Tour a Minnesota recycling facility
Project Optimist visited the Otter Tail County Recycling Center on Oct. 1 to see how recyclable materials are sorted and to learn more about the process.
Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten
27 posts
Bustling senior centers offer community to older Minnesotans
Senior centers can help older adults combat social isolation and loneliness if they can attract members, offer interesting programs, and overcome transportation or technology barriers.
Project Get Outdoors sparks love for nature
Outdoor programs teach children about nature through field trips and hands-on activities. Community partnerships make them possible.
Community Voices ⎸ Fact-checks catch mistakes — every single time
"It takes time, but I know it's made me a stronger reporter," writes Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten, managing editor of Project Optimist.
How to find common ground, encourage bipartisanship
The nonprofit organization Majority in the Middle aims to highlight the ways Minnesota's state legislators work together.
Kids flex green thumbs at Moorhead farm camp
Harvest Hope Farm has a waitlist for its summer camps; experts say repeated exposure to nature benefits kids if organizers can break down barriers like cost.
Firewise USA 101: What it is, how it works, and more
The program is a tool meant to help communities reduce the damage caused by wildfire, officials say.
Project Optimist receives $100K grant from McKnight Foundation
The funding will support Project Optimist in 2024 and 2025.
Community Voices ⎸ What happens when we make art with found materials
Project Optimist staff and readers are inspired by Mary Jo Hoffman to create art using found natural materials.