Last month, we shared an ambitious project for our community: A City Worth Fighting For. Minneapolis-based writers Terry White and David Therkelsen announced an independent, 10-day research trip to Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Their mission? To study how these West Coast cities are navigating the exact same complex crises Minneapolis faces today—from empty storefronts and rising property taxes to public safety, harm reduction, and homelessness.
Here at the Minneapolis Times, our enthusiasm for this project couldn’t be higher. We firmly believe that nonpartisan, solution-focused journalism is precisely what our community needs to move past political gridlock and discover fresh, actionable ideas.
As July gets underway, preparations for the trip are in full swing. We want to provide our readers with an update on where the project stands, particularly regarding the grassroots fundraising efforts making this vital research possible.
Closing the Gap on Travel Expenses
When we first announced the initiative, the bare-bones budget to cover lodging, flights, meals, and research materials for both writers across three cities was set at $6,600. Thanks to the immediate generosity of readers and civic-minded community members who believe Minneapolis deserves an honest, constructive dialogue, we are getting closer to that goal every day.
However, we are not yet fully funded. We still need a final push from our community to completely cover the baseline costs of the trip.
A Mission of Pure Civic Commitment
There is a crucial piece of context about this fundraiser that deserves to be stated clearly: every single dollar raised goes exclusively toward direct travel and production expenses. Neither Terry White nor David Therkelsen is receiving a single dime of compensation or salary for the massive body of work they are undertaking. This research project, the upcoming series of five deep-dive articles, and the accompanying audio and video interviews are entirely pro-bono efforts born out of a shared dedication to our city’s future.
In fact, the project’s team members are putting their own skin in the game. Both authors, David Therkelsen and Terry White, along with Minneapolis Times publisher David Tinjum, are not just volunteering their time and energy—they are also personal financial contributors to the fund itself.
They aren’t doing this for profit; they are doing this because they believe Minneapolis is a city worth fighting for, and that learning from the successes and failures of others is simply smart strategy.
How You Can Help Send Conversations Home
We are asking our community to help us cross the finish line. If you want to see independent, objective research that brings real answers back to our local policy debates, please consider making a contribution. Donations of any size make a tangible difference.
-
Give Online: You can make a secure, tax-deductible donation online at givebutter.com/mplsfoodforthought.
-
Give by Mail: Checks should be made payable to the Local Media Foundation with “Minneapolis Food for Thought” written clearly on the memo line.
Mail donations to: Local Media Foundation P.O. Box 85015 Chicago, IL 60689-5033
Thank you to everyone who has backed this project so far. We look forward to bringing the best ideas home to Minneapolis.
Gentlemen, kudos for stepping up. I will be donating towards this laudable endeavor. As I understand the research aim, it is focused on governmental operations. My interest is more broadly about how local cultures including religious denominations and charitable groups effect positive change. A subset of my interest is particularly in family intergenerational living – something that was common in the U.S. in the early to mid 1900’s. I believe that government is so focused on piecemeal social policy that the central importance of family is bypassed. Good luck on your adventure. Please come back with an anecdote or two of harmless fun!!