Tamika Smith, Patch Staff

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Tamika Smith was born and raised in Miami, Fla., and Nassau, Bahamas. She started in the news industry at the age of 14 in Miami with NBC6&#39;s junior broadcasting program. With a degree from Howard University, she has worked in various newsrooms in the nation&#39;s capital, from Fox5 DC to NPR&#39;s &#34;Tell Me More with Michel Martin<i>.&#34; <br></i>

Currently at Patch, she reports about major issues that affect the political and educational infrastructure of the Silver Spring community. As a resident of the area for several years, Tamika hopes you will reach out to her with story ideas you think would be great for the site and would love your feedback as well.

 <i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.</i>

<i>This disclosure is not a license for me to inject my beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: I hope that the knowledge that my beliefs are on the record will cause me to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that I failed in this mission, please let me know.</i>

<b>Politics:</b>

I describe myself as an Independent.

<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>:

<i>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?</i>

Silver Spring is a vibrant community with people from all over the world. Within the past few years, new infrastructures have changed the way the people in the area relate to one another. In addition to immense physical growth in the downtown area, Silver Spring has developed large Ethiopian and Hispanic populations, among other cultures, which put pressure on the leaders of the community to respond to their new social needs. The growing population will be an ongoing struggle for the leaders of Silver Spring.