MOORHEAD — When day breaks at Churches United for the Homeless, its CEO is busy helping lay out breakfast for guests at Micah’s Mission — a shelter for homeless men, women and families — and tidying up before the hustle and bustle of the day sweeps him away. For stepping up to save the 37-year-old nonprofit from crumbling this summer, and for all the long days since, Pastor Devlyn Brooks is The Forum's 2024 Area Person of the Year. “Up until now, I really hadn’t stopped to kind of look back and reflect” on the last few months, Brooks told The Forum. “It’s kind of the stuff of movies, to a certain degree, and to have been on the inside of that, it’s fairly indescribable.” Churches United’s plight was brought to light in August when newly hired Brooks told the public the organization needed to raise $200,000 by the end of the month to keep its doors open. The nonprofit saw unprecedented financial struggles in the last few years due to a drop in donations and a rise in costs following the COVID-19 pandemic. In October, Churches United laid off 20% of their staff to stay open, and by November, the nonprofit once again sought $200,000 to avoid closure. With their monthly budget sliced down to $125,000, Churches United continues raising money to make it through while holding out hope that longer-term salvation will arrive in the form of state funding in July 2025. From his first day, when he had to tell the nonprofit’s staff they might not get paid that week, to now, when a glimmer of hope is visible on the horizon, Brooks has been a champion for Churches United and staved off the tidal wave of harm its closing would cause. However, Brooks is quick to credit the hundreds who rallied around Churches United when they pleaded for help to keep the doors open and people in the metro fed, sheltered and cared for. “The community saved Churches United,” Brooks said. In the last five months, over 1,400 people gave what they could spare to keep Churches United afloat, he said, and volunteers flooded into their emergency shelter and food pantry. “It has been a miraculous outpouring of support saying that we believe the work that Churches United does is vital,” Brooks said. “And that’s done a whole lot to boost the morale of the folks here.” The most visible part of Churches United’s operation is the emergency shelter, community room and case management offices at 1901 First Ave. N. in Moorhead, but the nonprofit also helps feed people at emergency pantries and provides housing for people transitioning from shelters to independent living. Come July, the organization hopes to receive $900,000 annually from the state for two years, Brooks said, which means they would only have to raise half their operating budget from private donations instead of 80%, as they were when he started. “We need people to understand that, while we’re not in crisis, we’re not fixed,” Brooks said. Those looking to donate can visit churches-united.org/donate and readers wishing to volunteer can sign up at churches-united.org/volunteer. For Churches United Board President Jess Spieker Ferden, it’s fitting that Brooks is the Forum Area Person of the Year. “I can’t think of anybody that is more deserving of this,” Spieker Ferden said. “He is an absolutely amazing man. We are so grateful to have him as part of our team.” From the moment he started as interim CEO in August, Brooks had a plan and a magnetic confidence that drew the board, staff, guests and community together with a singular mission: save Churches United. "He is larger than life. He is just a really fantastic, upbeat, loud person. He is an incredible leader,” Spieker Ferden said. In early August, when Churches United teetered on the brink of closure, a guest approached Brooks and offered him all the money she had to help keep the doors open, Spieker Ferden said. “Here is somebody who needs the shelter and was willing to give up what little she had to ensure that it can still operate,” she said. That action was echoed by the community, which stepped up to keep Churches United open multiple times this year. Likewise, the staff at Churches United began shouldering more responsibility when the nonprofit was forced to make layoffs. “I can't show enough gratitude, love and respect for the Churches United staff," Spieker Ferden said. "They trusted Pastor Devlyn from the get-go.” Brooks was instrumental in saving Churches United, she said. “I don’t know that we would have ever found anybody who is as crazy as he is or as passionate about our mission as he is. Really, who is going to come aboard what everybody thought was a sinking ship?” Spieker Ferden said. Brooks’ life was shaped by the severe poverty and food scarcity he experienced growing up in Crookston, Minnesota. He was raised alongside his eight older siblings in a home that went years without running water. His mother drew them a bath in the yard each Saturday, and the family relied on an outhouse. There were limited resources for his hardworking and loving mother to draw on, he said, with no food pantry or homeless shelter around to turn to for help. Brooks studied hard and earned a grant for first-generation college students. He attended Bemidji State University, where he fell in love with writing and kicked off a prolific career in journalism that spanned 30 years: first as a reporter, then editor, manager and more. Brooks is currently a faith columnist for Forum Communications Company. He was drawn to pastoral work and began to serve at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minnesota, in 2017. All those experiences prepared him for his current calling at