We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ryan Scribner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

At The GroundUp, our vision transcends singular achievements or personal glories. Instead, our legacy is intricately woven with the collective efforts and passionate contributions of countless individuals who believed in our mission. When history remembers The GroundUp, I hope it recollects not just a brand or a publication but a collective, a movement, and the myriad hands that shaped it.

While we championed our cause against exploitation, alienation, and the marginalization of non-normative identities, it was the likes of Johnny Payne and Bearcat who lent their unique voices and writings, enriching our platform’s depth and diversity. The provocative narratives of Cranberry Sin pushed our boundaries, reminding us of the importance of embracing controversy in the pursuit of truth and justice. Beyond our internal horizons, the expertise of Gabriel Barrio and the team at Arrogant Marketing amplified our voice, ensuring our message reached those who needed to hear it most.

So, as people reflect upon The GroundUp’s legacy, I hope they see a mosaic of diverse contributors, each playing a pivotal role in our journey. We aim to be remembered as an institution that valued collaboration, celebrated diverse perspectives, and tirelessly worked towards a shared vision of social justice and transformation.

In essence, our legacy should not solely be about what The GroundUp did but about who we were as a collective – the thinkers, writers, artists, marketers, and every individual who believed in our cause and made us what we are.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Greetings to the CanvasRebel readers! I am the driving force behind The GroundUp, a brand that has been championing anti-oppressive journalism and publicity since 2013. My journey into this industry was fueled by an urgent need to address the alarming growth of exploitation, alienation, discrimination, and the blatant disregard for non-normative identities and worker/class issues. We recognized that transformative action was imperative; passive discourse wouldn’t suffice.

What does The GroundUp offer? We’re not just another publication. We’re a fervent cultural inquiry. While many are swayed by the glitz of prestigious journals and mainstream leftist publications, we’ve always chosen a path less traveled. Our media, stands out as a bold mix of the sacred and the profane. We neither subscribe to reigning theoretical stances nor are we solely driven by artistic ambitions. To us, the true essence of art and writing is its potential to catalyze change.

Diving deeper into our offerings, The GroundUp publishes an extensive spectrum of media that unapologetically sheds light on anti-oppression politics. Our primary objective? To stir your soul and propel you into revolutionary action that challenges oppressive systems. We firmly believe in the collaborative nature of our work. Not only do we showcase the fruits of our labor, but we also provide a platform for others. If you’re a creator with a vision aligned with ours, we invite you to be a part of our growing legacy.

Beyond publications, our commitment to social justice is further manifested through our publicity services tailored for social justice organizations. If you’re an organization striving for a better world and need coverage or publicity for your events and actions, The GroundUp stands ready to amplify your voice. Additionally, we provide solutions for those struggling to access academic articles, if those people reach out, we’ll ensure they get them.

As we look forward, our horizons are expanding. We’re on the brink of diving into the world of book distribution via wholesale, and we’re excited to announce that soon we will be embarking on the production of our first printed book title.

In summary, what sets The GroundUp apart is our unwavering commitment to challenging the status quo, our collaborative spirit, and our insatiable thirst for transformative change. As we continue this journey, I carry immense pride in our collective achievements and the community we’re building. I invite all to witness, participate, and be a part of our ongoing revolution.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Years ago, we proudly published a piece by Bearcat, an Indigenous writer and organizer, that resonated with the voices of many marginalized communities. It was not just a story; it was a testament to challenges faced and battles fought. Its resonance, however, extended beyond our regular readership, igniting a controversy we hadn’t foreseen.

Shortly after its release, some organizers, many of whom we held in high esteem, didn’t just critique our work; they demanded that we rescind the author’s story. The pressure mounted daily, those organizers harassed me and my writer and our reputation and our values were placed under a magnifying glass.

While many outlets might have succumbed to such intense scrutiny, rescinding the piece to appease critics, we chose a different path. We remembered our commitment to the voices we represent and to the ideals we uphold. We chose to stand by our author and their right to voice their perspective. We refused to rescind the piece.

The ordeal was a testament to our resilience and our unwavering belief in amplifying diverse voices, even when they challenge the status quo. Through this experience, we learned that resilience isn’t merely about standing one’s ground, but fervently standing up for what one believes to be right.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

Yes, I indeed have experience with acquiring a business. In 2017, I had the opportunity to purchase The GroundUp, a promising but floundering independent left-wing publication that originated from the student collective, Aggie Solidarity, at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Initially, The GroundUp was established in 2013 with a mission to be “a ruthless criticism of everything existing,” effectively serving as a counter-narrative to the university-sanctioned student newspaper, the NMSU Round Up. It successfully published seven print issues along with digital content on its website over two years.

When the student collective started to wane, I saw the intrinsic value and potential in The GroundUp. While the acquisition process was relatively straightforward given its dormant state, the real challenge lay in redefining and reviving its purpose.

Upon acquisition, I initially breathed life into it as an online publication, primarily to support The Council’s endeavors at NMSU. We aimed to advocate for making NMSU a sanctuary school, a cause that was met with resistance by the then-chancellor. Despite the setbacks, this period was crucial, as it provided clarity on the path forward for The GroundUp.

The pivotal moment came later in 2017 when The GroundUp broke free from its limited university scope. We expanded our horizons both geographically and ideologically. The publication ventured into more radical territories and started addressing a broader spectrum of subjects. This wasn’t merely a continuation of an existing project; it was the inception of a new, more assertive era for The GroundUp.

In retrospect, buying The GroundUp was not just about securing a business; it was about fostering a platform for amplifying voices that challenge the status quo and advocate for radical change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thegrounduppublication.com/social-justice-online
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrounduppub/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGroundUpPub