The Hometown Values & Vision Tour

04/26/2023
1016
“Our superpower is getting people with great insights into the same space.” — publisher Mikki Morrissette

Thanks to donors and grantors, Minnesota Women’s Press is able to take a new step in the evolution of our solutions-and-action arm of story development, Changemakers Alliance. We will host conversations and opportunities for reflection on the road in a series of listening sessions called “Hometown Values & Vision.”

With the help of skilled facilitators and collaborative partners, we will gather for future stories what people in Greater Minnesota are doing, thinking, and debating. We will talk to people about what matters to them about public safety, identity, and healing trauma.

Watch this three-minute clip to learn about our new statewide media model. (Major thanks to Ember Berg of Dragonfly Eye Productions for editing this for us, and Jacob Mullins/First Unitarian Society for the event recording.)

 Our unique new media platform — Changemakers Alliance — focuses on first-person storytelling, solutions, and action steps, in print and online, in conversations and events. We call it “Media That Makes a Difference.”

Grassroots advocates benefit from well-communicated, statewide education and storytelling expertise.

Together we are a powerful combination.

Support the Conversations 

tinyurl.com/CALLdonate 

tax deductible, for annual or monthly contributions

The Hometown Values & Vision Tour

We are planning the cities we will visit this summer for in-person discussions. Please contact crystal@womenspress.com if you want to be part of a planning committee to bring these conversations to your area. We are raising funds with the link above to help us cover co-moderator fees, local food, travel, and facilitators trained to lead the discussions with us.

Possible locations (* represents areas where we have co-hosts and we are now attempting to raise funds to execute):

  • Virginia — May 20
  • Winona — May 22
  • Fergus Falls — June 15
  • Rochester — June 17
  • Hibbing* — June 18
  • Worthington* — July 8
  • Ortonville — July 10/11
  • Northfield*
  • Saint Cloud*
  • Faribault*
  • Duluth*
  • Red Wing
  • Ely
  • Austin
  • Willmar
  • Mankato
  • Saint Peter
  • Moorhead
  • Bemidji
  • Park Rapids
  • Brainerd
  • Staples

These will be intersectional and intergenerational conversations. What are the fears, joys, pain points, local solutions and visions for community building?

For each location, we are looking for:

  • youth leaders and elders
  • immigrants and people of color
  • LGBTQ+ community members,
  • local food makers and women-led entrepreneurs,
  • advocates who work with gender-based violence, including creating healthier masculinity and restorative justice
  • advocates who work on mental health issues and addiction concerns
  • and/or regenerative agriculture advocates.

 Conversation circles will prioritize:

  • Gender-based violence
  • Supportive community housing (YIMBY)
  • Gender-identity/Redefining masculinity
  • Trauma-informed and restorative justice
  • Multicultural education
  • Regenerative ecosystems
  • Melanated Main Street entrepreneurs

How we are building a community-based media model

  • Selected in 2022 for six-month Google News Initiative strategy program
  • New fiscal agent relationship enables CALL to generate donations and grants 

What we need for statewide expansion

  • Outreach director (currently part-time)
  • Social media coordinator (currently part-time)
  • Video partners
  • Community-based event organizers

Community partners to help develop intersectional participants statewide so far include:

  • Alternatives to Violence Project
  • Youthprise
  • Land Stewardship Project
  • WomenVenture
  • Vote Run Lead

See What We Are Creating Together

Hostess Michelle Courtright (above left) opened up her home for our video launch party and discussion that featured entrepreneurs De’Vonna Pittman (Nature’s Syrup) and Babette Buckner (Moltron Builders); LGBTQ+ advocates Ellie Krug (Human Inspiration Works) and Phil Duran (Rainbow Health); political director Beth Peterson (Vote Run Lead); gender-based violence survivor allies JaneAnne Murray (University of Minnesota law), Patricia Cumbie and Sophia Morrissette (Global Rights for Women); restorative justice facilitator Michele Braley, and others. [photos by Sarah Whiting]

These are the types of conversations with an intersectional group of people that we will be holding in towns around the state, with your support.

Coming in June and July