Upstream Minnesota

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Upstream Minnesota

Upstream brings people together to celebrate and amplify the many ways Minnesotans of all backgrounds love and value our place.

As Minnesotans, our love of this place has the power to bring us together across division and difference. Upstream is a radically diverse collaboration of people and organizations cultivating shared values of caring for our lands, our lakes, and our communities. Upstream recognizes, celebrates, and amplifies the actions of Minnesotans of every background who are taking steps to ensure a healthy, n

atural place in which to live, work, learn, and play. Our work is optimistic, approachable, and makes room at the table for everyone. Our collective efforts will inspire even more people to act in ways, both large and small, to be better stewards of our state, elevate a culture of caring, and ensure that future generations of Minnesotans can thrive. Our Values:
We will make change with a spirit of optimism…
because real solutions require a belief that better is possible. We will seek out and be inclusive of all people and perspectives…
because we all care about our home state, and our place is shared by all Minnesotans. We will be stronger stewards of it together. We will amplify our shared connection to place and common experiences...
because we strive to create a unified culture of caring for our land, water, and air as well as for each other. We will celebrate successes and won’t get stuck on setbacks…
because in embracing new ideas, progress is more valuable than perfection

We will share stories that inspire more positive action…
because it is our combined narratives that shape our Minnesotan culture and identity.

06/23/2026

Building community is at the heart of Upstream’s work. We believe caring for our natural places starts with caring for one another, building relationships, trust, and connection across our communities. ⁠
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Last week, neighbors gathered at .side.freedom.library for an evening of conversation, connection, and stewardship. Together, we shared stories, learned more about Upstream’s work on the East Side, and explored how we can all play a role in caring for the places we love.⁠
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We were grateful to enjoy incredible music from and delicious food from Eastside Thai while celebrating the people who make our communities stronger. ⁠
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Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped create a space for connection, belonging, and a shared love for Minnesota’s natural places.

06/19/2026

When we share stories about the places we love, we strengthen the connections that help us care for them.⁠
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✨️Upstream’s Creative Writers/Grassroots Journalism Residency✨️ is built on the belief that stories have the power to deepen our connection to natural places, communities, and the people who make Minnesota special.⁠
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This 9-month remote residency invites Minnesota writers, poets, storytellers, and grassroots journalists to spend intentional time with the landscapes, waterways, and local caretakers that inspire us, creating meaningful work rooted in connection to place.⁠
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Through poetry, journalism, essays, and creative storytelling, residents will help amplify the voices and everyday acts of stewardship that shape Minnesota.⁠
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Residency Details:⁠
📍Remote Minnesota residency in the following locations: East of Side St. Paul, West Central Minnesota (Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties), and the Iron Range, Minnesota (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties)⁠
💰 $3,000 stipend⁠
🕰️ Flexible schedule⁠
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Applicants must be:⁠
✔️ 18 years or older⁠
✔️ A Minnesota resident⁠
✔️ Living within one of the three residency regions⁠
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Whether you write poetry beside a lake, document the stories of local caretakers, or reflect on your relationship with the places you call home we want to hear your voice.⁠
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⏰ Applications are open and the deadline to apply is July 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM: https://form.jotform.com/261462966442160

06/15/2026

✨This Week: East Side Community Night ✨⁠
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Don’t forget to join us this Wednesday, June 17th, as we gather on the East Side to celebrate the people, places, and stories that make our community special.⁠
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Come enjoy an evening of connection, trivia, live music from Obsidian James, and delicious food with neighbors.⁠
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🗓️ Wednesday, June 17th⁠
⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM⁠
📍 East Side Freedom Library
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This is a free community event, RSVP today: https://app.gametimehero.com/share/event/ESCN-ESFL

06/12/2026

Our community partner, Upstream Minnesota, will be hosting a community gathering on Wednesday, June 17th from 5:30-7:30 pm on the East Side of St. Paul at the East Side Freedom Library (1105 Greenbrier Street).

The evening will be filled with food, music, East Side trivia, and fun! We will be talking with community members about their East Side stories, projects, gardens, and all the places they love and enjoy. The beautiful STORYSTREAM TRAILER will be parked onsite to record Eastside stories for those that want to share.

