KAITLIN ERPESTAD, 36 . DULUTH

Preschool, which is now in its sixth year, and provides about 35,000 contact hours to 92 preschoolers annually. I spend my days helping young children develop connections with the natural world by providing them with opportunities to play in the woods like kids used to get to play: to climb trees, jump in puddles, play in the mud, listen to the wind blowing in the pines, and play in the snow. At home, I do more puddle jumping, beach-going and forest exploring with my delightful 2-year-old twins, Silvo and Seppo, and my husband, Matti.

How do you spend your free time?

I head to the waters and woods of Duluth in my free time to paddle, run, cross-country ski, bike, or hike on my own or with my family. I love that we have so many parks and so many trails that I can visit a favorite stomping ground or explore a new trail even though I’ve lived here most of my life.

Tell us about an influential person in your life.

Emily Vikre and I have known each other since we were 3 years old and she is amazing. Emily constantly inspires me with her passion and creativity and the resiliency and intention with which she faces her personal and professional life.

What keeps you in the Twin Ports?

I was born and raised in Duluth. I tried to live away from Lake Superior, but the lake gets into your blood, and there’s no turning back. I love that we Duluthians have the feeling of infinite space and infinite possibilities as we look out at the lake’s far horizons. I love waking up on a perfect summer morning and having my main question be which beach to visit that day. I love that we have to be humbly human here. When your car is sliding down the ice on Lake Avenue or a storm is blowing waves halfway across Canal Park, you are reminded that we’re just human beings and that there are things that are, and should be, beyond our control. I love being able to be out of my driveway and on a lake in the BWCA in two hours where I can experience dark skies, the call of loons, solitude and the good old-fashioned hard work of paddling and portaging. I love that we have ski and bike trails across the community that encourage Duluthians to get outdoors in all seasons, say hello to our neighbors and experience different parts of our city. And, I love sharing the city park where I learned to ski as a 2-year-old and ran and pondered life’s big questions with my dog and high school friends with the 3- to 5-year-old preschoolers who come to Hartley Nature Preschool every day. What words of wisdom do you live by?

“It takes a village.” Over and over again I’m amazed at the power and strength of community. Whether at work with the preschool families or with my own community of family and friends, I believe that we are stronger, healthier, happier, more resilient, more rooted, more authentically ourselves when we give and accept support.

What do you do? (job, community involvement)

Job: attorney at Johnson, Killen & Seiler here in Duluth.

Community involvement: I serve as a member of the board of directors for the Superior Hiking Trail Association, Age Well Arrowhead, DRCC and Goodwill Industries Vocational Enterprises, serving as board chair for Age Well, and vice chair for Goodwill. My wife and I are also members of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Upper Midwest Speakers Bureau, and volunteers for their Cooks for Kids program. I’m a graduate of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Duluth program and have served as a panel member for the Head of the Lakes United Way’s Emerging Leaders Program. I’ve also been involved with the Volunteer Attorney Program. How do you spend your free time?

Seems like most of it these days is spent at the baseball field, soccer field or hockey rink. I also spend a lot of time getting scored on repeatedly in knee hockey or backyard soccer, or chasing “homers” over my fence. But I love all of it. We also try to spend as much time as we can on the trails, up at the lake, hanging out with friends and family, or doing home- town-tourist type stuff.

Tell us about an influential person in your life.

You’ll get a few. First, my old man. My dad, now enjoying a well-earned retirement from the State Patrol, made a career out of protecting and serving the community, and intimidating all of my friends. He was never overbearing in telling me what to do or how to act, but I learned through his example of what it means to work, be responsible, how to treat people, and how to be a father. Next, my mom. You couldn’t find a better one. She’s taught me the importance of lasting friendships, family relationships and humor. She’s also tough as nails, making her 60s look like a normal person’s 30s, and cancer after a prior bout wish it wouldn’t have messed with her. Last, my son Gino. He dealt with more in his first few years than I have my whole life, and he never flinched. He’s truly reshaped the way I view or deal with stress, fear, anger, etc., and provides a constant reminder that it’s all a mindset, and there’s always plenty to smile about.

What keeps you in the Twin Ports?

The simple answer is that it’s my home. My family is here. My friends are here. I care a great amount about what’s going on in the community, our schools, and in the area’s progress and development. Thinking about the development that’s gone on so far in my lifetime even more so makes me want to stay to see what the future holds.

There’s just also something about that lake. When I’ve lived elsewhere, whether in the Twin Cities or out in the middle of Michigan, it always felt like something was missing. No real way to explain it, but there’s some weird need to be around big water.

(The trails and breweries are also a plus.)

What words of wisdom do you live by?

Illegitimi Non Carborundum. (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”)