Celebrating Mississippi River Network’s 2020-21 Successes!
As the guardians and caretakers of the River, Mississippi River Network (MRN) Members and River Citizens are people and organizations the River can count on. From armchairs to wading boots, you are making a difference, and we want to thank you! These last couple of years have been challenging and at the same time filled with great possibilities. Here are just a few of the many accomplishments you have helped us achieve for the well-being of the people, land, water, and wildlife of America’s largest watershed.
Thank you for your support of the River,
Kelly McGinnis, Executive Director
Maisah Khan, Policy Director
Michael Anderson, Outreach & Engagement Manager
MRN Builds Relationships to Foster Impact
As a small staff team, we excel at relationship building and function as connecters and conveners for member organizations, partners, and River Citizens. MRN staff are experts in creating shared spaces of belonging and connection. Offering a backbone of support for the Network, our staff helps to guide vision and strategy, support aligned activity, establish shared measurement practices, build public will, advance policy, and mobilize funding. Combining these key roles and relationship building results in a strong and active Network that is ready to tackle the challenges facing the River and provide hope for the future. Read more.
60
Organizations are members of the Mississippi River Network
20,000
People have signed up as River Citizens
16,282
People engaged at 173 events since 2020
MRN has always been a great communicator and connector…The way they present topics is very non-biased and very easily communicated. They are able to see the different pieces and help put people in touch with each other.
We Support Members’ Local Projects
Our Network Funding Program supports member organizations’ projects that create a healthier River for people, land, water, and wildlife. The 2020-21 program cycle was our most impactful yet! From numerous restoration events and initiatives like the May The River Be With You podcast, our Network Funding Program provides critical resources for local members’ projects. Further highlights include:
$100,000
Awarded to 13 network member organizations in 2020-21 program cycle
9,700
People engaged with Mississippi River Network Funding Program events
200
Trees planted or given away at Member events
River Days of Action 2021
River Days of Action is one of our most important events, taking place in June each year. River Citizens join MRN members and other community organizations as they host in-person and virtual events, advocacy opportunities, hands-on restoration projects, and other fun activities from the Headwaters in Minnesota to Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. Participants celebrate the River and take action for the people, land, water, and wildlife of our nation’s most iconic waterway, the Mississippi River. Read more.
2,500
People participated in over 40 in-person and virtual events
59
Member organizations and partners involved from Minnesota to Louisiana
22+
Elected officials participated in River Days of Action 2021
The Mississippi River Network, as the leading experts on the value and health of the Mississippi River, brought an enlightened credibility and science to bear on the federal policy debate surrounding the nation’s aorta, the Mississippi River!
Our Policy Focus
MRN advances federal and state policies that promote just, equitable, and resilient communities by:
- Protecting and restoring ecosystem form and function,
- Reducing impacts of agricultural and urban runoff pollution, and
- Defending bedrock environmental legislation.
5,500
People took our advocacy actions like signing a petition or writing and calling elected officials
115,000+
Constituents reached with educational info about nutrient pollution, climate change and resilience
80+
Meetings with local, state, and federal Elected Officials and Decision Makers
Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI)
MRN is a lead organization working towards the creation of a federal, non-regulatory geographic program for the entirety of the Mississippi River. MRRRI will protect our drinking water by reducing runoff pollution, reduce flood and storm risks and increase community resilience through ecologically sound management, and protect and restore wildlife habitat, in part by preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. MRN leads the organizing for this effort including managing the ten-state effort and creating a plethora of tracking and communication materials. Read more.
85
Organizations publicly endorse MRRRI as of 12/6/2021
8
House Representatives are co-sponsors of H.R. 4202 (MRRRI Act)
10
Organizations leading MRRRI efforts at state level
With MRRRI, we have the chance to ensure this resource [the River] remains a healthy and thriving resource for generations to come.
Anti-Racism Work
Our equity statement describes our intentional efforts to create dialogue, question assumptions, and build change internally and externally. We share resources with member organizations and River Citizens on topics of racism and environmental justice with a focus on the environmental movement. This includes our Anti-Racism Resource Hub – listing articles, books, webinars, and more – which is only useful if we engage with the materials and actively do the work. This often requires discomfort, challenging conversations, and building strong relationships to foster trust. Our work here will never be finished, and we are strongly committed to this process. Read more.
We are stronger with you
Is your organization ready to join the Mississippi River Network?
The Mississippi River Network (MRN) is a coalition of 60 member and partner organizations working together to protect the River. The Network seeks to influence not only policies that affect the River, but people’s perceptions of the River as well, and to deepen people’s connection to the River.
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 big difference. Can the River count on you?
Social Media
Action Alerts
The Mississippi River Network engages our members and the general public to take policy and advocacy actions that advance our overall goals for the people, land, water, and wildlife of the Mississippi River.
Go to the 1 Mississippi Action Center to take a current action and to view past actions.
News
Events
