My name is Lo Sontag. I’m a feminist, urbanist, and flâneuse. I’m stoked you discovered this campaign, because I have a plan that you can be part of.

I founded ‘A Feminist Newsletter in New Jersey’—about Urbanism to discuss regionalism, land use, the climate crisis, pluralism, and feminism using the most urban state in the United States—New Jersey as a backdrop—yet we cover the entire nation. If you are one of the 2,644 areas in the US designated as urban by the US Census Bureau we’re bringing our feminist lensto you.

In the US —Urbanism is the exploration of the relationship between people and the built environment. The challenge is people are typically silently defined as middle class white men and the rest of us are scenery. In addition, rarely is there a discussion on urbanism’s connection to the natural environment. This narrow purview is actively harmful to more than half of population, women, and generally is harmful for everyone. Gender equity coverage during Women’s History Month, the occasional story about “girls too can ride bikes,” and the angle that if you’re not a man ‘we’re all mothers or future mothers’ is not only pathetic, but dangerous.

‘A Feminist Newsletter in New Jersey’ —about Urbanism will complete the picture of US urbanism’s media coverage. 

‘A Feminist Newsletter in New Jersey’ —about Urbanism will be documenting the political economy, transportation, housing, and urbanism through the feminist lens during this CRUCIAL time in the United States’ history. In this recent election, we see that independent media like AF has considerably influence on our lives.

‘A Feminist Newsletter in New Jersey’ —about Urbanism is a media project that combines editorial, creative nonfiction, visual arts, and in-person lectures to inform, engage, and develop a practicefor urbanism through a feminist lens!

Owing to feminist urbanism complex systems approach it reveals the intricate connections between schools, jobs, recreation, housing, and transportation. This holistic view ensures that urban development addresses the interconnected aspects of city life. Ultimately, feminist urbanism creates more livable, equitable, and sustainable cities for everyone by supporting policymakers in seeing everyone as valuable.

‘A Feminist Newsletter in New Jersey’ —about Urbanism is a reader-funded venture. We do not have outside sources of revenue. This provides us with a forum to explore urbanism outside of market urbanismand not simply parrot the line of developers and their bro minions. 


We’re aiming to raise $17,895 by year’s end.  What for?

My Labor

I work Sunday-Wednesday, dedicating 11 hours daily to research, writing, social media, and grant applications and d espite 20 years of experience and two master's degrees, I'm paying myself $10/hour for 20 hours weekly ($800/month), well below market rates (of course we will revisit this after phase one of fundraising.)

Our Expenses

Monthly expenses will include:

• Media subscriptions (Atlantic, NYT, etc.): $200
• Weekly podcast production: $500
• Web hosting (Tiny News Collective): $100
• Software tools: $200
• NJ Transit passes: $164
• Staff (co-editor and program coordinator): $4,000

Total monthly expenses: $5,965

For the first quarter, minimum required funding: $17,895

This budget covers essential operations.

Fundraising Milestones Your Gift Will Help Us Achieve

• $2,000 biweekly podcast launch date will be set for January 2025
• $5,000 hire part-time staff with interviews taking place in mid January 2025
• $7,000 commission freelancers for in-depth long road journalism
• $10,000 more frequent publishing dates added to our calendar
• $13,000 start workshops and begin surveying audience members on Internet of potential topics
• $15,000 begin lecture series 
• $17,895 increase podcast frequency to weekly

The tiers that you can help are at three levels:

• $9.00 a month in honor of Title IX
• $19.11 per month in honor of the First International Women’s Day
• $72.00 in honor of the 1973, 7-2 decision in Roe vs Wade
  
  

Support AF in creating a new narrative and shaping feminist purviews, so that we can plan cities with EVERYONE’s needs, concerns, and dreams in mind. 

Please share AF’s Femininomenon! Urbanism campaign with a friend, colleague, or family member. 

Thank you, you super rad folks!