Tribune staff reports

To help drive home the importance of diversity in Freeborn County, the Countywide Diversity Video Project committee has created a video geared toward Anglo residents, focused on welcoming immigrants into the county.

&uot;This video shows interviews with different individuals in the community and has them answering a couple of questions regarding the positive aspects of having diversity in our community and why we should welcome immigrants into our community,&uot; said Glenna Christy, a committee member.

This is the second video the committee has put together. The first video, entirely in Spanish, was created to welcome non-English speaking families to the county and to aid them in figuring out how to live in Freeborn County, including information on area schools and where to pay bills.

The English video is directed toward Anglo citizens already living in Freeborn County and addresses concerns that residents may have about immigrants moving into the area.

&uot;This video directed at the Anglo population, will promote welcoming diversity in our area,&uot; said Griselda Root, a committee member. &uot;In our little Albert Lea we have a sampling of so many different cultures, it is amazing.&uot;

The committee started planning the videos in the fall of 2003, and in early 2004, a grant was awarded by Qwest which allowed production to get under way.

KIMT TV of Mason City produced and filmed the video.

A rough cut of the English video will be viewed by the committee at 2 p.m. Friday at the United Way office.

It is not ready for public viewing.

The committee is made up of representatives from the Albert Lea Public Library, Albert Lea area schools, Albert Lea Medical Center, Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, Freeborn County United Way, and many more area businesses, service clubs and utilities.