Amid all the stress and rancor around us these days, good endures. This newsletter is dedicated to shining a spotlight on the positive.
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WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Paulie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery)
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A LEGACY OF GOOD
MLK DAY: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was invoked with immediacy at a Jan. 19 breakfast celebrating the late civil rights activist amid the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota.” QUOTE: “Here we are today, facing even more uncertainty in our own home, in our own street, our own neighborhood, and our own schools and places of everyday movement,” said Laverne McCartney Knighton, the local development director for UNCF. “We look to protect and care for each other like brothers and sisters, to remain united and to promote Dr. King’s vision of peace and humanity during these trying times.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pGwfD7
MORE: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “As snow fell outside, warmth and purpose filled the Country Club at Golden Valley as Sweet Potato Comfort Pie (SPCP) held its 11th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday of Service over the weekend. Volunteers, students, community members, and award recipients gathered to the rhythms of Soul Drum Academy, with each table set with sweet potato pie and surrounded by a photo exhibit reflecting community, care, and connection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZmaVrP
RIDES TO SCHOOL: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Many students are fearful of federal immigration efforts across the Twin Cities, and even concerned they may be swept up by ICE agents for simply trying to get to school. Jackson Schultz tells WCCO Radio’s Adam and Jordana he’s started giving rides to school.” QUOTE: “When kids aren’t able to go to school because they’re so afraid of being taken, I mean, it’s just, it’s very difficult to see,” Schultz said Friday. “And I take it - it’s my responsibility to help them in any way that I can. And in this case, it’s just giving them rides, and that’s the least I can do to help.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/49EeSyl
CHURCHES: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A Twin Cities nonprofit has launched a new initiative to support immigrant churches as federal activity continues in Minnesota. Transform Minnesota, a regional network of evangelical churches, this week launched One Fund, a singular fundraising effort to help provide immigrant churches with groceries and emergency support.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3NT3wh9
FOOD: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “TC Food Justice is a food rescue organization, meaning it collects food that grocery stores and cooperatives are getting rid of and distributes it to food shelves before it goes to waste, according to executive director Anne Hill. But right now, those food shelves are seeing a massive decline in foot traffic . . . So the group decided to pivot. Hill connected with members of teachers unions throughout the metro, and asked if they could help distribute food to families who aren’t able to go buy groceries or visit a food bank. The response was yes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NS4Oce
GOOD SPORTS
NEXT MONTH: Via Florida-based Lee Health, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Twins Celebrity Golf Classic is set to return for its 28th year on Feb. 13, 2026, bringing the community together to raise funds for Lee Health Cancer Institute.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YN4zBO
CRAYONS: Monticello’s Pinewood Elementary is among 31 schools around the world named by Crayola as Creative Week Global Ambassadors. READ: https://fluence-media.co/49MV9v9
CHEER: Via KTTC-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s only all-deaf high school cheerleading team is hoping to make it to the top of the pyramid at its first cheerleading competition of 2026. The squad is also making history as the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) Trojan cheer team competes in its first-ever hearing competition.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jPfIvf
FISHING: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources kicked off its Take a Kid Ice Fishing weekend on Saturday in Minnesota. Any adult accompanied by a child age 15 or younger can ice fish for free anywhere in the state this weekend. Although they do not meet the Minnesota DNR’s age requirement of 15 years or younger to fish for free this weekend, one group of college kids who grew up ice fishing with their families, now gets to carry on the tradition with their friends on Duluth Harbor.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4616KW2
MORE FISHING: Via Grand Forks Herald, VERBATIM: “Fred Parnow is excited to give kids the chance to fish on Jan. 31. He, along with a group of volunteers and about 35 youth, ages 10 to 16, will be taking a bus from Crookston to Island Lake, Minnesota, to fish for crappie. ‘This is our third annual trip,’ he said of the event his nonprofit organization, Get Kids Outdoors, plans every year. Once at the lake, participants will be able to drop their lines in various styles of fish houses, from hub houses to flipovers to ice castles, Parnow said, ‘so kids can rotate around and get the experience of all of those.’ Volunteers will help them set up their lines and teach them techniques of fishing. ‘It should be a fun day.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qVrCWS
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
HOW GOOD GETS DONE
COCOA: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “A Lowell Elementary third grader turned her day off from school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day into an opportunity to give to her community. Amy Ray invited community members to stop by the Hartley Nature Center to warm up with hot chocolate Monday afternoon. She sold cups of hot cocoa for $2 with all proceeds from her sales benefitting Chum.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jMMNIx
NONPROFIT KNOWHOW: Via Mankato Free Press, VERBATIM: “For Brittany Wojtowicz, the ‘Navigating Philanthropy’ sessions come at a great time as she expands her knowledge base as the new executive director of CADA in Mankato. Although not in crisis, like most nonprofits CADA’s funding is constantly changing. Mankato Area Foundation is presenting the four-part series of free sessions to help organizations recognize potential opportunities for increasing revenue in different areas: Philanthropy 101, Individual Giving 101, Grant Making 101 and Earned Income 101.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qozO20
GRANTS: Via CenterPoint, VERBATIM: “The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is currently accepting applications through Feb. 13 for nonprofit programs and initiatives focused on education including literacy, science-technology-engineering-mathematics (STEM) and workforce development.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NuTxhY
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