Building Better Systems
Good Work Group builds systems change strategies and advocacy campaigns for today’s leading social impact innovators.
We work alongside you to develop, define, and deliver on a core strategy for maximizing your organization’s mission impact.
Collaborators, “nerds,” and “wonks”
Good Work Group is a collaborative consultancy built by meaningful relationships and strong connections.
We’re an experienced team of dedicated change-makers with diverse skills and backgrounds: researchers, writers, editors, former journalists, educators, analysts, and policy geeks—all unwaveringly committed to advancing racial, social, and environmental justice.
About Us
Principal, Molly Priesmeyer
The beginning of my career was spent as an obsessive Twin Cities journalist, covering a wide range of critical topics from housing to law enforcement to environmental issues, earning the Premack Award for exposing academic freedom violations at the University of Minnesota.
Driven by my journalistic background and a deep commitment to justice, I founded Good Work Group in 2014, focusing our mission on research and advocacy communications to drive meaningful change.
Good Work Group now collaborates with leading social and environmental justice nonprofits, policymakers, educational institutions, and government entities—providing targeted research, strategic communications, and campaigns that help our clients make an impact.
An insatiable curiosity and a passion for learning and growth motivate me daily, and I am genuinely grateful for work that actively encourages these pursuits.
When not tending to my 73 houseplants, you can find me at a jazz show, reading too many news stories, exploring Powderhorn Park, wandering through Mexico City, or relaxing at home in South Minneapolis with my pit bull, Flannery, as we dive into numerous rabbit holes together.
Our Team
Key collaborators in building systems-change insights & initiatives
Dr. Marilyn Preston
Dr. Marilyn Preston serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Family Studies program at Metropolitan State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, and an M.A. in Human Services Administration from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
With over 15 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Preston has held significant roles at various prestigious institutions, including Columbia University, Colby College, Grand Valley State University, and CUNY Brooklyn College.
Her research is diverse, focusing on pedagogy, emerging adult identity development, health education, and qualitative research methods.
She has published numerous articles in prominent academic journals, including the Journal of LGBT Youth and the American Journal of Sexuality Education.
Dr. Preston has lent her research and analytical skills to support Good Work Group projects for the Minnesota P20 Education Partnership, the Joyce Foundation, and Ecotone Analytics, among others, furthering her impact on education equity, pedagogy, and policy.
Sarah Askari
Sarah Askari is a writer, editor, and graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She is a mother; daughter of an Iranian immigrant; and an avid reader and news and political obsessive who has reluctantly read some of her smart and funny stories in public.
Sarah is also a former journalist who utilizes her diverse skills and natural inquisitiveness to support Good Work Group with qualitative research; analysis; summaries and insights; report writing; communications strategies and frameworks; and key messaging for clients.
She currently lives in Northeast Minneapolis with a large collection of books, art, and microbiota.
What People Are Saying
“I appreciate that you push us to think out further and work backward, from a backward-design model relative to the mission. You helped us shape the policy brief and created a campaign that really helped spread the message of how we need to reduce racial inequities in higher education. I still use what you did. It was meaningful, powerful, and impactful. We did it through a relationship together, we did it through meaningful conversations. I really appreciate that about working with you.”
—Leiataua Dr. Jon Peterson, Minnesota Education Equity Partnership
“Your experience and ability to think immediate and long-term strategy as well as a multi-pronged approach to various stakeholders was invaluable. Your personable style, humor, life experiences and commitment to social causes really resonated with me. I'd jump at the chance to work with you again and highly recommend you.”
— Dr. Thomas Adams, Better Futures Minnesota
"Molly brings her passion and expertise to each project. She becomes an invaluable addition to not only the communications aspect of the work but the general vision and strategic outlook for the future. Molly provides thought partnership along with tactical leadership that is a welcomed element of her service offerings.”
—Dr. Lanise Block, Sankore Consulting
“Molly’s partnership with us fundamentally changed the way we communicate our value and how we engage with new clients. She helped us better understand the perspectives of our various client segments and created content that communicated our value to them based in their own goals and strategies—changing our approach from communicating the technical (read: boring and confusing) aspects of our products, to the actionable benefits to the client and communities that come as a result of our work.”
— Timothy Roman, Co-founder and CEO, Ecotone Analytics
“Molly understands the value in connecting strong and inspiring messages to nonprofit organizations' purpose and strategies. She will push you to include strategic communications and messaging throughout strategy development considerations, and not just as an afterthought, but as a way to pursue social impact. Molly listens intently, reflects what she hears, asks probing questions, and then uses this input to create clear and exciting written material. Molly's written product stirs emotion in a way that inspires and compels action.“
—Michael Anderson, National nonprofit consultant, npmichael.com
Trusting, collaborative relationships are essential for building meaningful change together.
“Molly brings her passion and expertise to each project. She becomes an invaluable addition to not only the communications aspect of the work but the general vision and strategic outlook for the future.”