Freedom of Expression
is a human right

About Minds Wide Open

Minds Wide Open builds cutting-edge publications by and for youth exposed to conflict

Youth living in areas of conflict suffer from intense exposure to propaganda, misleading media reports, censorship, and the absence of a free press. This unfortunate situation reinforces false narratives and discourages independent or critical thinking and therefore perpetuates separation of cultures and a limited worldview. This encourages self-censorship and can result in violence, racism and bigotry and apathy towards peace building.

Through hands-on projects or in-class workshops, WMO’s task is to help activist youth not only promote tolerance but practice tolerance. We can help build robust journalism programs and newspapers/websites for youth located in areas exposed to conflict as a tool to express their life challenges non-violently, accurately, and truthfully and to help promote peace building and a pluralistic worldview.

Free societies are societies in which the right of dissent is protected.
— Natan Sharansky

What do we do?

Give the tools to express life’s challenges accurately and truthfully

Watch 2:40 video to learn more about MWO classroom training and speakers.

What are your thoughts about Freedom of Expression?

54%

of Americans think the government should not be allowed to spy on citizens in order to catch terrorists

33%

of Americans can't name any of the First Amendment freedoms

70%

of Americans think that news media reports with bias

60%

of Americans think that students should be able to express negative opinions about teachers on social media without punishment

Courtesy Newseum Institute

MWO builds robust journalism programs for youth exposed to conflict

Here’s a glimpse at a few pilot programs

Print and Digital Media Publishing & Brokerage

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												<h3>Print and Digital Media Publishing & Brokerage</h3>
												<p><strong><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jh_skier_cover_2019.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2710" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jh_skier_cover_2019-241x300.jpg" alt="Layout 1" width="241" height="300" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jh_skier_cover_2019-241x300.jpg 241w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jh_skier_cover_2019-161x200.jpg 161w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jh_skier_cover_2019.jpg 650w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px" /></a><br />
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<p><strong>Sales and Consultation:</strong> Minds Wide Open, Inc. represents print and online publishing companies for sale. Mary Grossman has experience buying and selling media companies and individual titles in the lucrative mountain resort towns.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Thank you for the great job you did as our broker in selling The Focus Group magazines. You did a lot of work to produce, write and design the Offering Memo, pulling together a mountain of financial information about us and our magazines and guided us through the months-long process of vetting potential buyers, establishing an asking price, eventually guiding the eventual buyer into a smooth purchase and transition. Your local connections and knowledge of the media industry are tops. Thank you!”   — Wade McKoy, Co-founder/publisher The Focus Group Magazines (<em>Jackson Hole Skier, Jackson Hole Dining Guide and Grand Teton Adventure Guid</em>e. Sold 2019)</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Independent Publishing:</strong> With decades of experience launching new publications and websites, Grossman can help create new publications from idea to launch –  whether it be a personal project or a new media business.</p>
<p><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PhallusthroughBhutanCover.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2709 alignleft" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PhallusthroughBhutanCover-300x180.png" alt="PhallusthroughBhutanCover" width="300" height="180" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PhallusthroughBhutanCover-300x180.png 300w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PhallusthroughBhutanCover-768x461.png 768w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PhallusthroughBhutanCover-1024x615.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
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<p>Left: Cover for the book, <em>Phallus Through Bhutan</em> by Jackson Hole photographer and doctor, Marc Domsky. Grossman was hired as publishing consultant and project director.</p>
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<p>Contact Grossman for inquiries.</p>

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Content and Promotion for Independent Journalists and Analysts

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												<h3>Content and Promotion for Independent Journalists and Analysts</h3>
												<p><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2741" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-300x300.png 300w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-1024x1024.png 1024w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-150x150.png 150w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-768x768.png 768w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-600x600.png 600w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-500x500.png 500w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy-200x200.png 200w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MEPINIG12.24.23-copy.png 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>Independent journalists and analysts use MWO for additional consultation and management of their social media and blog publishing. For example, <a href="https://mepinanalysis.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MEPINanalysis.org,</a> Dr. Eric Mandel is the founder and Director of MEPIN™, the Middle East Political Information Network™. MEPIN is a Middle East research analysis read by members of Congress, their foreign policy advisors, journalists, think tanks, foreign officials, and organizational leaders.</p>

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Youth Publications / Digital and Print

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												<h3>Youth Publications / Digital and Print</h3>
												<p><strong><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-2228"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-2228 aligncenter" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot-300x300.jpg" alt="groupshot" width="243" height="243" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot-300x300.jpg 300w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot-150x150.jpg 150w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot-768x768.jpg 768w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot-600x600.jpg 600w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot-500x500.jpg 500w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot-200x200.jpg 200w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/groupshot.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px" /></a></strong></p>
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<li><strong>Client:</strong> Inter-tribal youth, Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming</li>
<li><strong>Date:</strong> Fall 2015 – Summer 2017</li>
<li><strong>Skills:</strong> Develop youth-led inter-tribal publication (Digital Newspaper).</li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In keeping with MWO’s mission of promoting peace and tolerance through freedom of expression, this egalitarian project will celebrate diversity and freedom of expression giving tribal youth the opportunity to work together collaboratively in a supportive setting that will transcend cultural and political barriers.  </span></p>
<p><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WRYT.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2420 alignleft" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WRYT-300x159.jpg" alt="WRYT" width="300" height="159" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WRYT-300x159.jpg 300w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WRYT-768x408.jpg 768w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WRYT.jpg 1020w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><em><em>Wind River Youth Times</em> was created in January 2016, MWO started meeting with tribal youth contributors to plan and brainstorm the new publication.</em></p>
<p><em><em>Photo: First draft of WRYT website</em></em></p>
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Classroom Workshops on Freedom of Expression