Churches United. “I’m very grateful for that, and I see very much of the Holy Spirit in that path,” Brooks said. Ultimately, it was the support of his family and church community this year that allowed him to step up for Churches United, he said. No matter where life takes him, Brooks can rely on his wife and children for support and encouragement, he said, even through hard times. His family lost several loved ones in the last five years, he said, and his work frequently demanded much of his time between full-time jobs, seminary studies, pastoral work and now Churches United. “For any profession where you’re called to serve, if you don’t have the people standing around you, you’re not successful,” Brooks said. “I know a lot of times the community sees me out in front of a television camera, or me at an event, but they don’t see (my wife) Shelley, who’s picking up the pieces in our family behind the scenes.” It takes a lot for a small congregation to share their pastor with an organization that needs as much time as Churches United, he said, but Faith Lutheran didn’t hesitate to send him where his help was most needed. “I still believe that was very courageous,” Brooks said. “That’s made all the world of difference. I couldn’t have been doing what I’ve been doing here if our church wouldn’t have done that. And I’m extremely grateful.” In addition to Sunday sermons, Brooks spends 12 to 18 hours a day laboring for the benefit of Churches United and the people it serves. “The staff here still tease me about having the longest first day ever because, to some degree, that first day hasn't ended yet,” Brooks said. “Honestly, it’s been a roller coaster. It’s been like standing inside of a tornado.” Churches United was in crisis when he arrived. As such, the shelter and guests hadn’t been cared for as well as they could be, the staff was burnt out and relationships were frayed. His team worked to rebuild relationships in the community, beat the bushes for funders and organized their internal structure to prevent the daily implosions that were all too common before. Hope now grows in every corner of the organization, he said, in response to the community’s swell of support and the renewed partnerships across the metro. The bills are getting paid again, and they are no longer being hounded by vendors for overdue payments. They have enough money to fully stock up on toilet paper again. "When you’re in crisis, you don’t start to talk about the future," Brooks said. "Now we’re talking about the future which is, I think, amazing. We have money in our operating account on a regular basis when the week ends. ... We haven’t used our credit line now in several weeks, and so we actually have cash on hand at the end of the week. And the last time that happened was more than two years ago.” Staff are once again proud to say they work at Churches United, he said, and guests are taking more pride in their stays and pitching in to help fix things and keep the place clean. This change in fortune is a testament to the power of saying yes, Brooks said. It’s become acceptable, even expected, in our culture to say no when called upon to help, he said. “It’s very easy to say no, I don’t want to give any more money. It’s very easy to say no, I don’t want to give more time. I don’t want to serve on a board. I don’t want to go serve a meal," Brooks said. “I think our communities suffer because of that. And so I’ve tried to live in this model of saying yes. "I think we’re a pretty good example of what happens when you say yes." When they hired Brooks, Churches United needed a leader who would go out and talk to “anyone who would listen” about their work and the urgency of their financial situation, Compliance Officer Ginny Stoe told The Forum. Brooks hit the ground running and has hardly stopped since. “His first couple of months, I'm not sure the man even slept,” Stoe said. She knew Brooks deeply understood the vital role of Churches United and the devastating impact its closure would have. “If we had to close our doors, that would have been a catastrophic loss to the people we serve," Stoe said. “It could have been really deadly, especially this time of year.” He hasn’t slowed down, Stoe said. Brooks rallied the leadership team, energized the staff and revitalized the volunteer base. “Devlyn is such a blessing to Churches United,” Stoe said. “He is a man that uplifts other people, especially our guests and our staff. He is quick to jump in and help or offer a friendly hello.” His infectious enthusiasm, paired with a smirk that “lights up a room,” has kept Churches United open, made the staff hopeful and supported a community that cares for neighbors going through hard times. “He is the man of the year. He could have easily come in and really assessed the situation and said, 'You know what? It's too dire.' But he didn’t, not once,” Stoe said. “The man is just really selfless. He walked into a situation that not many people would, but he came in and he said 'I'm all in.'” 2023: Jake Wallin, Zachary Robinson, Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, Fargo police officers who faced and stopped a potential mass shooter 2022: Nyamal Dei, Fargo School Board member 2021: Dorothy "Dot" Henke, founder of national snack brand Dot's Homestyle Pretzels 2020: Essential workers 2019: Matt Cullen, retired NHL player and local philanthropist 2018: U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer 2017: Carson Wentz, an NFL quarterback 2016: Gov. Doug Burgum, tech mogul, real estate developer and millionaire philanthropist 2015: Jessica Thomasson, CEO of Lutheran Social Services 