Community brainstorming session: making ends meet in Grand Forks A community brainstorming, dessert and discussion, "Making Ends Meet in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks," will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Grand Forks Herald Community Room. Child care will be provided by the Y Family Center. Recently, NVNO, a collaboration of nonprofit organizations in the Northern Red River Valley, released a report that discussed the difficulties many families in our region are having in “making ends meet.” The report was authored by Carenlee Barkdull, assistant professor of social work. The content of the report has generated much discussion in the press, at social gatherings, and over coffee with neighbors. Please join us as we continue the discussion. We invite you to help further identify the issues, and most importantly, discuss potential solutions that will help make our community the best place to live and work. Teresa Morrow from the Bremer Financial Corporation will facilitate our discussion as we explore ways to increase home ownership, help families afford child care and after school programs, as well as explore what we can do locally about health care costs. For more information or questions, contact Pat Berger, president of United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and area at 775-8661. -- Carenlee Barkdull, Assistant Professor, Social Work, carenleebarkdull@mail.und.edu, 777-3770