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Ground Level®: Amplifying Community Voices

Your story is powerful. The stories you share with others honor the complexity of our communities while forging a more equitable and vibrant future.

Call 651-228-4800 and leave us a voice memo. If you're more comfortable texting, you can text “Hello” to 1-833-870-4111. You can also email us at tell@mpr.org and join in on conversations in our Ground Level Facebook group.

We’d like to hear your thoughts and questions. Your ideas about solutions. How are your communities? What are you seeing today? And what do you want to see tomorrow?

Note that while we will exercise editorial judgment for language, length and avoiding personal attacks, we will not sacrifice your meaning. We will ensure your main message comes through on air and online.

How are you trying to conserve energy?

How are you trying to conserve energy?

Greg Chester in Cass Lake built a second wall around the inside of his house to conserve heat. Noreen Thomas in Moorhead grows her own wheat and then uses bicycle power to grind the flour to make bread. Elizabeth Dickinson in St. Paul installed solar panels seven years ago and has generated as much power Read more →
by Dave Peters

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How are you trying to conserve energy?

How are you trying to conserve energy?

Image via MPR News designer Will Lager Ground Level from MPR News examines local energy innovation in Minnesota: As the nation continues to debate how it should fill its energy needs, many people in Minnesota are finding unique and interesting ways on their own to generate power or heat for their homes and businesses. For…
by Michael Olson

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Making Energy Local — some Minnesota communities have started.

Making Energy Local — some Minnesota communities have started.

Some Minnesota communities have begun generating their own energy, partly to save money, partly to use available resources more wisely. It’s a local issue that ties directly into global complexities.
by Dave Peters

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American Futures, a new take on small-city America

American Futures, a project on reinvention and resilience by The Atlantic and Marketplace, looks at national economic and political phenomena through the lens of small-city America. Keep an eye out for reports from
by Dave Peters

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Smart phones aren’t reducing the rural Internet gap

Smart phones aren’t reducing the rural Internet gap

There’s been increasing talk lately that the push to get everybody on the Internet will get a boost as smart phones become ubiquitous. Even people who don’t have broadband service at home, because of cost or for some other reason, will get on the Internet via their phones, the argument goes. So perhaps we don’t Read more →
by Dave Peters

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If worker shortage comes, rural Minnesota will feel it first

If worker shortage comes, rural Minnesota will feel it first

There isn’t a huge skilled worker shortage yet, says an economic analysis by the Center for Rural Policy and Development in St. Peter. But if one comes, rural Minnesota, beset by aging demographics and competition from the Twin Cities, Fargo, Sioux Falls and the North Dakota oil fields, will feel it first.
by Dave Peters

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Fighting for an American Countryside: the search for purpose

Fighting for an American Countryside: the search for purpose

Small towns are exploring new economic avenues, whether local foods, tourism or green energy. A new eBook called Fighting for an American Countryside, from MPR News’ Ground Level project, looks at efforts across the state.
by Jennifer Vogel

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