For: Belonging
Independent print magazine telling global stories of people who improve the world *for* others. Help us bring our second issue to print!
Project Description
For Magazine is a print publication sharing the stories of individuals who are taking action to improve the world *for* others.
Our second issue focuses on the theme of belonging – exploring how location and culture affect our sense of identity. In this moment of migration, political divisiveness, and constant connection, what are individuals around the world doing to help others find their own identity? What does it mean to belong? How do we find belonging?
Over 140 pages with 12 exclusive stories from Hong Kong, Jordan, France and more.
Including:
• Representative Rashida Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women elected to the United States Congress, opens up about her outspoken style of serving low-income urban communities.
• Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts, talks to two teen scouts about the importance of girl-specific spaces and how they empower girls to become leaders with confidence and courage.
• Ana Laura Lopez, the activist and deportee who graces our cover, works to help others reintegrate into life in Mexico City after deportation from the United States.
• Courtney Barnes, a South African teen who started as a participant in a “surf therapy” group that offers mental and emotional support to impoverished and at-risk youth, and found it so compelling that she stayed on to become a coach.
• A special visual gallery showcasing photos by displaced Yazidi youth who fled the Islamic State in Iraq, using photography to tell their stories to the world, produced by the 100cameras project.
Exploring broad themes of humanity through personal stories
We cover some of the biggest issues of our time – like migration, LGBTQIA+, religion, gender, aging and more – through the personal stories of extraordinary, everyday individuals who are already taking action on these issues to inspire our readers to take personal action too. We believe everyone can make a difference by helping others.
Help us fund printing and be the first to get a copy of Issue 2!
We are crowdfunding to cover the printing costs of our second issue as we aim to double our distribution for Issue 2. For is printed in Canada by Hemlock Printers (printer of Kinfolk, Eye on Design, and dozens of other high-quality mags) on premium paper utilizing post-consumer and FSC-certified pulp, and this issue features a special die-cut cover. Our first issue received broad praise and is carried by stockists in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Rewards
Pre-order the magazine and be one of the first to receive it when it ships in the fall. Get limited edition prints from the artists whose work is featured in the issue – one of the beautiful prints below, exclusive to our campaign, giclée printed on museum-quality rag paper with a lifespan of 200 years. Choose from the beautiful surfers of Cape Town by Marike Herselman in South Africa or the inspiring "Believe" from our cover story on Ana Laura Lopez by Celia Talbot Tobin in Mexico City.
Or choose one-of a kind earrings handcrafted by elders in the Nepal Ibasho community, which was featured in our first issue, For: Maturing. These are limited to 20 pairs, and each is unique (first-come, first choice – once your reward is confirmed, we will email you a photo of the ones still available).
Weekly VIP Reward
Each week, we will announce a package with a special limited edition reward – copies of the magazine with a print of a photo taken by displaced youth in the Khanke Village IDC displacement camp in Kurdistan, Iraq. In 2014, the Yazidi youth fled Islamic State fighters that invaded and destroyed their home in Sinjar, forcing them to make a treacherous and life-fearing, weeks-long escape to safety -- with thousands not surviving or being captured and forced into slavery. This spring, 100cameras worked with the youth, utilizing photography as a powerful tool for self-expression, processing, and feeling ownership in the stories of their individual lives and those of their communities. The full story with their photos will be in Issue 2. The $40 for the photo will fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where they reside. Only 10 of each print will be available here, announced here first, and on Instagram. This week's photo:
Photo by Amal, Age 12.
Amal is a warm, positive spirit. Always open to learning something new in each class and embraced the concept of learning about expressing emotions and feelings during the course. Amal was known to giggle when showing her photographs to others.
A community of believers
A huge thank you to our growing community of contributors and supporters. You are highlighting, telling, amplifying and supporting positive stories. Just sharing personal experiences connects across cultures, builds empathy, and improves lives. Spread the positivity!
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
When will the issue be published?
We have the entire issue laid out, but are on hold due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak. We hope to be on press as soon as possible...
Why crowdfund? Where does the money go?
We have ambitious goals to double our distribution from the first issue, and want to print as many copies as possible. (If you're a distributor interested in stocking the issue, contact us!). All of the proceeds go into printing and production of the magazine. It actually costs much more than this to produce our issue, of course, but this will get the presses rolling.
What about shipping?
Reward amounts include shipping to the United States. If you are outside the US, shipping is an additional $10. You can back any reward and add the additional amount to your pledge during checkout.
Why are you funding on IFW?
Our Editor-in-Chief is a woman. Half of our staff is female. The majority of our contributors and subjects are women. But we also like supporting independent platforms and female entrepreneurs. They have also been invaluable in providing us guidance to get this campaign off the ground and helped us with the video. Thanks, iFW!
On IFW, you get the funding whether you hit your goal or not. What if you don't reach your goal – will you take my money and not print the magazine?
We may delay things, print fewer copies, or use less expensive paper. But we have already successfully printed an issue without crowdfunding, so we're pretty confident that we'll get the issue into our supporters hands.
Some of the rewards mention a portion of the money going to other organizations. Is that true? How much?
