Celebrate 300 Editions of Hyper-local News

‘Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya: Good afternoon, good evening, and good night!’ 

I am so happy to be celebrating our 300th edition of NewPrensa with you! That means almost 6 years of dedicated and crafted writing to you, dear reader. Although I haven’t been around since its conception, I’m a proud writer and editor. 

In our 2023 Zine, we shared how communication is our underlying motto, but with achieving communal excellence we have pursued our personal interests while staying true to our crew. 

The current social atmosphere is tense yet constantly shifting due to our ever changing world and increasingly heightened by the overwhelming amounts of content that spread information to the seams of our brain, inherited from generations who would have considered our world the unimaginable. Limited and, somehow, controlled by our technology that seems to dictate our routines while others stray away from the status quo, like our fellow Luddites (like Woody Allen or George Clooney), I seem to find myself appalled by the oversimplified thought of an insignificant yet hugely domineering piece of metal and plastic. 

Things are changing folks – you know it, and we know it. Just recently, TV Mini Series ‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ was released on HBO MAX. This docu-series uncovers the toxic culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 90s and early 2000s. We’re talking ‘All That’, ‘The Amanda Show’, ‘Drake and Josh’, ‘iCarly’, ‘Victorious’ and many more. Since 2017, actor Corey Feldman has spoken about pedophilia in Hollywood. It’s nothing new. The #MeToo movement, also in 2017, highlighted workplace abuse and harassment in Hollywood. Just recently, the New York Times released an article on social media child influencers and the pedophiles that contributed to their fame and fortune. 

I didn’t mean to take you down the rabbit hole – I’m sorry. What I meant to do was explain how times have changed in the same way Rick and Morty switch dimensions, like in the first episode of season three where Rick says “I want that Mulan McNugget sauce, Morty. That’s my series arc, Morty,” referring back to the 90s McDonald’s Mulan Szechuan Sauce. McDonald’s then did a limited time release of the sauce at special locations because fans were asking for it. 

Two years ago, in April, we were celebrating our 200th edition. Back then we were talking about the potential fate of abortions in the U.S. – Uff da! That didn’t age well. Only 2 months later, on June 24, Roe v. Wade was overturned, ending the federal constitutional right to abortion in the U.S. Last Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris visited an abortion clinic in Minnesota, which our Public and Legislative Affairs director got to attend. In August we had the primary elections, when Gov. Walz was running for Minnesota Governor a second time. In November, we were in the middle of a soccer world cup, commemorating the National Day of Mourning, Rosalia won many Latin grammys as a non-Latina, and we supported our friends at Roots Cafe (love their Cafe de Olla!). 

Speaking of coffee, before we said goodbye to 2022, in December we gave you some recs’ for best POC-owned cafes and local print houses/publishers in the Twin-Cities. We might have to update that list soon with some newcomers – keep yourselves tuned. 

2023 started on a different note. Remember when Hamline University dismissed the adjunct art-history professor after showing students the Persian painting of the Prophet Muhammad? In February we got artsy with it – we highlighted independent, Black-owned media company ‘SABER’ and local music venue and bar, ‘The Green Room’. Cannabis became legal in Minnesota in August! Wow, so much has happened. 

That’s not all we did. During 2023, we took some time to talk to our local businesses and community leaders that were making a splash on the lakes. We talked to Latinx policy advocates when Driver’s Licenses for All passed the House of Representatives before it became official in March 2023. Last Friday NewPublica celebrated alongside Minnesotans important community leader and Minnesota Immigrant Movement (MIM) founder, Jovita Morales, at the Humphrey-Mondale dinner. We also highlighted the opening of restaurant Oro by Nixta and Chicano artist Jimmy Longoria’s work in the Oro bathroom; I wrote a reflection on the effects of immigration on our bi-cultural legacies; we spoke with MIA’s Valeria Piccoli on reshaping the narrative of Latin American Art and Culture; Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro celebrated AfroLatinidad in Minneapolis and spoke about the importance of our hair; and the list goes on as we will continue to add to it. 

But there’s more. Mateo and Ebe have also added to our original content by covering famous artists, like Lil Yachty or Lil Tecca, and reviewing trending films like Saltburn. Mateo also got enthusiastic and reminded us of our Latinx heritage in baseball through the historic career of Miguel Cabrera. Let’s not forget the addition of our collaborative playlist: NewMusica, bringing NewTaste and NewVibes for the readers who are on the wave and for those who want to catch one.  

When NewPrensa first began, it started off as a news aggregator and then it took up some personality through its different writers. So far, we’ve encountered a total of 9 writers, each with a personal touch that has enhanced your reading experience on a weekly basis. Today, NewPrensa brings a nuance and authenticity into the coverage of local and national stories. We continue to strive for the feeling of “togetherness” and safety, using communication as our underlying motto, while achieving communal excellence as we pursue our personal interests and stay true to the crew.

As the Presidential Elections approach us, Rev. and U.S Senator from Georgia Raphael Warnock shared some important words during his speech at the 2024 Humphrey-Mondale dinner:

“While other states move backwards, Minnesota moves forward.” Get mad and vote, as “this election is a letter to our children.” 

---

Stay informed, stay connected. 

See you next week! 

-Peace, Isabella and the NewPrensa team

Hit play on the Spotify icon below for the NewMusica playlist,
a playlist by the NewPrensa team that brings you NewTaste and NewVibes. 

---

Advertisements

---