May 20-21 for all invited
May 22 for our portfolio (current + alumni grantees)

For the fourth year, we’ll convene the leaders of our grantee portfolio with our supporters, partners in the local nonprofit news movement, and the American Journalism Project board and staff. Together, we’ll take a deep look at what it means to build organizations that can endure.

What we’ll do

You can find a detailed agenda here, but here’s a look at our quick schedule overview:

• Monday, May 20: We’ll have registration tables set up starting at 1:30 p.m. CT. We’ll kick off AJPalooza with a special gathering just for CEOs and staff of our grantees at 2 p.m. CT; later, we will welcome all AJPalooza guests with a plenary panel that begins at 4 p.m. CT, followed by cocktails and dinner at 6 p.m. CT at The Hennepin (900 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis). 
• Tuesday, May 21: This day will include opportunities to learn from each other and an immersive experience exploring the Twin Cities through the lens of the news leaders at Sahan Journal. Programming will conclude with a dinner, where we’ll hear from the people who are building a thriving local news ecosystem for Minnesota.
• Wednesday, May 22 (AJP portfolio of current + alumni grantees only): We’ll have breakfast and lunch together, with some more discussion and learning in between. We’ll officially conclude by 1 p.m. CT.

Why Minneapolis?

We’ve started a tradition of visiting a different place each year where our grantee partners work: in 2022, we visited Chicago; we were in Cleveland in 2023; and this year, we’ll visit Minneapolis.

Since its founding in 2019, Sahan Journal has emerged as a leader in the nonprofit news field; it has become an indispensable and trusted source of news and information for Minnesota’s immigrants and communities of color, and is an expert in pursuing diversified, sustainable revenue. We’re excited to introduce you all to them in-person to learn more about their work and the state of local news in Minnesota.

Tips, tricks and frequently asked questions

Please unplug
We hope you’ll use this time together next week to unplug. We’re excited for our guests to learn from each other, share their stories, and network together. So, we ask that you don’t plan any phone calls or meetings during the sessions and try to go electronics-free during AJPalooza — including emailing during sessions. If you’d like to take notes, please do so the old-fashioned way — using paper and pen, which we’ll have on site.

Confidentiality
We aim to encourage open and free discussions at AJPalooza so we can learn from each other. All attendees and speakers should generally assume what is being said during sessions is shareable and attributable unless the speaker asks for it not to be through a simple “I’d like this to not be shared” request. For any stories or quotations being used publicly or in written form, the person using that story or quote must get approval before sharing.

Accommodations
We are staying at The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown. AJP grantees: Please refer to the grantee travel expense guidance for specific instructions on travel costs. AJP will directly manage lodging reservations for alumni grantee attendees and current grantees without an AJPalooza expense in their grant budget. 

Air travel discounts through Delta
Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for AJPalooza guests. Please click here to book your flights with the discounted rate. You may also call Delta Meeting Network® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code NY3A6 *Please note: there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via Delta’s reservation 800 number.

Directions from airport
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown (35 S 7th St, Minneapolis) is approximately a 20-minute drive from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International airport (directions to hotel).

What should I wear?
AJPalooza attire is business casual — with emphasis on the casual! Jeans are fine; we’d like you to be comfortable and happy during this event. For dinner on Tuesday (only), we’ll dress it up a bit with smart casual attire. The weather in Minnesota in May can vary, so please check the forecast when packing.

Can I share materials about my organization with others attending AJPalooza?
If you would like to bring some materials about your organization to share (a brochure, your latest annual report, etc.), you can bring those to our registration area in the Denmark Commons. All available materials will remain there for attendees to take throughout AJPalooza. This is optional, and please bring only a limited number of copies.

What should I do if I’m not feeling well before my trip?
We ask that all attendees experiencing symptoms of illness of any kind, please refrain from attending the event. 

Who should I contact in an emergency?
If you need immediate assistance, please phone or text AJP’s Rene Gornall at 717-448-9058.

If I have free time, what do you recommend seeing in Minneapolis?
Our team and the staff at the Sahan Journal have put together a few suggestions for the Twin Cities area, as well as a list of nearby locations for any meetups you’d like to plan with other attendees while in town.

What do I do if I still have questions?
Our team is here to help! If you have any questions as you prepare for AJPalooza, send us an email.