About Aaron J. Brown

Aaron J. Brown is a writer, college instructor and political organizer from northern Minnesota's Iron Range. He is the founder and editor of MinnesotaBrown.com, a blog covering northern Minnesota news, politics and culture since 2006. His book of nonfiction essays "Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range," published by Red Step Press of Duluth, won a Northeastern Minnesota Book Award.

Aaron was born in Hibbing, raised on a family-owned salvage yard on the Iron Range and now lives in Itasca County. He graduated from Cherry High School and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in communication from the University of Wisconsin at Superior.

A writer and journalist
Aaron's first media job came at age 16 when he spun easy listening tunes for WEVE in Eveleth. Later he would work as a news reporter and afternoon anchor for KDTH-AM in Dubuque, Iowa, and as a reporter and evening anchor for KUWS-FM in Superior, Wis., filing reports for Wisconsin Public Radio.

In 2001, he was hired as a reporter for the Hibbing (Minn.) Daily Tribune and months later was promoted to managing editor. He became the youngest editor in the newspaper's history and the youngest daily newspaper editor in state history. His column, which he still writes weekly, covers politics, community issues, local culture and humor and remains a well-read Sunday staple of the newspaper. He's won dozens of awards from the Northwest Broadcast News Association, Associated Press and Minnesota Newspaper Association. He is a regular contributor to 91.7 KAXE, Northern Community Radio, with weekly essays appearing on "Between You and Me" each Saturday morning and other special projects.

In October 2008, Red Step Press of Duluth released Aaron's first book of humorous, historical and other nonfiction essays, "Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range."

A teacher
After two award-winning years as a newspaper editor, Aaron opted to pursue graduate school and a teaching career in 2003. Earning his M.A. in just a year, he was then hired to teach communication courses at Hibbing Community College. At HCC, he's developed online and traditional courses in communication while becoming an active member of the campus community and faculty union. He currently serves as the campus online education committee chair and Student Senate advisor. In 2007, he graduated with the first class of the True North Leadership Academy for professionals in the Northeast Higher Education District.

A community leader
Aaron is a founding co-chair and media coordinator for Dylan Days, a nonprofit organization that honors Minnesota native Bob Dylan through arts programs and an annual weekend arts event in Hibbing every May. He is also politically active, serving as a director on the Itasca DFL (Democratic Farmer Labor Party) Board of Directors, a past director for the Fifth Senate District DFL and various posts with DFL legislative and state candidates dating back to 1996. In 2006, he was chair of progressive labor Democrat Tom Anzelc's hard-fought and successful campaign for State Representative in District 3A and today continues to run Anzelc's campaigns.

During college, he was program monitor and press agent for the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training summer youth programs. He researched, visited and advocated for job training programs to help at-risk and low income youth in Northern Minnesota. This led to a position as chair of the Northeast Minnesota Youth Council, which served in an advisory capacity for youth employment programs in the area. In 2000, he was honored by Independent Gov. Jesse Ventura and again in 2004 by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty for his work with youth employment programs. Regardless of political party, Aaron works with people to create consensus and action in the communities of Northeastern Minnesota.

Family
Aaron lives in rural Itasca County with his wife Christina, sons Henry, Douglas and George, and dog Molly (aka: MoDog).

Photo: Jeff Warner, Hibbing Daily Tribune