2014: Sherrie Skuza, widow of Fargo police Lt. Jeff Skuza 2013: Craig Bohl, former North Dakota State University football coach 2012: U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp 2011: David Berg, American Crystal Sugar CEO 2010: Denny Sanford, benefactor of Sanford Health 2009: Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker 2008: Fargo-Moorhead youth for their volunteer efforts 2007: Tracy Briggs, former WDAY radio personality, organizer of World War II Honor Flights 2006: Joseph Chapman, then president of North Dakota State UniversityThe first mission Born on August 1, 1944 in Koltubanovskiy village in Orenburg Oblast, Soviet Union, Yuri Romanenko was the son of a senior commander on military ships (father) and a combat medic. He did some of his schooling in Kaliningrad after his family moved there, and counted hunting and underwater fishing among his hobbies. Following a brief stint doing odd jobs, he joined the Chernigov High Air Force School in what is now Ukraine in 1962. He graduated with honours in 1966 and stayed on to train students, while fine-tuning himself for the demands of a cosmonaut. By 1970, he was cleared and ready for space flights. It was another seven years before Romanenko had his first experience of space. As the flight commander on Soyuz 26, Romanenko, along with engineer Georgi Grechko, was launched to space on December 10, 1977. During their 96 days in orbit, they met with Soyuz 27, Soyuz 28, and Progress 1. Yuri Romanenko (left) and Georgi Grechko. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES In his first mission, Romanenko performed a space walk for an hour-and-a-half. Leading up to this, there was a moment when Romanenko had pushed against the wall and flew outside, but without harnessing himself to the safety cord. Grechko grabbed hold of him to ensure he didn’t leave the space station, but Romanenko would have nevertheless not floated away because of the electrical cables that were attached still. Grechko joked about the whole accident when the duo met the press, going as far as saying that Romanenko was on the verge of death. Cuban connection Romanenko’s second space mission began on September 18, 1980 when he was part of a historic flight aboard Soyuz 38 alongside Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez. This flight was special as Mendez was not only the first Cuban cosmonaut and the first Latin American to fly into space, but also the first person of African descent to make a space-bound journey. Over seven days, the duo completed 124 orbits around the Earth, while conducting science and health experiments. A total of nine experiments were performed, including those that studied stress, blood circulation, immunity, balance, and the growth of a single crystal of sucrose in weightlessness. The two returned to Earth on September 26. Mendez and Romanenko talking with Pilot-cosmonaut of USSR Georgi Dghalabov (left). | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives Following his retirement in 1988, Romanenko and his family were invited to Cuba. Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro – the country’s President at that time – not only personally met Romanenko, but also organised a social tour that accommodated Romanenko’s interests in underwater fishing and hunting. 326 days in space Romanenko’s third and final voyage to space was his longest. In fact, it wasn’t just his longest, but the longest there had been until then! Lasting from February to December 1987, the Mir EO-2 expedition – also called the Mir Principal Expedition 2 – was the second long duration expedition to the Soviet space station Mir. Launched aboard a Soyuz TM-2 along with Aleksandr Laveykin on February 6, 1987, Romanenko returned to Earth aboard a Soyuz TM-3 on December 29 – after 326 days in space! Yuri Romanenko | Photo Credit: “Роскосмос” or “GCTC” or “РКК Энергия” / Wikimedia Commons During this stay, Romanenko performed three space walks – on April 11, June 11, and June 16. The space walk on April 11 was an emergency extra-vehicular activity (EVA) that lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes, during which Romanenko and Laveykin had to exit Mir to repair a problem with Kvant (first module to be attached to the Mir Core Module). Discovering a foreign object (probably a trash bag they had left between Progress 28 and Mir’s drogue) lodged in Kvant’s docking unit, the duo pulled it free. Once it was discarded into space, Kvant successfully completed docking following a command from the ground. Even though both of them were scheduled to stay throughout, Laveykin was replaced by Alexandr Alexandrov from Soyuz TM-3 in July. This was because ground-based doctors had diagnosed Laveykin to have minor heart problems (tests once he was back revealed that he was fit to fly after all!). By the time Romanenko returned on December 29, 1987, the pair who went on to break his longest spaceflight record were already in space. Vladimir Titov and Musa Manarov stayed for 365 days, starting on December 21, 1987 and returning the same day the following year. Their record has also since been broken, and it is currently held by Valeri Poliyakov, whose longest single-mission stay lasted 437 days. Like father, like son Yuri Romanenko with his wife Alevtina. