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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.

Relics photo essay: the K.K. Berge on the river in Granite Falls

Relics photo essay: the K.K. Berge on the river in Granite Falls

This former mercantile building on the edge of the Minnesota River was slated to be torn down before a group of locals convinced the city of Granite Falls to spend the demolition money on rehabbing it instead.
by Jennifer Vogel

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Pork, sauerkraut and leadership

Pork, sauerkraut and leadership

Probably not a lot of restaurants serve a pork and sauerkraut rice plate, but that was the special one recent day at Solar’s Real Food Cafe in Springfield, a southern Minnesota town with a strong German heritage.
by Dave Peters

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Relics photo essay: Fighting over the Kasson school

Relics photo essay: Fighting over the Kasson school

The debate over what to do with the public school in Kasson, in southeastern Minnesota, has been raging ever since the city took possession of it in the mid 2000s. A referendum to refurbish it failed and the city decided to tear it down to make way for a new library. But then local preservationists Read more →
by Jennifer Vogel

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Relics photo essay: the Hotel Kaddatz in Fergus Falls

Relics photo essay: the Hotel Kaddatz in Fergus Falls

The century-old Hotel Kaddatz in downtown Fergus Falls was vacant and falling apart when local residents stepped forward to save it. With the help of city leaders, community members put in money and volunteer hours to replace a failing roof and make other improvements. How communities grapple with empty, iconic buildings is a topic Ground Read more →
by Jennifer Vogel

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Relics photo essay: B’nai Abraham synagogue building in Virginia

Relics photo essay: B’nai Abraham synagogue building in Virginia

B’nai Abraham was the last active synagogue on the Range. But as the Jewish population in the area dwindled, it became harder to find enough people for a service. Its doors closed two decades ago and the building fell into disrepair.
by Jennifer Vogel

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When is it worth preserving historic or iconic buildings?

When is it worth preserving historic or iconic buildings?

Ground Level from MPR News: It looms in the heart of town, perhaps an old school or a hotel, stone or brick, big and empty. Infrastructure from the past but no longer in demand, it occupies high ground, an architect-designed, iconic building made of solid local materials. It once was a town’s soul. Now it’s…
by Michael Olson

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