| Dear Friend, When working with students along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities, I'd tell them that 'they are the Mississippi River walking around". I got various looks: curiosity, laughter, confusion. We'd then chat about how humans are ~60% water and that the water which flowed through the tap at our nearby homes was (filtered and cleaned) Mississippi River water. One afternoon, a young student became the teacher when they stood up and said, "so if we protect the river, it's like we are taking care of ourselves." My jaw dropped while my heart swelled, and since then, I've been busy trying to spread this young person's wisdom far and wide. Perhaps the fact that about 20 million people in 50 cities source their drinking water from the Mississippi is why you take action to protect our River. Since we protect what we love, I hope you find some time this month to fall in love with the people, land, water, and wildlife of our treasured Mississippi River. If you need an idea of something to do, I recommend attending Misstrivia Night happening online on September 29th - it's going to be a lot of fun! Thanks for reading your September River Citizen newsletter,
-Michael Anderson, Mississippi River Network |
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| | Join the Celebration: World Rivers Day 2022! |
|  | World Rivers Day takes place later this month, and we have big plans to celebrate the Mississippi River – one of the world’s greatest. Look for several World Rivers Day opportunities this month including Misstrivia Night on September 29, where you can put your knowledge to the test, enjoy music from John Ruskey, Mark River Peoples and Heather Crosse, have some fun, and maybe even win a prize! One of the best ways to honor the River for World Rivers Day is through your support. Your donation to Mississippi River Network helps us continue our work for the people, land, water, and wildlife of the River. |
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| Gulf 'Dead Zone' Disappointment & Optimism - Here's Why |
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Ode to the Fisherman by Mark River |
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| "My Father, who hated babysitting, would drag us down to the River in our old station wagon, battling mosquitos until they were unbearable. We would forage the floodplain for stranded fish while chasing rabbits through the bottomland forest. We used to dig for green river worms, native to the Mississippi River floodplains and wetlands, which fish are very particular about. Still to this day, the fish prefer these wetland worms over the Walmart worms".
Read Mark River's new blog, 'Ode to the Fisherman' here! |
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| |  | End of Summer Beach Bash
September 7th, 5:30 - 7:30 All summer, the Iowa Environmental Council has put out Iowa-based 'weekly water watches' to help keep you and your loved ones safe while enjoying our waterways. Now, join in and celebrate our special summer recreation spaces and places at the free end-of-summer Beach Bash at Bobber's Grill on the shore of Coralville Lake, Iowa. |
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 | A River Connected: Stories about River, race, climate and home
September 15th, 12 pm CT Join A House Unbuilt for stories and conversations from their Relay of Voices project. This free event is open to all and features stories of Sunny Dawn Summers, founder and former School Leader of the New Harmony School in New Orleans, Louisiana; Rod Lincoln, Nairn, Louisiana native and local Plaquemines Parish historian; Bubba O’Keefe, storyteller and Tourism Director in Clarksdale, Mississippi; and Raymond Willie, local historian and caretaker of the Pillow-Thompson House in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. |
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 | Misstrivia Night
September 29th, 6 - 7:30 pm CT In celebration of World Rivers Day, the Mississippi River Network proudly hosts Misstrivia Night! Join fellow river-lovers from all over the map online and honor one of the greatest rivers in the world, while having fun playing trivia, enjoying live music, and more! Did we mention there will be prizes and giveaways? |
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| | Launching: Next Generation of Ag Leaders |
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| The Mississippi River Network and Green Lands Blue Waters are happy to launch the "Equipping Next Generation Ag Leaders" mentorship program this September! This mentorship program pairs 12 outstanding students and young professionals of color from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois with incredible mentors, farmers, and trainers, representing diverse, sustainable agriculture communities across the Upper Midwest. The names and bios of the mentee cohort will be announced soon, but you can read the profiles of the mentors and learn more about the program here: https://greenlandsbluewaters.org/next-gen-ag-leaders/ There will be a kick-off meeting in September, followed by training sessions and farm tours later this fall and winter. This program is funded by a 2022 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Equity Conservation Agreement. |
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| | | 1 Mississippi is the national public program of the Mississippi River Network. Since 2009, 1 Mississippi has built a community of 20,000 River Citizens and inspired thousands of actions. From armchairs to wading boots, River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a difference. |
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