Front Porch Movement

Front Porch Movement
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The Front Porch Movement is a voice in civic engagement, profiling ordinary people with extraordinary stories. Led by award-winning journalist Ted Canova, we aspire to build community through credible storytelling, and in the process take on the unprecedented polarization gripping the United States and the world.

  1. Ep 7- After 32 Years in Minnesota, This Immigrant Is Done

    2H AGO

    Ep 7- After 32 Years in Minnesota, This Immigrant Is Done

    After 32 years of attaining his American Dream, raising two kids, and building a successful business in Minnesota, Luis isn’t being deported, he’s choosing to leave the U.S. What worries him the most is the impact the government crackdown on immigrants is having on his 9 year old son, afraid to leave the house or attend school, and who's growing up with hate in his head and fear in his heart.

    10 min
  2. Ep 6- He Paid His Taxes. Now He’s Hiding From ICE

    5D AGO

    Ep 6- He Paid His Taxes. Now He’s Hiding From ICE

    We're invited into another Minnesota home, this time we meet a Mexican immigrant father terrorized by the immigration crackdown, and who hasn’t left his house in more than a month. He's built a work life through grocery, hotel, and construction jobs, has paid his taxes, and has no criminal record. Now lives behind covered windows, determined to stay for his teenage daughter while praying the country he once saw as promise will return.

    12 min
  3. Ep 5- From Civil Rights to ICE: Black Activist Keeps Marching

    FEB 17

    Ep 5- From Civil Rights to ICE: Black Activist Keeps Marching

    Lifelong activist Peggy Carlson is one of 1,200 singing activists marching through the snowy streets of Minneapolis, calling on ICE to leave Minnesota. At 74, Peggy reflects on decades of marching for justice and is frustrated and tired that her work is not done. Peggy believes the price of empathy, like the price of ignorance, both carry consequences. She is bolstered by seeing Minnesotans standing united in their protection of immigrants, believing that real change in communities of color will only happen when white communities step up, like they are today.

    9 min
  4. Ep 4- Minnesota Mom Leads Anti-ICE Movement

    FEB 16

    Ep 4- Minnesota Mom Leads Anti-ICE Movement

    On a quiet street in St. Paul, a stay-at-home mom’s house has become a front-line symbol of activism, covered in signs reading “Black Lives Matter,” “ICE Out,” and “Defend Immigrant Rights.” She describes being followed while walking her children to the bus stop and later trapped between two vehicles in what she believes were aggressive ICE tactics, experiences that left her shaken but more determined. What began as neighborhood postcard writing has evolved into a structured grassroots network, with defined “lanes” of resistance ranging from rapid response to school patrol. In a state she says is “under occupation,” she believes the real legacy may be a stronger, more connected Minnesota community forged through fear, courage, and collective action.

    15 min
  5. Ep 3- Living in Fear: A Minnesota Teen on ICE, Isolation, and Mental Health

    FEB 13

    Ep 3- Living in Fear: A Minnesota Teen on ICE, Isolation, and Mental Health

    We're back in a house with the drapes drawn and a family in hiding for two months. Meet a 15-year-old Honduran-American teenager describe living in constant fear as immigration enforcement and ICE activity keep he and his family confined inside their home. Unable to attend school in person, walk his dog freely, or spend time with friends, he explains how anxiety, lost sleep, and isolation have reshaped his daily life and mental health. The teenager shares how his family has grown closer under pressure, with his 18-year-old sister becoming the sole breadwinner and his parents struggling to remain strong. His story offers a rare, personal look at how immigration crackdowns in Minnesota are affecting children, families, and student well-being beyond the headlines.

    11 min
  6. Ep 2- Inside a Minnesota Home Hiding From ICE

    FEB 12

    Ep 2- Inside a Minnesota Home Hiding From ICE

    After days of waiting and building trust, I’m led to a surprise meeting point and into a home where the curtains have been drawn for nearly two months. Inside, a Honduran father describes losing his job, draining his savings, and watching his 18-year-old daughter become the family’s sole provider while his 15-year-old son attends school online out of fear. In a house filled with anxiety and uncertainty, he wrestles with whether Minnesota is still the place that once promised his family a better life.

    14 min
  7. Ep 1- Minneapolis, ICE, and a Conversation at 36,000 Feet

    FEB 11

    Ep 1- Minneapolis, ICE, and a Conversation at 36,000 Feet

    On a flight to Minneapolis, journalist Ted Canova begins reporting before takeoff. A chance encounter with a mutual aid organizer turns into a candid conversation at 36,000 feet about ICE operations, immigration fears, and how Minneapolis is responding. Brian, a Minneapolis resident involved in mutual aid efforts, describes how doctors, lawyers, restaurant owners, parents, and volunteers are mobilizing to protect vulnerable communities amid heightened immigration enforcement. He reflects on how the legacy of George Floyd still shapes civic engagement in Minnesota, and why he believes this moment, rather than weakening the city, is strengthening its collective resolve. This episode explores fear, resilience, political division, and the question at the heart of it all: What happens to a city when everyone feels the stakes at once?

    11 min
  8. Six Days Inside Minnesota- Trailer

    FEB 9

    Six Days Inside Minnesota- Trailer

    Award-winning journalist Ted Canova embedded for six days in Minnesota to uncover untold stories of the government's immigration crackdown. What emerged were stories of anger and fear, resistance and resilience, perseverance and ingenuity, and faith in humanity.

    3 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Front Porch Movement is a voice in civic engagement, profiling ordinary people with extraordinary stories. Led by award-winning journalist Ted Canova, we aspire to build community through credible storytelling, and in the process take on the unprecedented polarization gripping the United States and the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Front Porch Movement
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Front Porch Movement