STORIES

NAVIGATE

Here is MPLS seeks to celebrate people, projects and organizations that both recognize the challenges facing our city, and deepen our focus on the community of dreamers, doers, and world builders who have visions for a better future. 

Here is MPLS will share a series of stories that capture the perspectives and work of people at the forefront of change efforts in our city. Our stories will span four major themes, with three distinct stories in each theme allowing us to explore each from a number of perspectives. The themes are listed below. The topics below each theme are just examples — nominees can be focused on any field of work within each theme. 

Each nominee chosen for one of the 12 feature stories will receive a $5,000 award, plus extensive promotion about their work across multiple marketing channels and platforms, including but not limited to the HereIsMPLS.org website, Pollen’s and the Minneapolis Foundation’s digital platforms and public events. 

OVERVIEW

STORY THEMES

Housing

Exploring the systems that create livable spaces for Minneapolis residents.

  • Affordable housing

  • Inclusive zoning

  • Homelessness

Opportunity equity

Focusing on the work to close opportunity gaps in Minneapolis, from the neighborhood level to city-wide.

  • Education

  • Economic opportunity

  • Investment in community

  • Health

Public safety

Expanding the dialogue around how best to make our city safer, without compromising our civil rights.

  • Policing

  • Alternative systems

  • Restorative justice

  • Criminal Justice

Civic engagement

Examining the efforts to rethink and revitalize the systems we use to determine our shared direction as a city.

  • Community organizing

  • Models of leadership

  • Voter engagement

  • Activism and advocacy

We will prioritize people, organizations and projects that:

Share our values.

Here is MPLS is guided by a set of values, and will look for people, organizations and projects that bring similar values to their work.

Focus on delivering positive change.

Here is MPLS is working toward a set of desired outcomes, and will look for people, organizations and projects that are helping make real progress toward these or other positive changes.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Are rooted in community.

Here is MPLS will prioritize people, organizations or projects that speak directly to community need, and are operating with meaningful community input or involvement.

Think creatively, evolve wisely.

Here is MPLS believes that even the most seemingly intractable problems can be solved with new, innovative approaches, as well as those with a proven track record of success. We will prioritize people, organizations or projects that lead with creative, fresh ideas, and those that have evolved over time with continued success.

ELIGIBILITY

The only requirements for nominees are that they be:

  • A person, organization, or project that lives, works, or is engaged in Minneapolis. 

  • Doing work that serves Minneapolis residents and communities

  • Willing to participate in the story creation process, a commitment of approximately 5-10 hours over the course of the year

SELECTION PROCESS

The Here is MPLS nomination period is open until March 24, 2023. The final stories featured in the campaign will be determined by our co-founders Bruce Mooty and Tim Maudlin, Pollen, the Minneapolis Foundation and the Here is MPLS advocacy council, composed of cross-sector community leaders from Minneapolis. 

The Here is MPLS stories will be released in the summer of 2023. We will work collaboratively with Here Is MPLS organizations and individuals to share their stories in a way that honors them and accurately captures the spirit and substance of their work.

NOMINATIONS CLOSED

If English is not your first language and you need assistance with translation services, please contact us.