Our Impact in 2022

Volume 1, Issue 34— December 27, 2022

founded by Minnesota Women's Press, a media pioneer since 1985

CALL

Connections

Media That Makes a Difference

Changemakers Alliance (CALL) is a supporter-driven, action-oriented expansion of Minnesota Women's Press and womenspress.com that brings people together in conversations about values, solutions, and action steps.

2022 Accomplishments, 2023 Plans

Diversity in Politics series

11 stories and still going!

Supported by Ayada Leads, Valvoline/Northern Minnesota, Vote.Run.Lead.

2023: How can new candidates break through on funding and endorsement barriers?

Celebrating Minne sota's Badass Women

Power talks from 11 badass women

Supported by Global Rights for Women, Seward Co-op, Valvoline/Northern Minnesota

2023:

"Bodily Autonomy" event March 25, First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
"Sex, Menopause, and Aging Bodies," April 22, Women's Club of Minneapolis

Values & Vision

We brought people together in virtual conversations about LGBTQ+ issues, healing trauma, addressing addictions, and connecting in polarized communities.

Supported by Lisa Harris & Co., NAMI Minnesota, Seward Co-op, Shift Minnesota/Rainbow Health, University of Minnesota Press, WomenVenture

Next Up: "The Bonobo Sisterhood," January 5, about a solution to gender-based violence (see below)

Summer Camp & Internship Guide

Minnesota lost several long-standing publications during the pandemic. After Minnesota Parent magazine folded during the pandemic, we were asked to create a free online directory to serve the community, which thus far lists more than 80 camps, internships, work opportunities, and scholarships.

Supported by Finishing Trades Institute, FS Foundation, Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative, Sundance Family Foundation

2023: We are seeking funds to expand this directory in 2023. Contact ads@womenspress.com

Our Year With a

Bosnian Journalist

As the country's longest-running feminist publication, we were invited to work with two global journalists, supported for a year by Community Solutions Program. One of those relationships was with Amra Avdic (pictured above with U.S. Senator Tina Smith), who worked with us on a project related to electing women in a patriarchy.

Recognitions

Changemakers Alliance was a finalist in a national media competition for civic engagement, was recognized by the Lenfest News Institute as a promising new model, and was chosen by Google for a training cohort of independent publishers. Our photography and website has been awarded three years in a row by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Publisher Mikki Morrissette was invited to speak on the Sue Scott podcast about Changemakers Alliance.

Commentaries

We featured 27 reader viewpoints on topics ranging from autonomy for the disability community, to housing, to climate change, to the Ukraine refugee crisis, to the Minneapolis teacher strike. Columnist Ellie Krug (left) offered thoughts that helped to shape Changemakers Alliance.

Supported by

Joan Gilles/Financial Planners

In 2022, Minnesota Women's Press offered 264 unique stories FREE to 13,000 online readers. Despite printing and distribution costs alone going up $17,000 since 2021, we continue to offer FREE magazine delivery to 550 locations, serving 20,000 print readers each month.

We were able to sustain a $90K print ad revenue drop in 2020 during the pandemic year. Thanks in part to 90 Changemakers Alliance (CALL) members and donors and 14 sponsors, we have nearly regained that loss and are looking ahead to growth.

Reader support will help us increase the hours of new part-time staff — Outreach Director Crystal Brown and Marketing Manager Amber Lynum — who are working to double statewide readership.

We also are seeking a Development Director so that we can strengthen our ability to connect more Minnesotans to stories, solutions, and action steps.

Please support our growth in 2023 with a tax-deductible donation.