Over the Summer I soft launched this local news project online to get started on a vision I've held for years. This was an incredible first step as I put on my Editor-in-Chief cap and established a web presence, developed publishing systems and workflows, establish relations with government press offices and managed my first intern.
Now I'm inviting folks into the full extent of what this project will be in due time: a real life physical community newspaper!!!
And I'll need your help to make the magic happen!!!
During the month of August I stopped publishing online in preparation of a promotional opportunity and the day finally arrived.
Yesterday, I debuted advance copies of a sample issue of The Leveler News at Yonkers Riverfest 2025 to share an early glimpse of the community-powered newspaper we can building together. I was SUPER excited to share these as “preview editions”. WE HAD A BLAST.
Yonkers Riverfest is a great example of the beauty of our community when we come together. My heart is warm! People are really excited about the project! Many filled out the News Needs Survey so I can determine what people want to know, where they get their news now, their worries as well as their joy. I'll do a write up about those responses in my next editor's note. I'll be researching places to drop off spare copies from the brand activation as I experiment with physical distribution. I'll share where you can pick up copies when I secure locations.
As we move into Fall, The Leveler News will publish new stories every Wednesday, starting this week with the stories in the sample issue. The goal this season is consistency as I continue to build this project from the ground up! This is where you come in!
In a few weeks I'll be launching a fundraising campaign with a goal of securing the first 360 paid subscribers and supporters. Members of the Founders 360 Circle will make this work sustainable by enabling me to dedicate myself to this project full-time and bring in more talented people to get even more reporting done and stories told! This summer was powered by a $5,000 grant funding from Tiny News Collective, which is part of a $2.275 million donation from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. I'll be very candid, these funds are running low, but I have a bit more time and I'm more determined than ever! Together we can make it happen.
A special shout out to the first contributors Sophie, Osjua Newton, and Lamont Badru for being my first paid subscribers and Kareemallah Wiggins for being the first person to make a tax-deductible donation through my fiscal sponsor, Tiny News Collective. Welcome to the Founders Circle of The Leveler News. Four down, 356 more to go!
The mission is simple: to be a mirror and reflect the voices, issues, and stories that matter most in Yonkers and eventually beyond. This sample paper promotion is a way introduction the project and bring it to a real world audience I wouldn't reach online. This is a way to showcase the type of reporting and storytelling we’re bringing to the community.
From neighborhood updates to policy deep-dives, arts coverage, and profiles of the people shaping our city, we’ll deliver news that’s grounded, accessible, and truly local. So if you're visiting for the first time, consider signing up for a subscription, if you already subscribed for free now is a perfect time upgrade and if you are already a paid subscriber, please spread the word!
Your feedback and support at this stage are invaluable. You’re not just reading the news, you’re helping shape it.
If you haven't already please fill out the News Needs Survey.
Until next time! Onward and upward! - Bunni
