PORTFOLIO

News Writer, Reporter, Producer, Videographer

Converge Media:

My coverage of the Seattle community for Converge Media has been impactful. From covering demonstrations for women’s rights in Iran to town halls on gun violence in Rainier Beach to politics, my stories have made a difference.

#Back2Besa - Take A Trip To El Salvador With Cesar Canizales (Fox 13 Seattle)

Protestors Demand Accountability For Officer Who Laughed About The Death Of Jaahnavi Kandula

Boys and Girls Club Leaders Return to Safeway Following Shooting That Wounded 5

Black Family in Renton Demands Reparations From Renton School District: Part 1

A Black family in Renton, Washington, demands reparations for the land that their parents were forced to sell to the school district through the threat of eminent domain in 1969. The district denies any wrongdoing. Part 2: Black Family in Renton Demands Reparations From Renton School District

Frichette Family Winery Breaks Barriers, Opens Doors (Fox 13 Seattle)

Pacific Northwest Summer Intensive Features Students From Around The World (Fox 13 Seattle)

Celebrating Hip Hop at 50 (Fox 13 Seattle)

Beacon Hill Community Rallies to Support Nurturing Roots Urban Farm

Nurturing Roots, an urban farm in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle that provides fresh produce and eggs to hundreds of people, is being forced off the property at the end of the month. The farm leases the land from Bethany United Church of Christ next door. The church is taking the land back and realigning with “other justice organizations that better match our social justice vision…”

Emotional Town Hall at Rainier Beach Focuses on School and Community Safety

This story about a town hall at Rainier Beach High School was viewed more than 60,000 times across all platforms, and it led directly to Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz scheduling a second town hall with the students.

Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz Attends Rainier Beach HS Forum on Gun Violence

This was a follow-up meeting that SPD Chief Adrian Diaz scheduled with the students as a direct result of Converge Media’s coverage. It garnered over 30,000 views across all platforms.

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay Launches Reelection Campaign

Joy Hollingsworth Announces Campaign for City Council District 3 Seat

Seattle Takes to the Streets for Women’s Rights in Iran (video pkg)

Black Coffee NW Perseveres Despite Challenges (video pkg)

Concerns Grow as New Management Takes Over Affordable Building (video pkg)

Tiny Tots Development Center Unveils Outdoor Classroom for Preschoolers (video pkg)

Amazon Development Fund (live, on-camera)

Charleena Lyles Inquest (live, on-camera)

Charleena Lyles Inquest Verdict (live, on camera)

The Seattle Medium:

“Panic:” Local Families Feeling The Pinch Of High Inflation (news article)

Small Landlords In Limbo As Rental Assistance Wraps Up (news article)

King County COVID Rental Assistance: Help Where It Was Most Needed, But Questions Remain (news article)

Video Production:

United Way’s Annual Community BBQ - Univision (produced, shot and edited segment as spokesperson on behalf of United Way of King County)

Sponsor Eat Drink & Be Generous (United Way of King County)

Sponsor the 2024 Community BBQ (United Way of King County)

The Good Gets Better When We Give (United Way of King County)

Four Amigos-Beloved Community: Affordable Housing in Columbia City (El Centro de la Raza)

Bilingual Spokesperson:

Client: Vida Agency: Programa de Fondo de Asistencia WSHAF

PRESS RELEASES:

United Way of King County, City of Seattle and King County Announce $5 million Investment in Rental Assistance Program to Keep Families Affected by COVID-19 from Experiencing Homelessness (PDF)

United Way of King County, following the recommendations from Seattle & King County Public Health, has temporarily closed Free Tax Preparation sites (PDF)

 ADVOCACY:

The op-eds below were written on behalf of the president and CEO of United Way of King County as part of my responsibilities as director of public relations.

 People need help more than ever, not a reduction in benefits (Seattle Times)

 For a better future, approve Best Starts for Kids Levy (Seattle Times)

 YES, YOUR VOTE MATTERS (South Seattle Emerald)

 OPINION: POINT IN TIME COUNT, 2020 VERSION: MORE OF THE SAME. WE NEED CHANGE (South Seattle Emerald)

 Vaccinate For Yourself, Your Family, Your Community (Seattle Medium)

 Statements written on behalf of United Way’s leadership:

 A Message from Leadership regarding Racist Attacks against Asian American and Pacific Islander People

 Jan. 20, 2021: A Historic Day

 Through it All, I Remain Hopeful

 Message From Our Leadership

 Post-election Message from Our Leadership

BLOGS:

SEATTLE CHILDREN’S ON THE PULSE BLOG:

 3D Heart Printing: Big Impact for Little Hearts

 A Low-Cost Device That Could Help Hundreds of Thousands of Preterm Babies in Low-Income Countries Breathe and Survive

On Black Futures Month, a Race Against Sickle Cell and a Chance for Healing

Seattle Children’s Announces New Leadership for Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic 

Seattle Children’s Research Division: Celebrating 15 Years of Innovation


UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY NEWS AND STORIES:

           Justice Served in This Case, But the Need for Systemic Change Remains

A Year of Struggle and Perseverance

Finding hope in college (Original story published in United Way’s blog)

Breaking Barriers Through Food

A Movement, Not a Moment

A Black History Month Like No Other

 Generosity Goes a Long Way to Alleviate Food Insecurity

Healing Trauma Through Mentorship

 Help For All During COVID-19

 Community College Students, Staff Adapt to COVID-19 Crisis

 Avoiding Homelessness and Getting Life Back on Track

 On the Brink of Homelessness

 

NORTHSHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT STORIES:

What’s cooking this school year: scratch meals and more fresh fruits and vegetables  (photos by me)

 Northshore cafeterias becoming more sustainable (photos by me)

Hollywood Hill Elementary School Teacher Honored as ‘Symetra Hero in the Classroom’ (photos by me)

Northshore educators ratify new contract for 2018-19 school year


DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT (NOW DALLAS COLLEGE):

Please note: all these stories were published on the district’s website, but they all disappeared as the district transitioned to “Dallas College.”

Nationwide Shortage of Chefs Creates Opportunities for Students at El Centro College’s Food and Hospitality Institute: This article received Honorable Mention in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV Annual Award Competition (Uncredited. Article originally published on Dallas College website, but content no longer available there)

Skills gap in cybersecurity creates job opportunities for DCCCD students This article won Silver in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV Annual Award Competition "Writing - News" category Annual Award Competition (Uncredited. Article originally published on Dallas College website, but content no longer available there)

El Centro College chef apprentices cook their way to new careers (Uncredited. Article originally published on Dallas College website, but content no longer available there)

Filling the advanced manufacturing skills gap

Poised for a booming construction industry 

A helping hand to ESL business owners

DCCCD welding students train to “hold the world together” (Uncredited. Article originally published on Dallas College website, but content no longer available there)

DCCCD students learn more than hard skills for the job market (Uncredited. Article originally published on Dallas College website, but content no longer available there)

Lights, camera, action: North Lake College video technology students look forward to careers in TV and film (Uncredited. Article originally published on Dallas College website, but content no longer available there)

DCCCD students are first community college interns to win award from Los Alamos National Laboratories (Uncredited. Article originally published on Dallas College website, but content no longer available there)

HARD NEWS:

 Obama to Announce Framework Trade Deal in Visit to Brazil (originally published on Fox Business Network website, but that link has been disabled)