The AFSCME Local 34 General Assembly voted at its June meeting to make a $200 monthly donation to Twin Cities Documenters through June 2027.
Documenters, a nationwide project of Chicago-based City Bureau and hosted locally by nonprofit publication MinnPost, strives to ensure people are aware of local government meetings, since information about the meetings can be hard to find, and people can find it challenging to understand what the powers-that-be are discussing.
Documenters also aims to increase the diversity of perspectives that shape our news coverage. They train people regardless of their background to take notes at government meetings. Once a participant submits notes, they are edited and published online for people to review. MinnPost, as well as Northside publication North News and southwest Minneapolis publication Southwest Voices, sometimes rely on these notes for their reporting.
Participants who take notes are paid $21 per hour for a minimum of 3 hours of work, which includes studying a meeting agenda, observing the meeting, and reviewing and summarizing notes.
Locally, Documenters participants have covered city of Minneapolis committee and city council meetings, as well as Hennepin County Commissioner meetings.
Documenters is also present in New Mexico’s Doña Ana county, as well as in Atlanta, Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Wichita.
Read a post by MinnPost editor Elizabeth Dunbar to learn more about Twin Cities Documenters. Also check out their living FAQ for additional questions. And attend an orientation if you are interested in participating.