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES Married to Alevtina Ivanovna Frolova, Romanenko had two children. Their first son Roman was born on August 9, 1971, while the second son Artem was born on May 17, 1977. Like his father Yuri, Roman too went on to become a cosmonaut, heading to space on a couple of instances. There have been only a handful of second-generation space venturers, and Roman is one of them. This means that Yuri and Roman are also among the very few father-son duo where both of them have been to space. (From left to right) Astronauts Tim Kopra, John “Danny” Olivas, Frank De Winne and Roman Romanenko pose for a photo in the Unity node of the International Space Station in this NASA handout photo taken on September 7, 2009. | Photo Credit: REUTERS/NASA/Handout On returning to Earth following what was then the longest single-mission human stay in space, Romanenko remarked that “The cosmos is a magnet. Once you’ve been there, all you can think of is how to get back.” This poignant statement can be interpreted in a couple of ways, both of which are deep and symbolic. On the one hand, the statement can be said to mean that experiencing the vastness and wonder of infinite space can be so profoundly captivating that there is a constant tug in the heart, even after returning to Earth. This tug makes the person yearn to experience the same feeling once again. This pull by an invisible force is likened to that of a magnet. On the other hand, the statement can also be interpreted to the overwhelming feeling that one might experience when setting out into the cosmos. The celestial beauty that goes along with the awe-inspiring and humbling nature of space can evoke a sense of smallness and insignificance among those who experience it. This, coupled with the longing to “get back” to the comfort and familiarity of Earth, could well be conveyed by this quote. The magnet that is the cosmos in this case then keeps the space traveller attracted to it and holds them spellbound, even when they wish to head back to all that they have been disconnected from. Published - December 29, 2024 12:29 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Marius, the man who named Jupiter’s Galilean moons In School
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'Special' Cowboys Stun Commanders; Top 10 Whitty Observations
Microsoft backed a tiny hardware startup that just launched its first AI processor that does inference without GPU or expensive HBM memory and a key Nvidia partner is collaborating with itChelsea have supposedly earmarked Ipswich Town frontman Liam Delap as a possible transfer target for the summer of 2025. Even though the Tractor Boys have just one win to their name in the current top-flight season and are languishing in 17th place in the Premier League table , their predicament is no fault of the former Manchester City striker. From 11 appearances in the top division this season, Delap has contributed six goals and one assist, both scoring and setting up Sammie Szmodics in Ipswich's shock 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur two weekends ago. Delap has scored half of Ipswich's top-flight goals in 2024-25, and the 21-year-old is one of just three Premier League players to have bagged at least 50% of their team's league goals in the current season, the others being Erling Haaland and Chris Wood . Ipswich forked out £14.8m to bring Delap to Portman Road from Man City in the summer, and the England Under-21 international's contract runs until 2029, but Ipswich may be facing an uphill battle to keep hold of him if they are swiftly relegated back down to the second tier. According to i , Delap's displays in the early stage of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign have caught the eye of Chelsea, who have been attracted to several of the striker's physical characteristics. The report claims that the Blues rate his movement, acceleration and physical presence 'exceptionally highly', but Chelsea are just one of a few Premier League clubs running the rule over his performances. However, Chelsea and other clubs' pursuit of Delap may be complicated by City's £20m buyback clause, especially as the Citizens did not directly replace Atletico Madrid-bound Julian Alvarez over the summer. Haaland represents the only out-and-out centre-forward in Man City's ranks at the moment, and the Premier League champions could very well target a backup to the Scandinavian sensation in 2025. Delap is likely to demand regular game time at this stage of his career, though, which he is unlikely to receive at the Etihad unless Pep Guardiola alters his system to start the 21-year-old and Haaland up top together, a tweak that is difficult to envisage. Chelsea's apparent interest in Delap comes at a time when Nicolas Jackson is thriving in Enzo Maresca 's system, conjuring up six goals and three assists from 11 top-flight matches in the current campaign. The Blues are expected to pursue a new number nine regardless of Jackson's displays, though, and Victor Osimhen was believed to have been their prime target over the summer, but they failed to agree terms on a transfer with Napoli. The Nigerian subsequently joined Galatasaray on loan and has affirmed that he will spend the rest of the season in Turkey , but a bidding war looks set to materialise in 2025, when Chelsea could reignite their interest if Napoli's financial demands are fair. However, the report adds Delap may be more of a priority given that he is a few years younger and would not command the extortionate wages that Osimhen would, while a move for Newcastle United's Alexander Isak is also off the cards. The Sweden international is believed to be totally settled in the North East and has no plans to leave St James' Park, even if Newcastle fail to qualify for Europe next season.Title: Anticipated Expectations and Potential Policy Strengthening in the Real Estate Market Next Year
