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Case in point.

Our collaborators at the White Bear Lake Area School District make for a terrific example. See, the school district was recently challenged with a levy referendum; one where the cuts were steep with 22 percent of the teachers about to lose their jobs and five of the 13 school facilities about to close their doors. The possible repercussions were difficult to swallow, and were coupled with the insurmountable hurdle of the community’s failing of the year’s previous levy. Low on energy and funds, the school district needed a miracle. What they got was 7th Street Events, and let us tell you, we worked our magic.

Five days prior to the general election, a massive community-wide, energy-filled rally filled downtown White Bear Lake. Bearing in mind that the community failed the previous levy, we actually mobilized more than 1,000 people to show support and increase awareness for the district’s imperative vote. We had speakers and student performances galore. For example, the high school musical boasted scores from “Grease” and a 1940 graduate shared her thoughts on the legacy of the community’s schools.

As a result, the community approved the levy with flying colors. At 64 percent voting yes, it approved by a greater percentage than any of the other two dozen levies in the Twin Cities.