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.
California now requires maternity care to be included in all private health insurance plans for individuals. Previously, less than 15 percent of individual plans covered pregnancy, child birth and postnatal care. Are you pro or con?
A new California law effective July 1 requires maternity care to be included in all private health insurance plans. Previously, less than 15 percent of individual plans covered pregnancy, child birth and postnatal care.
A new California law effective July 1 requires maternity care to be included in all private health insurance plans. Previously, less than 15 percent of individual plans covered pregnancy, child birth and postnatal care.
A new California law effective July 1 requires maternity care to be included in all private health insurance plans. Previously, less than 15 percent of individual plans covered pregnancy, child birth and postnatal care.
The house at 910 Walnut Street renowned for its annual display of festive lights was the scene of a one-alarm fire early Tuesday morning. Fire crews quickly doused the flames and there were no injuries reported.
A new California law effective July 1 requires maternity care to be included in all private health insurance plans. Previously, less than 15 percent of individual plans covered pregnancy, child birth and postnatal care.
A new California law effective July 1 requires maternity care to be included in all private health insurance plans. Previously, less than 15 percent of individual plans covered pregnancy, child birth and postnatal care.
A by-the-numbers look at the previous week's activity by the Piedmont Police Department.
Off the Grid brings a caravan of food trucks to the South Shore Center for dosas, cupcakes, falafels and more.
Musical performance will put 46 junior high actors in the spot light. Get your golden ticket for the show, which runs July 13, 14 and 15 at the Willows Theatre in Concord.
Have you ever ridden the Tube in London or the Metro in Paris? How would you rate BART by international standards? It's one of the largest in scale but definitely not in ridership. We'd like to know your thoughts in the comments.
The four-week program at Martinez Junior High preps 46 young actors for a musical performance. Get your golden ticket for the show, which runs July 13, 14 and 15 at the Willows Theatre in Concord.
Have you ever ridden the Tube in London or the Metro in Paris? How does BART fare by comparison? Share your thoughts in the comments.
This week's Off the Grid event at the South Shore Center features a variety of meals on wheels, from cupcakes to curry.
This week's update from City Manager Steve Duran includes details about how the budget was balanced, the Nov. 6 municipal election, plus updates on projects like Sycamore North.
Have you ever ridden the Tube in London or the Metro in Paris? How does BART fare by comparison? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The singer-songwriter will play an acoustic set Thursday, from 6 until 8:30 p.m. and Friday from 6 until 9 p.m. Here's a video of the last time Toqe serenaded Crescent Plaza.
Have you ever ridden the Tube in London or the Metro in Paris? How does BART fare by comparison? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Have you ever ridden the Tube in London or the Metro in Paris? How does BART fare by comparison? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Have you ever ridden the Tube in London or the Metro in Paris? How does BART fare by comparison? Share your thoughts in the comments.