We’ll close out the evening with music from singer songwriter Obsidian James, an Afro-Indigenous artist from Harlem, who now calls MN home.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 17th and we hope to see many of you there!

06/10/2026

Check out how an Upstream Unsung Caretaker in Minneapolis is helping care for local waterways through the Adopt-a-Drain program. By spending just a few hours each month clearing leaves, trash, and debris from a neighborhood storm drain, volunteers help prevent pollution from reaching our lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Read the story: https://hillandlakepress.org/cleaning-greening-adopting-drain

Ready to take your own next step in stewardship? Visit mn.adopt-a-drain.org, enter your address, and explore the map to find a drain near you to adopt. Together, volunteers have already kept hundreds of thousands of pounds of debris out of Minnesota waterways.

06/08/2026

✨️CALL FOR WRITERS, POETS & GRASSROOTS JOURNALISTS ✨️

Applications open today for the Upstream Creative Writers/Grassroots Journalism Residency: Writing About Natural Places, Stewards, and the Spaces We Care For

This 9-month remote Minnesota residency invites creative writers, poets, storytellers, and grassroots journalists to spend intentional time exploring Minnesota’s parks, waterways, forests, natural places, and the people who care for them.

Selected MN Artists will receive:
✨️$3,000 Artist Stipend
✨️Mileage reimbursement up to $500
✨️Minnesota State Parks Pass
✨️Mentorship & creative support
✨️Opportunity to publish and share work statewide

We are looking for writers who care about storytelling rooted in place, environment, community, stewardship, and connection.

You must be a Minnesota Resident, 18 years or older, and have a residence in East Side St Paul, West Central Minnesota, (Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties) or the Iron Range, MN (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and Saint Louis Counties).

Applications Open: June 8, 2026
Deadline: July 6, 2026, by 11:59PM

Apply today: https://form.jotform.com/261462966442160

For questions or help reach out to Naomi RaMona Schliesman at [email protected] or call 320-288-5369.

06/05/2026

with Naomi RaMona Schliesman⁠
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Hi, I’m Naomi, and my daughter Zara and I love exploring the natural places around Otter Tail County and across Minnesota. ⁠
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Some of our most meaningful moments happen outside on quiet trails, near the water, or noticing the small things we might otherwise miss in the busyness of everyday life. Nature has become more than something we do; it’s how we connect, slow down, and learn together.⁠
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One of the best ways I’ve found to encourage outdoor exploration with kids is to make it playful. Sometimes Zara brings a journal to draw what she sees, other days we pack binoculars for birdwatching or plan a picnic near a lake. When time outside feels like an adventure, children naturally lean into curiosity and connection.⁠
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These moments also create opportunities to teach stewardship in simple, tangible ways, picking up litter on a trail, practicing Leave No Trace, supporting local farmers' markets, or joining a community cleanup. Small actions help children understand that caring for the Earth is part of loving where we live.⁠
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This spring, I encourage your family to spend a little extra time outdoors. Minnesota’s lakes, trails, parks, and open spaces are full of opportunities for discovery. You don’t need a big plan, just a willingness to step outside and see what you find. ⁠
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You might be surprised by what your children notice and how naturally they become stewards of the places they love.⁠
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➡️ What’s Your Story? We share stories of stewardship written by and about Minnesotans like you! Share your story today: https://mnupstream.org/share-your-upstream-story/

06/04/2026

‼️‼️FREE STATE PARK DAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH ‼️‼️

Find a state park near you: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/parkfinder/index.html

06/02/2026

Save the Date: ✨️East Side Community Night ✨️ ⁠
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We're excited to gather again on the East Side on June 17th to celebrate where we live and the people who make our community special. Join us for trivia, music by and delicious food. ⁠
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🗓️June 17th⁠
⏰️ 5:30-7:30PM⁠
Hosted at: .side.freedom.library⁠
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RSVP for this *free event* https://app.gametimehero.com/share/event/ESCN-ESFL

See you on 6/17! ☺️

Address

855 Village Center Drive #108
North Oaks, MN
55127

Website

http://www.mnupstream.org/

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