Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
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One is a media personality who likes to make people laugh and to push boundaries. Another is a professor and author who teaches an Ojibwe word of the day on social media. And another is a practical conservative in, as he puts it, the sea of the very blue Twin Cities.
There’s also a cannabis expert, a James Beard Award-winning chef known for trying “bizarre foods” on TV, a former government teacher who is now an influencer and author, and a Biden appointee who recently served in the U.S. State Department.
Rounding out the list is a sportswriter-turned-pastor and author. A columnist from the Iron Range. A science writer with a keen eye on the outdoors. And a playwright, poet and children’s book author who aims to elevate marginalized voices.
It’s an eclectic group by design that makes up the Minnesota Star Tribune’s inaugural roster of contributing columnists. We asked these Minnesotans to write commentary for the Star Tribune on a regular basis as part of a new emphasis on opinion journalism we’re calling Strib Voices.
Our ask of these new contributors is simple: to write pieces about their areas of expertise, with a focus on Minnesota, that enlighten and challenge us. We came to them looking for fresh insights, unique perspectives and thought-provoking commentary for our readers.
We selected these contributing columnists with several goals in mind — to bring in more geographically, demographically and politically diverse voices to our pages, to further expand the breadth of commentary topics beyond politics and public policy, and to engage with readers in a more personal, engaging way to help us reach new audiences. Those are also many of the same reasons, I might add, why the Star Tribune created my position, community engagement director, several months ago.