In the last couple of years, more and more of you have been replying to emails, taking action, showing up to events, donating, and much more. Every time you do this, you are making the movement move! Our community is growing stronger and more purposeful. I'm so encouraged about where we are and where we are going next. 

On behalf of the Mississippi River Network staff team, 
-Michael Anderson, Outreach and Engagement Manager

P.S. If we still haven't met, please reply to this email and say hey! And be sure to check below for details on our upcoming event, our latest action alert, a special announcement, and more!

There’s no better time than now to dive into a book that illuminates the history, beauty, and stories of our treasured Mississippi River! Two of our favorites are Hear the River Dammed: Poems from the edge of the Mississippi by Cole Williams and Old Man River: The Mississippi River in North American History by Paul Schneider. 

At our special event on Wednesday, December 7th, 2022, at 12 pm CT via Zoom, join author Paul Schneider as he shares stories from Old Man River and answers your questions! We'll also share readings from Cole Williams' Hear the River Dammed. And guess what? There will be a live drawing for signed copies of both books during the event!

This event is open to all and free. But when you make a donation of $50 with your registration, you may choose one of the two books as our gift to you! If you cannot attend but would like to secure a book, click here.

Our Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico are economic, cultural, and biological lifelines for our Nation. Unfortunately, the River and Gulf are suffering. Many of you know that chemical pollution (namely excess nitrogen and phosphorous) flows down our River leading to the notorious Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone (learn more), which measured 3,300 square miles this year, equivalent to 1.5 million football fields.

Thankfully, solutions exist, and you can make a difference today. We are calling on the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force to prioritize a holistic, basin-wide management approach that focuses on sustainable agricultural practices (like continuous living cover) and other nature-based solutions (like restoring wetlands and floodplains) to reduce pollution from entering our waterways! 

You don't need to be an expert to make a difference. We've done the prep work for you in our newest action . All you need to do now is add your name and click to send the email (it takes about one minute!). Note: this action is due by December 8th. Join your fellow community members and speak up for the River and Gulf now!

1 Mississippi is a program of the Mississippi River Network, a coalition of over 60 organizations and businesses working together to create a healthier Mississippi River for people, land, water, and wildlife. Find your local Network members on our map. 

For this month's member spotlight, we feature the latest edition of a journal published by the University of Minnesota called Open Rivers: Rethinking Water, Place & Community. The latest edition, Women & Water: Confrontation, includes stories, articles, and narratives that centers women from various perspectives and experiences in the "ever-ongoing processes of engaging with water as a site of trauma, of change, and of possibility." 

We give a special shoutout to the journal's media and production manager, Joanne Richardson, who wears many hats at the University, including roles with the Institute for Advanced Study and the Land-Water-Place program. Now go ahead, carve out some time and dive into these incredible stories!