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												<h3>Classroom Workshops on Freedom of Expression</h3>
												<p><b>Seminars on Freedom of Expression – Juniors/Seniors</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SelfTeachingJHJC2-015.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" size-medium wp-image-2076 alignnone" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SelfTeachingJHJC2-015-300x171.png" alt="SelfTeachingJHJC2-015" width="300" height="171" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SelfTeachingJHJC2-015-300x171.png 300w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SelfTeachingJHJC2-015-1024x582.png 1024w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SelfTeachingJHJC2-015.png 1240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I found it really helpful! More classes should participate in these discussions! The message is important.”  </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>— MWO Classroom participant</em></span></p>
<p>It is critical that youth outside the U.S. (especially in conflict zones) learn about the First Amendment. It can be particularly eye-opening for students to learn about the extraordinary protections of First Amendment, this hopefully will result in a better appreciation of and tolerance of diverse opinions. MWO takes a non-scholarly approach to thought-provoking examples of the fearless fight for freedom of expression, they include – The First Amendment, Why we Need Offensive Speech, Persecuted Journalists, State-sponsored Censorship and Self-Censorship, Freedom of Expression as a Human Right, and more.</p>
<p><a href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Thank-you-letter-Mary-Grossman.pdf" target="_blank">Reference from Eastern Mediterranean International School</a>  (2015, Tel Aviv, Israel)</p>
<p><a href="http://planetjh.com/2015/10/27/the-buzz-frankly-speaking/" target="_blank">Interview on Freedom of Expression in <em>Planet Jackson Hole</em> </a> (2015, Jackson, Wyoming)</p>

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High School Human Rights Campaigns

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												<h3>High School Human Rights Campaigns</h3>
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<h5><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/article-2725415-208925A500000578-155_964x644.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2538 alignleft" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/article-2725415-208925A500000578-155_964x644-300x200.jpg" alt="article-2725415-208925a500000578-155_964x644" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/article-2725415-208925A500000578-155_964x644-300x200.jpg 300w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/article-2725415-208925A500000578-155_964x644-768x513.jpg 768w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/article-2725415-208925A500000578-155_964x644-600x400.jpg 600w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/article-2725415-208925A500000578-155_964x644.jpg 964w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>Students partner with No Chain and Human Rights Foundation</h5>
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<li><strong>Client:</strong> Jackson Hole Community School</li>
<li><strong>Date:</strong>  2017</li>
<li><strong>Skills:</strong> Working with NGO <a href="https://www.facebook.com/%EB%85%B8-%EC%B2%B4%EC%9D%B8-No-Chain-for-North-Korea-343880029112037/?fref=ts">No Chain</a> and <a href="http://www.flashdrivesforfreedom.org/">flashdrivesforfreedom.or</a>g (Human Rights Foundation)</li>
<li><strong>Project Outcome:</strong> Students filled USB Flashdrives with content depicting freedom of expression and with images/documents as examples of life growing up in rural Wyoming. The flash drives were sent to No Chain in South Korea and then dropped into North Korea by helicopter drones. <strong>UPDATE:</strong> Flashdrives were dropped into North Korea spring 2017. Success!</li>
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<p>Images of North Korea courtesy <a href="https://humanrightsfoundation.org/">Human Rights Foundation</a></p>
<p>Image: In 2017, students in Jackson Hole Skype with North Korean defector and director of No Chain, Jung Gwangll who lives in South Korea.</p>
<p><a ref="magnificPopup" href="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0185.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2588" src="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0185-300x225.jpg" alt="img_0185" width="300" height="225" srcset="http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0185-300x225.jpg 300w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0185-768x576.jpg 768w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0185-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0185-600x450.jpg 600w, http://mindswideopen.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_0185-267x200.jpg 267w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>

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Freedom of Expression is a human right

About Minds Wide Open

Give the tools to express life’s challenges accurately and truthfully

What are your thoughts about Freedom of Expression?

of Americans think the government should not be allowed to spy on citizens in order to catch terrorists

of Americans can't name any of the First Amendment freedoms

of Americans think that news media reports with bias

of Americans think that students should be able to express negative opinions about teachers on social media without punishment

MWO builds robust journalism programs for youth exposed to conflict

Here’s a glimpse at a few pilot programs

Print and Digital Media Publishing & Brokerage

Content and Promotion for Independent Journalists and Analysts

Youth Publications / Digital and Print

Classroom Workshops on Freedom of Expression

High School Human Rights Campaigns

Freedom of Expression
is a human right