Ep. 208 - Forward March: Restoring A Legacy

Reviving a Marching Band Legacy: How Teachers Build Community in Forest Lake | The Kindness Chronicles Steve and Jeff fill in for John and discuss Steve’s volunteer experience at the Special Olympics USA Games ESPN Unified Sports Challenge at Allianz Field, where he accompanied producer Jimmy "Jam" Harris and various celebrity sideline coaches. They then welcome Forest Lake educators Jake Matheson and Katie DuBois to discuss how music and marching band create belonging as the U.S. nears its 250th birthday. Jake recounts starting on tuba, being mentored by teachers like Sandy Briggs and Rich Hahn, advocating to restore Forest Lake’s marching band, and later rebuilding it in 2016 from a program that had disappeared to 140 members, supported by fundraising and scholarships. Katie describes how her passion for the clarinet evolved, joining the University of Minnesota marching band, and helping design field formations for her alma mater, while both emphasize teacher support, community, and inclusion.