VNN announces new "Returning to Balance" solutions journalism series
Improving Indigenous health through traditional knowledge
A commitment to focus on solutions rather than problems in health reporting series
VNN Oklahoma is committed to supporting Indigenous community members and families with stories and resources that tackle the most pressing issues impacting them.
But too often stories about Native issues focus on the negative and the problems. At VNN Oklahoma, we want to be partners for good- leveraging our journalism to highlight solutions, champion the positives, and explore how they can benefit others.
And we’re exploring new tools to do it.
Our new “Returning to Balance” initiative is thanks to the support of the Solutions Journalism Revenue Accelerator Cohort. VNN Oklahoma Senior Journalists Rachael Schuit (Menominee) and Brittany Harlow have been participating in the cohort for the last couple of months, which began with an in-person workshop in Chicago in April.
About The “Returning to Balance” Initiative
Returning to Balance is a powerful, Indigenous-led reporting series dedicated to reducing stigma and promoting mental wellness in Native communities. Our reporting goes beyond the problem—through stories grounded in cultural knowledge, this series will elevate Native voices and highlight successful traditional approaches to domestic violence, suicide, and substance use disorder.
Schuit has since spent many hours interviewing Indigenous leaders who have implemented culturally relevant solutions to reducing harm.
“It’s critical that we are able to use our work to elevate Indigenous voices and showcase the work they are doing to solve problems in their communities,” said Schuit. “Through our work we have seen that impacts of generational trauma in exacerbating these issues and a lack of non-Indigenous support to properly address them.” Rachael Schuit, Senior Journalist, VNN Oklahoma
Harlow has spent a considerable amount of time identifying potential partners on the project and conducting outreach, particularly sponsors to support the initiative.
We’re pleased to announce Native Oklahoma Insurance as the Presenting Sponsor for the series, a company committed to helping Indigenous people and their families secure the best insurance options to protect their families.
"We are so excited to team up with VNN because we share the same mindset when it comes to education, support and empowerment of the community. We are believers of facilitating meaningful change and couldn’t have picked a better partner than VNN." Lauren Jenkins, CEO, Native Oklahoma Insurance
Jenkins has already helped inform VNN Oklahoma families about their options for coverage, including the facts that mixed Native American families can sign up for insurance at any time of the year and many qualify for insurance at no cost.
This information is critical at a time when Native American community members remain woefully underinsured. According to a new report by VNN Affiliate KOSU Radio, more than a fifth of Indigenous Oklahomans are uninsured.
Native Oklahoma Insurance will be a resource at VNN’s Indigenous Roots American Indian History Symposium October 4 and 5 at the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa.
Schuit will also be on site at the symposium to discuss some of the findings learned during the “Returning to Balance” solutions journalism initiative, engaging with community members and tribal and city leaders about these issues and how evidence dictates they can be addressed.
VNN is hopeful that incorporating solutions journalism into our work will contribute to our long-term success as a news organization. We believe this form of journalism will enable us to better serve YOU, our Verified News Community.
We look forward to sharing our stories with you when they are published this fall.
Sincerely,
The VNN Oklahoma Team
Want to support our initiative?
Learn more about the project and explore our sponsorship options here. Then reply to this newsletter and pledge your support today!