Brainerd Community Action is proud to announce the 2022 Brainerd Citizen of the Year, Mike Angland!

Brainerd, MN, December 21, 2022: Since 1974 Brainerd Community Action has been tasked with selecting individuals withing our community that exemplify the qualities and traits that make our area such an amazing place to live. “Citizen of the Year is an award that highlights an individual that has went above and beyond their day-to-day job to give back to their community and make things better for others around them,” Executive Director of Brainerd Community Action Dave Badeaux explained. Candidates are nominated to the selection committee, which is made up of members of the community, members of the Brainerd community Action board of Directors, and past award winners. The selection committee is tasked with identifying which of the nominated candidates best fits the criteria set for this prestigious award.

Outstanding Citizen of the Year criteria are as follows:

• The award is to be given to a living person
• The Candidate will have volunteered services that are above and beyond normal employment or business pursuits
• The services performed have contributed to the welfare of the community
• The services were performed for an extended period of time.

“Mike Angland represents all of those traits, and it is our honor to recognize him for everything he has done in the Brainerd Lakes Area,” Badeaux continued.

Mike is the VP of Architecture at Widseth and spends his days helping to design the look and feel of various items throughout the community. However, it is what his does in his off time that truly sets him apart. Mike has proven time and time again that you can find small improvements every day to help your community. Whether it be helping nonprofits, government agencies, or businesses with pro bono architectural services or joining local nonprofit committees like Brainerd Restoration and River to Rails, Mike has been a longstanding promoter and supporter of improving the day to day lives of the citizens of the city of Brainerd and its surrounding region.

Mike also believes strongly in family and the connections that strong families bring to the community as a whole. “His efforts to strengthen and improve the quality of life for all members of our area, and the quiet soft-spoken way he does so is why we are thrilled to announce him as this year’s selection,” Badeaux concluded.