Moms Who Make Duluth is a monthly series featuring interviews with industrious, local women who are shaping the face of Duluth’s professional sphere while simultaneously raising their families. Duluth Moms Blog and Krenzen are delighted to highlight the positive impact working moms have on our community. We want you to get to know some of Duluth’s most notable women: professionals who balance work, community, civic engagement, and family.
Introducing... News Anchor Georgia Fort!
We don’t know about you, but we love starting out our day by turning on KBJR 6 and hearing the news from morning anchor Georgia Fort. Sure, we have to fight our kids for screen time (is anyone else one episode short of banning Nature Cat from the house?!) but Georgia’s poise and elegance is inspiring. I mean, at 5 am, we’re in rumpled pj’s and still firing up the coffee maker. But Georgia? She’s already out there working hard and making a difference (and looking darn good while doing both)!
Georgia, will you share a little bit about yourself?
Born and raised in Saint Paul, I returned to Minnesota at the beginning of 2017 after spending four years in Georgia pursing my career. I moved there as a single mother with nothing but a dream of providing a better life for my daughter.
Although it was challenging at times, there was an innate drive within me that pushed beyond the exhaustion of working three jobs with the belief that my hard work would one day pay off.
I had previously graduated from the University of Saint Thomas in 2011 despite my oldest daughter passing away my freshmen year of college; I was no stranger to pressing forward in the midst of adversity.
It was in Georgia that I was able to transition from radio broadcasting to news and it was there I was able to honor my first daughter who passed away by creating a scholarship in her name.
But in the spirit of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, there is no place like home! In 2016 I started seeking employment opportunities throughout the state of Minnesota and was elated when I got the offer to work in Duluth.
Since accepting the position in Duluth, I have married the man of my dreams–who I first met in high school–and we are now expecting a baby together.
On to the interview!
What advice do you wish you could have given to your younger self?
Be courageous, you can do all things through faith. Stand up for yourself and what you know is right but be cautious about the decisions you make because they will stick with you for life.
What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
I think I have taken some big risks when it comes to pursuing my career. There are a few times that stand out. In college as a single mom, I had a really good job with the State of Minnesota. When I decided to quit it to pursue an unpaid internship at a radio station everyone thought I was crazy and irresponsible, but it was my dream. I took a leap of faith and it paid off. I was hired for a paying job there shortly after I started.
The same walk of faith guided me on my journey from radio to television. When I was in Georgia, I grew tired of attending the off-air concerts we were required to go to and the late hours that kept me away from my daughter. So, I quit. Without having a job lined up, I walked away from the microphone after being married to it for 7 years. I had no substantial plan in place to provide for my daughter. Although I had been working a second job at a public access TV station part time, there was no guarantee that would be enough to help me transition into news. But I thank God I decided to walk by faith and not by sight. The day after I quit my job at the radio station I was offered the same salary at my first news station.
We love your segment “Making a Difference” on KBJR 6. Do you have a favorite standout moment or story from reporting about local people and organizations who are doing great things here in the Northland?
I can honestly say that I don’t have a favorite. I have been so impressed by every person I have met while doing this series. Each week it has been a real treat to meet someone new who is making our community better in their own way.
What is the most exciting thing about your job(s) right now? Most challenging?
What is your family’s favorite way to relax together?
Will you tell us a little about your involvement and work with Faith’s Lodge?
Faith’s Lodge is a non-profit organization in Wisconsin that provides retreat for families who have lost a child or who have a terminally ill child. I served as an ambassador of Faith’s Lodge for many years. After my first daughter passed away I spent a weekend at Faith’s Lodge and it was there for the first time I learned ways to cope with the overwhelming grief of child loss. I used my platform on the radio to build awareness about their services, raising nearly 30,000 dollars in advertisement for their company. Additionally, we sent 11 families to their facility who had lost a child to violence. Later in my career I also created a scholarship called the Amana Family Scholarship Fund to help families cover the cost of their stay at Faith’s Lodge.
Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they?
Tell us your biggest joy and most challenging part of motherhood?
The greatest joy of motherhood is witnessing my daughter’s compassion and empathy toward others. It also brings me great joy to hear her call out injustices when she sees them. The most challenging part about being a parent I would have to say is the discipline. It is our job as parents to correct our children but it is never easy to punish your child when you see your child make a mistake or even intentionally do something wrong. As an adult you know that it is necessary in order for them to get the lesson but it is never a good feeling to be the person to ground them and take away the things that make them happy.
What is your favorite cheesy movie?
Captain Underpants. My daughter and I watched this movie over and over again.
Name a favorite “hidden gem” Northshore spot.
Thanks so much, Georgia, for taking the time to chat with us. We eagerly await news of the birth of your baby!
Stay Tuned!
Join us over the next few months as we get to know some of Duluth’s most notable women. Do you know a mom who is making waves in the community? Speaking out? Pushing for change, or implementing new and innovative ways to better our schools, neighborhoods, government, or commerce and agriculture? Drop us a line at [email protected] and let us know!