Yep. We want to support the organizations we admire who are working hard to improve lives. If you choose the limited-edition prints from the Yazidi youth in the IDC displacement camp in Iraq, we are purchasing that print direct from the nonprofit 100cameras that taught them storytelling through photography, at their standard price. (We're not marking it up, all of the $40 above our standard VIP level goes to them.) And what's amazing about the 100cameras model is that all of that goes straight to fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where the kids reside. For example, in Colombia, the sale of the photos from the program funded the installation of an air conditioner for the kids' school to improve their learning. Similarly, we are paying the Nepali elders in the Ibasho center their market rate for their beautiful crafts, with the goal of expanding their market to a global audience (contact us if you're interested in purchasing their crafts directly and we'll put you in touch – not just jewelry, they are multitalented – knitting, paper curling, and more).
How do I contact you if I have a question not covered here?
Send us an email at [email protected]. Happy to answer any question about the rewards, the issue itself, or our campaign. Press inquiries welcome.
Be one of the very first to receive For: Belonging. Only 50 copies available at discount to our earlybird backers.
Support our mission of publishing stories of good.
Participate in our Borders Are Imaginary project. We'll mail you two of our custom silkscreen-printed fluorescent stickers.
This is it – be one of the first to receive a print copy of For: Belonging.
Read up on our first issue, For: Maturing, while we finish up our second. Get both issues at a great discount.
Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and support displaced Yazidi youth. Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
In addition, get an 11x14 print of a photo taken by Amal, a 12-year old girl in the Khanke, Iraq displacement camp as featured in the issue. Produced with the 100cameras project – all of the extra $40 goes to fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where she resides.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and get a pair of earrings handmade in Nepal by elders in the Ibasho community (as featured in Issue one). A portion of the proceeds go directly to the Nepali elders. Includes VIP reward, earrings, and a copy of the first issue, For: Maturing.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and get a 16x20 print from our professional artists as featured in the issue. Your choice of one image from two options, giclée printed on museum-quality rag paper with a lifespan of 200 years.
You're a true supporter of socially-conscious journalism. Get both issues of the magazine, a print of your choice, four tickets to the launch party and your name printed in the magazine.
This is our corporate patronage, for organizations who are aligned with our mission of social good. Your brand will get a page in the magazine with your logo and message (subject to editorial approval). Or, you may donate the page to a nonprofit. Includes 10 copies of the issue and featured placement at our launch party in the fall.
Want to share the good? Get 10 copies of the magazine – to sell in your shop, place in your business, or give to your friends – at a solid discount.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and support displaced Yazidi youth. Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
In addition, get an 11x14 print of a photo taken by Ema, a 12-year old in the Khanke, Iraq displacement camp as featured in the issue. Produced with the 100cameras project – all of the extra $40 goes to fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where Ema resides. This reward is only available for a limited time – ends September 10.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and support displaced Yazidi youth. Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
In addition, get an 11x14 print of a photo taken by Goze, a 10-year old girl in the Khanke, Iraq displacement camp as featured in the issue. Produced with the 100cameras project – all of the extra $40 goes to fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where she resides. This reward is only available for a limited time – ends August 20 or when sold out.
Rewards
Be one of the very first to receive For: Belonging. Only 50 copies available at discount to our earlybird backers.
Support our mission of publishing stories of good.
Participate in our Borders Are Imaginary project. We'll mail you two of our custom silkscreen-printed fluorescent stickers.
This is it – be one of the first to receive a print copy of For: Belonging.
Read up on our first issue, For: Maturing, while we finish up our second. Get both issues at a great discount.
Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and support displaced Yazidi youth. Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
In addition, get an 11x14 print of a photo taken by Amal, a 12-year old girl in the Khanke, Iraq displacement camp as featured in the issue. Produced with the 100cameras project – all of the extra $40 goes to fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where she resides.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and get a pair of earrings handmade in Nepal by elders in the Ibasho community (as featured in Issue one). A portion of the proceeds go directly to the Nepali elders. Includes VIP reward, earrings, and a copy of the first issue, For: Maturing.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and get a 16x20 print from our professional artists as featured in the issue. Your choice of one image from two options, giclée printed on museum-quality rag paper with a lifespan of 200 years.
You're a true supporter of socially-conscious journalism. Get both issues of the magazine, a print of your choice, four tickets to the launch party and your name printed in the magazine.
This is our corporate patronage, for organizations who are aligned with our mission of social good. Your brand will get a page in the magazine with your logo and message (subject to editorial approval). Or, you may donate the page to a nonprofit. Includes 10 copies of the issue and featured placement at our launch party in the fall.
Want to share the good? Get 10 copies of the magazine – to sell in your shop, place in your business, or give to your friends – at a solid discount.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and support displaced Yazidi youth. Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
In addition, get an 11x14 print of a photo taken by Ema, a 12-year old in the Khanke, Iraq displacement camp as featured in the issue. Produced with the 100cameras project – all of the extra $40 goes to fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where Ema resides. This reward is only available for a limited time – ends September 10.
Become a VIP Supporter of For and support displaced Yazidi youth. Get Issue Two, For: Belonging, with a Borders are Imaginary sticker, and admission for one to our launch party in the fall.
In addition, get an 11x14 print of a photo taken by Goze, a 10-year old girl in the Khanke, Iraq displacement camp as featured in the issue. Produced with the 100cameras project – all of the extra $40 goes to fund lifeline supplies for the IDP camp where she resides. This reward is only available for a limited time – ends August 20 or when sold out.