In conclusion, Nvidia's investigation raises important questions about the intersection of business, geopolitics, and ethics in the tech industry. By examining the factors at play and considering the broader context, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities involved and work towards a more sustainable and responsible tech ecosystem.AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1
Moreover, the rise of the consumer sector is another significant factor fueling the A-share rally. With the increasing purchasing power of Chinese consumers and the growing demand for high-quality products and services, companies in the consumer sector are experiencing robust growth and attracting investor attention. From e-commerce giants to luxury brands, the consumer sector in China is emerging as a powerhouse of opportunities for investors looking to capitalize on the country's expanding middle class and changing consumption patterns.When Stella Xing travelled to Vancouver on Nov. 13 to renew her U.S. work visa, she expected it to be a brief visit. Xing holds a Chinese passport and the United States requires that foreign nationals renew their work visas at a consulate or embassy outside of the country. For Xing, who works at a financial technology company in Seattle, the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver seemed like the most convenient option. But nearly two weeks later, she remains stuck in the city, waiting for her passport to be returned with its fresh work visa approval. "My visa got approved, and it was issued on Thursday," Xing told CBC News. She said she had expected to have her passport back by Friday, Nov. 15, but that was the day the Canada Post strike began. More than 55,000 postal workers across the country walked off the job more than a week ago, stating key concerns over wages, contract work, job security, benefits and working conditions. Xing said she's feeling anxious about the situation. "I don't know when the strike will end." She said the unexpected postal disruption has left her unable to return to the U.S., and that the costs of staying in B.C. are adding up. "I pay more than $100 US every day just for my Airbnb and my food, and also I'm paying my rent in Seattle." Others in similar situations share Xing's frustration. Haoyuan Cao, who works for a global tech company in Seattle, says he might even lose his job. "It took me a long time to get this job, I worked really hard for [it]," he said. "U.S. tech companies tend to have very strict in-person policy and I haven't been to the office for about two weeks now, so [human resources] might give me a warning if I don't go back to the office next week." Haoyuan Cao, who works at a tech company in Seattle, says he is worried he might lose his job as he has been stranded in Vancouver for nearly two weeks. (CBC) Both Cao and Xing have joined a WeChat group with dozens of others like them waiting for key documentation that they're now unable to access. The labour disruption is affecting numerous foreign nationals and Canadians awaiting passport renewals, new passports or updates to their immigration status. Earlier this week, Service Canada said it has been on mailing out 85,000 passports due to the strike. Employment and Social Development Canada said that "in anticipation of a potential labour disruption," Service Canada stopped mailing passport packages on Nov. 8 — a week before Canada Post workers walked off the job. Canadians who already have submitted an application and need a passport urgently can make a request in person to have their passport transferred to a Service Canada centre that offers pickup service. But foreign nationals like Cao and Xing don't have that option. Xing said her passport is held at Canada Post's processing facility in Richmond, while others were meant to collect their documents at a downtown Vancouver branch. Despite several attempts, none have been able to retrieve their passports. In a statement to CBC News, the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver acknowledged the issue and expressed sympathy for those affected. It advised applicants to use alternate delivery services as "visas cannot be picked up directly from the consulate." Canada Post, meanwhile, has said that mail and parcels in its network are secure and will be delivered on a "first-in, first-out basis" once operations resume. The Crown corporation is also warning of service delays once the strike comes to an end, as it deals with a backlog. "This is a difficult situation, and we sympathize," Canada Post spokesperson Valérie Chartrand said in a statement to CBC News. "Unfortunately, [the union's] decision to launch a national strike means mail and parcels were trapped in the system without warning to customers." CBC News reached out to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Arne Slot's secret weapon behind Liverpool title charge laid bare by Marco van BastenThe game was a closely contested affair from start to finish, with both teams trading blows and showcasing their offensive firepower. The Raptors, led by their dynamic backcourt duo of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, put up a strong fight throughout the game and kept the pressure on the Knicks.
In order to combat the proliferation of car loan fraud and protect individuals from falling victim to such schemes, it is imperative for authorities to enhance regulatory oversight and enforcement measures. Financial institutions and law enforcement agencies must work together to identify and dismantle these fraudulent networks, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.