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 newest addition to the Taco Bell menu is a taco with a shell made of nacho-cheese flavor Doritos. Is it a heart attack waiting to happen... or a healthier choice?
The Indian restaurant-come-sports-bar knows how to make a red-hot curry and is about to get its full liquor license. Have you braved the top of the spicy scale?
SOLVED: Do you know which Pinole eatery serves a sandwich stuffed with portobello mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and pesto sauce?
Ramzi Khoury picked up a trumpet at 10 years old and ignited a passion for music. Now, the Pinole native is a singer-songwriter sharing his talents in New York. Here's his latest music video.
The yearbook is set for publication in June, but the school is asking for 250 pre-orders to fund its production. The cost is $40 either online or in person. Have you ordered yet?
Monday, March 19 is the first day of spring in California, according to the arrival of the vernal equinox at 10:14 p.m. This is the earliest arrival of spring since 1896.
Monday, March 19 is the first day of spring in California, according to the arrival of the vernal equinox at 10:14 p.m. This is the earliest arrival of spring since 1896.
Monday, March 19 is the first day of spring in California, according to the arrival of the vernal equinox at 10:14 p.m. This is the earliest arrival of spring since 1896.
Monday, March 19 was called the first day of spring in California, according to the arrival of the vernal equinox at 10:14 p.m. This is the earliest arrival of spring since 1896.
The body of a man was recovered in the Berkeley Marina Saturday morning, according to the Alameda County coroner's bureau.
Public comments from the March 7 school board meeting included concerns and praise for the expansion and modernization of Jefferson Elementary.
The planned project would add five classrooms and upgrade Jefferson's building. Here, the Berkeley Unified School District provides answers to community FAQs.
Diane Leite, a former assistant vice chancellor who gave her sexual partner a salary bump, was demoted and given a pay cut, but still earns $175,000. Was the punishment too light or just right?
Advice from Mothers Against Drunk Driving: simple ways to prevent your St. Patrick's Day weekend revelry from turning into tragedy.
Court documents obtained by the Daily Cal show that protesters in the Nov. 9 Occupy Cal demonstration are being charged with resisting arrest, obstructing a thoroughfare and — in more than one case — allegedly beating an officer.
Just 36 percent of American women aspire to top jobs, according to a study by the Center for Work-Life Policy. Is this because of an "ambition gap" that begins in childhood?
Members of the student-led organization BAMN are celebrating the impending resignation UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau and asking that he withdraw all criminal charges against Occupy Cal protesters.
Classes will compete against each other this semester for the best attendance record, and win an excursion or activity. Is it a good idea to offer students incentives to attend school? Share your thoughts.
A community forum will be held Tuesday evening at Malcolm X Elementary, and an online survey about the desired qualities for a new superintendent will be available until Friday.
Just 36 percent of American women aspire to top jobs, according to a study by the Center for Work-Life Policy. Is this because of an "ambition gap" that begins in childhood?