Fargo Park District in the earlier project, we decided to approach the Moorhead Parks & Recreation department for the Miracle Field. We knew that it is important early in the planning process to design a project for results. Part of a well-planned project is working closely with partners who also have a stake in the outcome. We learned that the Moorhead Parks and Recreation department had already done a needs assessment and wanted to build a Miracle Field, but faced budget constraints. They were ecstatic when the Fargo-Moorhead Foundation offered to build the field.

Part of a well-planned project is working closely with partners who also have a stake in the outcome.

Back in 2005, the Fargo park district had promised to finance our universal playground interest-free and provide maintenance if we raised all the funds to build it. We got a similar agreement with Moorhead. We were able to raise 90 percent of the $254,000 total needed by June 2010.