Scholar Stories
Joseph Beaulieu
Macalester College, Major: English
Trek North High - Bemidji, 2008
Service-to-Children Project: Red Lake District
Joseph Beaulieu knows life on the Red Lake Indian Reservation firsthand- and he knows that hard work and determination can trump rough circumstances. Beaulieu grew up on the reservation and has chosen to do his Service-to-Children project there, even though it’s more than four hours from the campus of Macalester College in St. Paul where he is currently a sophomore. “I’m very committed to my community, which is why I decided to continue my work with these youth.” Beaulieu worked in the Target Services after-school program for students in grades 1-8. The program supports academic work and leadership skills through physical activities like skiing, tubing and ice fishing, and field trips to movies and parks. Given Red Lake Reservation’s relatively isolated location, many of the children wouldn’t be able to participate in these kinds of activities. The program also provides daily after-school activities in math, science, reading, art, computer work and cooking. Ojibwa culture and language is woven into every session.