Gloria Contreras Edin, an immigration attorney from St. Paul, overcame a difficult upbringing in East Los Angeles to advocate for immigrants in Minnesota. Driven by her experiences, she works tirelessly to combat injustices faced by migrant communities, finding strength in her dedication and support from those around her, despite the emotional toll of her work. Continue reading Gloria Contreras Edin
When he was called to serve a bilingual church in a neighborhood with a visible unhoused population, Hierald Osorto initially resisted. He had imagined leading a more affluent English-speaking congregation, and as a Latino pastor, he worried about being pigeonholed.
The son of an immigrant who fled El Salvador’s civil war in the 1980s, Hierald grew up attending a Spanish-speaking Pentecostal church in Newark, New Jersey. “It was never quite the easiest,” he says of the poverty and injustice that surrounded him. “But the community always showed up for one another. And it was always done, they said, because ‘we believe in God, and this is what our calling should be.’”
He saw that same spirit when he visited San Pablo, and came aboard in 2021. Continue reading Hierald Osorto
North Star Way: Minnesota Navigates a Harsh Winter launches on October 27.
Over the summer, we interviewed 17 people who found creative and courageous ways to show up for community. Each week, we will share one or two stories on our podcast, on our website, and on social media.
These are powerful stories of hope, healing, and human connection. We hope you’ll listen.
Continue reading North Star Way
The author reflects on the importance of slowing down in a fast-paced world, sharing experiences from a Water Protectors camp opposing an oil pipeline. Emphasizing listening and understanding, the project with the McKnight Foundation aims to engage communities in meaningful conversations about their concerns, identities, and stories to foster deeper connections and improvements. Continue reading Starting slowly
There’s no doubt we are experiencing an erosion of trust in our society. Trust in institutions. In our politics. In the content the algorithms feed us. In one another. Last month we spent time at the Bridging Movement Summit with the Listen First Coalition, a collection of 500 organizations across the country, working to rebuild trust and relationships in a season when trust is hard … Continue reading Trust
In Havre, Montana, local public health officials sought help to show residents they are not alone. An art-based storytelling project at the Great Northern Fair invited people to share moments of courage, fostering connection and hope. Continue reading Havre
Adam Turkington, a Belfast creative producer and cultural organizer, has significantly influenced the city’s street art scene. Founder of the Hit the North festival, he advocates for public art as a means to foster community and connection. Turkington emphasizes the transformative potential of art in bridging divides and enhancing local identity. Continue reading Adam Turkington
The content reflects on a transformative journey of storytelling across the U.S., where individuals share personal experiences related to healing, courage, and prevention of various social issues. Emphasizing hope and resilience, it highlights the importance of listening, community support, and the proactive quest for solutions to life’s challenges. Continue reading Healing
Bryonie Reid, a writer and cultural geographer from Belfast, explores connections between place and belonging through community projects with her sister, Gemma. Their work fosters dialogue on Northern Ireland’s complex history, emphasizing quiet relationship-building and listening as pathways to peace, acceptance, and shared futures amidst challenges and uncertainty. Continue reading Bryonie Reid
Patricia Moore is a community activist and longtime Sinn Féin member from Derry, Northern Ireland, whose life has been shaped by the conflict known as the Troubles and the subsequent peace process. Raised in Derry during some of the most violent years of the conflict, she experienced military raids, street violence, and the daily realities of a divided society from an early age. At 17, she became involved in republican politics and later spent more than a year in prison after being detained during a mass arrest operation; the case against her ultimately collapsed when the key witness withdrew her testimony. Continue reading Hilary Lawrey
