RENEE PASSAL, 38 .

reruns of police dramas, like “NCIS” and “Chicago PD.”

Tell us about an influential person in your life.

John Whaley, our longtime chief photographer at WDIO, made an incredible impact on my career. He had decades in the business, and taught me so much about people, places and the mining industry. Even though we have nearly nothing in common in terms of hobbies and interests, he would share what he loved about sports and fishing and hunting. That helped me understand those topics, when covering stories about them. He became my work husband, and I wish he’d come out of retirement!

What keeps you in the Twin Ports?

What do you do? (job, community involvement)

Reporter/anchor/producer at WDIO-TV, House of Hearts committee

How do you spend your free time?

Feeding/clothing/playing with my boys, Weston (6) and Elliot (3). My husband and I enjoy curling and volleyball. I love to read, especially books about WWII and survivors of the Holocaust. And I won’t turn down a movie with Sandra Bullock, or

Knowing that I can make a difference with my work is a huge part of it. Especially when I cover stories on the Range, which is where I’m from. Plus, I love the short commute, seeing the lake on a daily basis, and friends who’ve become family.

What words of wisdom do you live by?

When it comes to the kids, it’s knowing everything is a phase. When it comes to life, it’s being grateful. We report on plenty of tragedies. I know coming home and hugging my family is not something to take for granted.

I got interviewed once by a Duluth TV station when our (high) school got an award and I was just hooked. That was so great. I always thought I would do the jump around thing. You know, start here in Duluth, move to bigger markets, someday move to the Cities. But then the longer we’ve stayed, my husband and I, it just kind of felt like home. This is my place and we are here to stay.

RENEE PASSAL, WDIO-TV

What do you do? (job, community involvement)

I have the joy and privilege of serving our community as Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center’s executive director. My path to this place was winding. I came from a background of working with kids, particularly everybody’s favorite age group, pre-teens. The majority of my community involvement outside of work still centers on youth.

How do you spend your free time?

As an extroverted-introvert, I spend most of my free time recharging my social batteries doing quiet things. In the summertime I garden. Actually I just grow a lot of weeds and try to pass it off as intentional horticulture! In the fall some of them have berries so it almost passes as a harvest-able bounty. I’m pretty sure my neighbors are on to me by now. It sounds like a weird pastime, but I daydream a lot, usually while I should be pulling weeds. The winter is my best time: It’s quiet, cool, relaxed. Everyone and everything moves a little slower, with a little more intention and a little more thoughtfulness. People take better care of one another when its cold. No matter what time of year it is, more than anything I love spending time with my closest people. Shout out to you, Nate Robb, and my fur babies. They’re pugs. Fun fact: A group of pugs is called a “grumble.” I will 100% show you all of the pug pictures you never knew you wanted to see.

Tell us about an influential person in your life.

This is an impossible question to answer because if you pay attention, everyone you meet exerts an influence on the trajectory of your life. There are some, though, who’ve truly offered their broad shoulders when I needed a sturdy place to stand. Y’all out there know who you are.

What keeps you in the Twin Ports?

The beauty of the Twin Ports keeps me here. Beauty in geography, of course, but also beauty in our sense of community, belonging and spirit. The Northland isn’t just a place, it’s presence of mind. There’s nowhere like it, and no place I’d rather be.

What words of wisdom do you live by?

Expect nothing, appreciate everything.

Big enough to be interesting. Surprising. Special. Small enough to know your neighbors. And right on the shores of Lake Superior. The Twin Ports have become a destination for a generation. Young people have made Duluth and Superior a place to call home. Part of the attraction? An ability to get involved, lead and have impact. One way young people do this is through the Young Leaders Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.

Young Leaders Fund

A fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation

• We helped the Head of the Lakes Untied Way provide young professionals skills to serve on local boards of directors.

• We assisted NORTHFORCE in pairing college students with mentors, developing the students’ networking and professional skills and increasing chances that they stay here after graduation.