One paper for Southwest Minneapolis: Connector and Voices merge

When the Southwest Journal shut down, two news sources launched to fill the void. Now those entities are merging. According to Charlie Rybak of Southwest Voices and Tesha M. Christensen of the Southwest Connector, this merger will bring together two publications into one to better serve Southwest Minneapolis. The combined entity will be called Southwest Voices. “This merger pulls together the various ways people receive news into one company,” observed Christensen. “We’re paying attention to the myriad of ways that people receive news today, and aim to offer something for everyone. This includes a monthly print edition, weekly emailed newsletters, website, and social media updates. We’re excited to be working together.” “Southwest Minneapolis, where I am from and where I live today, is incredibly important to me. I am delighted to get to work with Tesha to join forces and form a great neighborhood newspaper that pulls together the best of the Connector and Southwest Voices in one. We want to not only keep the residents of our community informed, but also build a sustainable print and digital news business that other people can learn from,” said Rybak. In December 2021, Tesha M. Christensen of TMC Publications CO expanded her newspaper business and added a third one, the Southwest Connector, going door-to-door in the community with a free print publication and website that reaches over 50,000 people a month through direct delivery. Christensen also operates the 42-year-old Longfellow Nokomis Messenger in South Minneapolis and 50-year old Midway Como Frogtown Monitor in St. Paul.

One paper for Southwest Minneapolis Connector and Voices merge.mp3

Posted Friday, October 31, 2025 12:32 pm

When the Southwest Journal shut down, two news sources launched to fill the void. Now those entities are merging.
According to Charlie Rybak of Southwest Voices and Tesha M. Christensen of the Southwest Connector, this merger will bring together two publications into one to better serve Southwest Minneapolis. The combined entity will be called Southwest Voices.
“This merger pulls together the various ways people receive news into one company,” observed Christensen. “We’re paying attention to the myriad of ways that people receive news today, and aim to offer something for everyone. This includes a monthly print edition, weekly emailed newsletters, website, and social media updates. We’re excited to be working together.”
“Southwest Minneapolis, where I am from and where I live today, is incredibly important to me. I am delighted to get to work with Tesha to join forces and form a great neighborhood newspaper that pulls together the best of the Connector and Southwest Voices in one. We want to not only keep the residents of our community informed, but also build a sustainable print and digital news business that other people can learn from,” said Rybak.
In December 2021, Tesha M. Christensen of TMC Publications CO expanded her newspaper business and added a third one, the Southwest Connector, going door-to-door in the community with a free print publication and website that reaches over 50,000 people a month through direct delivery. Christensen also operates the 42-year-old Longfellow Nokomis Messenger in South Minneapolis and 50-year old Midway Como Frogtown Monitor in St. Paul.