Kate Blondia grew up in the picturesque town of Glen Arbor, surrounded by the cherry orchards, wooded hills, and crystal waters of Lake Michigan. Kate walked the halls of Glen Lake Community Schools like any other local student. She joined choir, performed in theater, and worked a summer job at Cherry Republic. Her parents, both educators, were fixtures in the community. One might call it a quintessential northern Michigan upbringing. But unlike many, she was looking outward toward a world beyond the county lines.
Now a senior at Loyola University in Chicago studying global studies and social change, she speaks fluent Swedish, has lived in Paris, and has spent the last several years working directly with refugee communities in both Europe and Chicago. She recently returned to Leelanau for the end of the summer, bringing with her stories of connection, resilience, and a renewed appreciation for her hometown.
“It feels like a different planet when I come back,” said Blondia. “This place is so beautiful and special, but it’s also very much a bubble.”
