Project Optimist: Building Bridges - Ep. 1 A Hero's Journey
'I heard some really moving stories that were, like, similar to mine but different in some ways. Different cultures have different experiences. I was moved.'
Project Optimist
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Project Optimist wins 2 Minnesota news awards
The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists 2026 Page One Awards recognized Project Optimist for its 2025 work and approaching fifth anniversary.
Project Optimist wins 3 Minnesota journalism awards
The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists announced award recipients on Thursday, June 26.
📻 Project Optimist and KZYS get Press Forward MN funds for partnership
The collaboration between KZYS and Project Optimist will include community journalism training, co-reported stories, cross-publishing articles in English and Somali, and more.
Community Voices ⎸ What Project Optimist readers told us
We break down the results from our 2024 Audience Survey and share how it will inform our work in 2025 and beyond.
Community Voices ⎸ Project Optimist receives $100K Press Forward grant
Project Optimist is one of 205 small, local news publications to receive grants from Press Forward, the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news.
Community Voices ⎸ Fact-checks catch mistakes — every single time
"It takes time, but I know it's made me a stronger reporter," writes Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten, managing editor of Project Optimist.
Project Optimist receives $100K grant from McKnight Foundation
The funding will support Project Optimist in 2024 and 2025.
Community Voices ⎸ Support Project Optimist this Leap Day
"It's been more than three months now since I started, and I have to say I'm excited to get up and get to work every day," writes managing editor Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten.