Whats Up Magazine has been accepted into the Grow St. Louis program. Voting will take place at www.facebook.com/growstlouis from May 6 through May 19. The winning organization in each category wins a $20,000 no strings grant. You can vote directly from this link ONCE per day and we encourage you to set a reminder to vote daily!

https://www.facebook.com/growstlouis/app_515609858503649?app_data=98

We are seeking funds to bring our 12 year old nonprofit that publishes a printed magazine sold by the homeless and disadvantaged into the digital age while reducing our impact on the environment.

Street papers like Whats Up Magazine exist to help homeless and vulnerable people earn a dignified income. From the world’s first street magazine in New York City, street papers have grown to become a global movement against social injustice, with 122 editions now being published in 40 different countries.

But here’s the thing. Readership patterns are changing. The mainstream press has witnessed a huge shift from print consumption to digital. And we are facing the same issues, so we need to find a way to make Whats Up Magazine digital while preserving the human interaction between our vendors and their customers. Because we believe this vital interaction that lets vendors earn their income, at the same time brings people – who often inhabit completely separate worlds – into direct contact, and conversation.

The digital version of Whats Up Magazine will be accessed by purchasing a printed coupon, sold by vendors and offered as an online alternative to the printed magazine, at the same cover price. Each card will carry a unique redemption code with a personalized thank you message from the vendor and tell customers a little more about their story.

The digital edition will contain all the content from the magazine, but with lower production costs we can increase the efficiency and capacity of Whats Up Magazine as a social enterprise – as well as reducing the environmental impact of our printed publication.

We would use half of the grant to develop the digital platform and the other half to develop our online social responsibility advertising platform as we transition away from a printed publication.

• Be sure to “Like” the Grow St. Louis Facebook page so you can stay connected and up-to-date on the contest. Encourage your friends to do the same.

• Actively promote our entry and encourage your friends to do the same. Since voting takes place on Facebook, you will be able to easily “Share” your entry and direct people to vote via your personal and your organization’s social media.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Jay Swoboda, Founder/Director