About Us

Leaders Invested in Fostering Trust, LIFT

We are an engaged research effort focused on finding solutions to the challenges of news disengagement that contribute to the crises of disinformation and misinformation in our society.

We foster a more comprehensive journalism industry and news information ecosystem, particularly for communities that have been underserved by traditional journalism.

LIFT PROJECT

We began in 2022 in Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota, and have expanded to Michigan and Indiana.

We achieve our mission by prioritizing research and engagement efforts that center on identifying networks of trusted messengers in Midwestern communities to:

Understand their effects on civic and democratic life
Create, network, and allocate resources needed to better inform communities
Build new opportunities for sustainable reparative narrative change

We launched data collection efforts in Indiana, while continuing to seek partners and collaborators to expand the work. We're interested in working with and supporting researchers, students, journalists, faith leaders, and activists in the Midwest and around the United States to create a comprehensive and community-directed effort.

Meet our team and share what we do.

Leadership

Dr. Danielle K. Brown

LIFT Project Founding Director

Danielle K. Brown, PhD is the LIFT Project founder and director. She recently joined Michigan State University as the 1855 Community and Urban Journalism Associate Professor, but originally began this project at the University of Minnesota where she served as the Cowles Professor of Journalism, Diversity and Equality. Keep an eye out for her upcoming book "After a Reckoning." She is an award-winning, political communication researcher investigating the intersection of media, historically excluded communities, and social justice efforts. She is known for her media critiques of protest coverage and is now interested in producing solutions-based research that intervenes with power systems that oppress. Read more about her work here: www.daniellekbrown.com

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Jarrad Henderson

LIFTxVoices Lead

Jarrad Henderson is the LIFTxVoices Program leader and founder of PopUp Docs, a mobile editing studio aimed at training the next generation of visual media makers. Jarrad is a 4x Emmy Award-winning visual journalist and respected educator who has produced industry-recognized content in large newsrooms for over a decade. A highly sought-after multimedia alchemist, Henderson is a trusted industry leader who seeks to democratize journalism by empowering new voices to share their stories. He is currently at Michigan State University as an Artist In Residence.

Team

Jasmine Snow

Graduate Research Assistant Michigan State University

Jessica Pettengill

Graduate Researcher

Michigan State University

Richard Epps

Design Faculty

Michigan State University

Eric Hsieh

Graduate Research Assistant

Michigan State University

Dr. Perry Parks

Research Associate

Michigan State University

Dr. Miya Williams Fayne

Research Associate

University of Wisconsin

Jeana-Dee Allen

Design Faculty

Michigan State University

Dr. Kathleen Searles

Research Associate

University of South Carolina

Rev. Terrance McKinley

Research Associate

Campbell AME Church

Previous Collaborators

Christina Harisiadis, University of Minnesota, summer research assistant
Tracy Gunapalan, University of Minnesota, graduate research assistant
Calvin DeFoster, high school research assistant

Dr. Denetra Walker, University of Georgia

Dr. Christina Myers, Michigan State University

Collaborators

Pop Up Docs

We plan and execute visual media workshops to bring the LIFT Projects best stories and most meaningful research findings to life and to the public. Youth and young adults from underrepresented populations participate in micro-apprenticeships to learn the trade, build their skills and resumes, and tell their community's stories.

Diversity
Pledge Institute

By combining the research expertise of the Diversity Pledge Institute's team and the LIFT Project's team, we work together to provide comprehensive assessment of the sustainability and profitability of DEI efforts in non-profit news organizations.

In Black Ink

In Black Ink served as a critical community partner for helping us connect with relevant community organizations and survey Minneapolis and St Paul residents. Their numerous community meetings and events were vital to outreach efforts.

Work with us

Sponsor our work. Collaborate. Ask questions.