Blair Gagne

Walking through the woods on his 228 acres on the St. Louis river near Floodwood, Minnesota is what relaxation is all about.  This is the highlight of the week for Blair Gagne who has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth and the Port of Duluth Kiwanis Club since 1988. 

Blair holds a Masters Degree in Community Counseling and has had more than thirty years of experience in the successful development of programs for youth.   He has numerous certifications and has completed all the training’s within the YMCA’s professional development tract.  He is certified as a Senior Program Director for the YMCA.

Blair has served as a trainer at youth conferences around the country, and as guest expert on numerous statewide panels addressing issues affecting youth.     Blair is a faculty trainer (trainer of trainers) for the YMCA of the USA, and a past Field Consultant for the Midwest and Southern United States in family work.   He has actively served on many local Boards and Advisory panels including the Minnesota Alliance with Youth, a Governors Blue Ribbon commission on Mentoring, a state wide commission on out of school time, Duluth Men as Peacemakers, Woodland Hills, the Twin Port Area Non-profit Coalition and Kiwanis.  

In his early years as a professional youth director for an area church, Blair developed a multi-faceted teen program serving nearly 750 children ages 12-18 while utilizing, training and supporting 200 volunteers.  As a social worker for the Duluth Housing and Redevelopment Authority Blair developed a shared housing program and facilitated resident club meetings at housing projects.    For the past 20 years Blair has overseen the development of the Community Services Department at the Duluth YMCA.  He began as the only full-time staff person with a part time secretary.  Over the years the program has grown to include 11 full-time YMCA staff, five site based Mentor Duluth staff and 25 part-time staff.  He oversees the Mentor Duluth Project, acting as the Executive Director.  With his guidance and vision Mentor Duluth is recognized on a national level as a model program.  In the past few years over one million dollars in outside funding has been secured to develop and expand the MD collaboration.   A tremendous amount of coordinating, developing relationships and integrating services has gone into the Mentor Duluth Model.  In 2002 Blair was awarded the Karen Kydd Angel of Mentoring award for his outstanding contributions to the field of Mentoring in Minnesota.  In 2003 Mentor Duluth was given the same award for Program quality and leadership.

Six years ago Blair laid the groundwork for the development of the True North AmeriCorps program.  The program, under his guidance and vision today places 73 AmeriCorps members at 54 sites throughout Northeastern Minnesota.  It has been a program that benefits schools, youth agencies and other non-profits.  AmeriCorps is often described as the domestic Peace Corp.  The program is once again looking to expand next year by adding an addition 20 AmeriCorps positions. 

Work is important but not the most important aspect of Blair’s life.  Besides being out doors and enjoying nature Blair also loves to golf, play basketball, and roller-blade.  This year he completed his third in-line marathon race.  He also enjoys catching bigger fish and getting bigger deer than his friend Kevin Fawcett.  This competitive nature never interferes with his friendships. 

Most important, however, is his relationship with his fiancée, Mavis, who is a surgical nurse at Miller Dwan Medical Center.  Next August Blair will be married and is anxiously awaiting retirement (even though it is years away).  Blair has three grown children who he loves spending time with.  Each is well-rounded and an active member of the Duluth community.  Blair’s involvement in Christians in Commerce and a Thursday morning Bible study help him stay in touch with his personal relationship with God.  Spirituality has always been an integral part of his life.

Blair’s leadership, positive outlook on life and his ability to vision for a better future has enabled the YMCA to become one of the leading youth serving agencies in our community.