Letting Go Book

We're now thirteen months into Proximate, and for the first time we're asking for our readers' financial support. We've accomplished a lot in our first year: ??? Published 90 articles that were viewed 50,000 times ?? Reached 25,000 unique readers and 1,000 newsletter subscribers ???? Piloted regional newsrooms in Brazil, East Africa and India ?? Ran 10 events, from small salon dinners to 80-person workshops ?? Co-published stories with outlets like Alliance magazine, Solutions Now Africa and 9 Millones For those who don't know, Proximate has been mostly a volunteer operation so far. We're doing our first big fundraising push for #GivingTuesday, and we're grateful to readers who are able to support our nonprofit journalism.

Like any any independent publication, the work we do at Proximate requires sustained support. It’s only through the generosity of readers like you that we can continue to produce high-quality, compelling nonprofit journalism. Read our editor's letter (bit.ly/3CU34db) and consider supporting us this Giving Tuesday with a tax-deductible donation.

"We have to remember that regardless of the government in power, movements find a way to show up." We spoke with Laura Vergara and Ruby Johnson about elections, funding cuts and how organizations like The Global Resilience Fund are filling gaps for proximate activists working on the frontlines.

Adolescent girls are engaged in every social justice and national liberation movement in the world. Yet funders continue to under-resource their work. Angelika Arutyunova and Lariza Fonseca share takeaways for funders who want to support girls and young feminists that are leading creative responses to crises and rising authoritarianism. Published in partnership with Alliance magazine.

I recently discovered Proximate, an innovative media house, after meeting Ben Wrobel at the Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) conference in Georgia. What initially drew me to Proximate is its potential to shift dominant narratives, especially crucial when freedom of speech is under threat globally. There are so many stories that never get told through traditional media - grassroots organising, community-led solutions, indigenous knowledge systems, local peace-building efforts, small-scale sustainability initiatives and more. These narratives of hope and change often remain hidden, overshadowed by mainstream (often biased) reporting. Another fascinating aspect is how Proximate is reimagining media governance. They're driving content creation through readers and producers - an important step for diversifying media content and representation. Proximate has been experimenting with participatory journalism with partners running newsrooms in South Asia and East Africa. This Thursday (25 July), they're hosting a conversation with these partners to share how this experiment is unfolding. Check it out if you're interested in media innovation, participatory storytelling, and collaborative approaches to content production and information dissemination.?

Citizens’ assemblies are increasingly popular in Europe and Canada. But not in the United States. How come? Pamela Bailey explores this question from a number of directions, including conversations with Marjan Horst Ehsassi of FIDE - North America; Linn Davis of Healthy Democracy; and Michael Draskovic of Democracy Policy Network Read more from our Beyond Elections, our partnership with People Powered, here: https://lnkd.in/dBjnKJ5q

Trust in democracy is near an all-time low. However, an emerging network of pro-democracy activists argues that one way to save liberal democracy is to return to its roots: public participation in the democratic process. In our new monthly newsletter — in partnership with People Powered, and spearheaded by Lead Editor Pamela Bailey — we’ll write about participatory democracy from all angles; exploring models like participatory budgeting, citizens’ assemblies, and legislative theater that give everyday people a chance to decide the future of their communities. Read the newsletter here and be sure to sign up for future issues of Beyond Elections, plus our other ongoing newsletters: https://lnkd.in/gvwfyFes

Check out this new newsletter on participatory democracy by Proximate, in partnership with People Powered! They’ll be writing and sharing stories and commentary to help bring this work to life.

Introducing "Equity Overhaul": a new column by Rachel Kimber, MPA, MS that explores the future of equitable grants management in the United States