I grew up in the rural green belt of London, England where I fell in love with literature and literary history. During my undergraduate degree at the University of Kent in Canterbury, and namely an exchange year abroad at UCLA, that love for literature transitioned into a passion for journalism and California sunshine. I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue an MA degree in journalism at USC and continue a freelance career in multimedia storytelling. And I have never looked back.
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My experience includes local, national and international reporting for news outlets such as the LA Weekly, Southern California Public Radio and the New Zealand Herald Tribune. My fascination with hyper-local journalism spawned a thesis about the future of the industry (titled, Can Grassroots Journalism Help Underserved Communities?) and, in 2008, led me to help found a hyper-local website covering South Los Angeles. I was managing editor until early 2011, when Patch became my next adventure.
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Now I live in Concord with my husband, reading, writing, exploring the Bay Area and continuing to drink my tea with milk.
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Beliefs:
1. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato.
2. Never discuss religion or politics at the dinner table.
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Politics: I am a registered Democrat with an open mind to all opinions and factual arguments. I believe that the mind should be a thoroughfare for all thoughts and not a select party.
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Religion: Non-denominational Christian, with an almost pantheistic love for the outdoors and a strong appreciation for being still (Psalm 46:10.)
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Local Hot-Button Issues: Social justice issues that affect quality of life or access to opportunities, including education, immigration, health care and social welfare.
The Hunger Challenge asks participants to live on a food stamp budget equalling $4.46 per day. Is it still possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
For those mourning loved ones in springtime, the season of new life is also a reminder of life lost.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month — a disease that disproportionally affects African Americans. Blood banks need African American donors to give blood in Pleasant Hill and surrounding areas.
A by-the-numbers look at the previous week's activity by the Piedmont Police Department.
This week's Off the Grid at the South Shore Center serves up ribs, curry, cream puffs and more. What's your favorite food truck?
Register for the September 15 California Coastal Clean-up Event and help keep the Carquinez shoreline free of trash.
President Barack Obama will turn 51 on Aug. 4. Share your birthday messages in the comments, and the best will be featured on the site Saturday.
A by-the-numbers look at the previous week's activity by the Piedmont Police Department. New this week: A figure for 911 misdials and hang-ups.
Lunch arrives at the South Shore Center Saturday as another Off the Grid event brings eclectic bites including Cajun, Peruvian, Asian and Filipino fusion.
Users of the virtual pinboard are sharing their favorite pictures from Capitola for inspiration. Are you a Pinterest pinner?
Let the games begin! The 2012 Olympic games in London start Friday, July 27 and run to Sunday, Aug. 12. Check here for the opening weekend Olympic schedule.
Let the games begin! The 2012 Olympic games in London start Friday, July 27 and run to Sunday, Aug. 12. Check here for the opening weekend Olympic schedule.
Let the games begin! The 2012 Olympic games in London start Friday, July 27 and run to Sunday, Aug. 12. Check here for the opening weekend Olympic schedule.
A by-the-numbers look at the previous week's activity by the Piedmont Police Department.
This week's Off the Grid event at the South Shore Center features a variety of meals on wheels, from curry to cream puffs.
The games have already begun, but the official start of 2012 Olympic games in London is Friday, July 27. Check here for the opening weekend Olympic schedule.
Let the games begin! The 2012 Olympic games in London start Friday, July 27 and run to Sunday, Aug. 12. Check here for the opening weekend Olympic schedule.
The games have already begun, but official start of 2012 Olympic games in London is Friday, July 27. Check here for the opening weekend Olympic schedule.
The games have already begun, but official start of 2012 Olympic games in London is Friday, July 27. Check here for the opening weekend Olympic schedule.
Users of the virtual pinboard are sharing their favorite pictures from Watsonville for inspiration. Are you a Pinterest pinner?
