I Create Human-Centric Stories…

From engaging insights to local features to essays, I craft stories that spark conversation and connect communities. Think of it like the Chicago Red Line: every ride offers a new cast, a new moment, a new angle — and my writing aims to capture that same variety. At the heart of my writing is a desire to understand the “why” behind every person and story.

Golden retriever service dog with a harness labeled 'SERVICE DOG' standing outdoors near a wooden fence and green plants.

These Dogs Do Much More than Sit and Roll Over

Behind every service dog is a quiet kind of heroism — the kind that restores autonomy to the people who rely on them. Through the experiences of veterans, longtime handlers and the trainers working to make these dogs accessible, this story explores how service animals bridge the gap between limitation and independence in everyday life.

Smiling woman with glasses and blonde hair selling colorful embroidered ornaments at a festive market, with decorative framed cards featuring Mexican folk art behind her.

Three large portrait photographs displayed on a dark gallery wall, illuminated by spotlights. The left portrait is of an elderly person with dark skin, wearing a red hat and traditional clothing. The middle portrait is of a young girl with curly blonde hair, light skin, and a serious expression, wearing a red shawl and a floral shirt. The right portrait is of a person with darker skin, a red beard, and a head wrap, looking directly at the camera.

Close-up of a wooden floor with peeling blue paint, revealing the wood underneath, and a wall in the background.

Steve McCurry Captures Humanity in ‘ICONS’ Exhibit

Steve McCurry’s “ICONS” arrives at LUMA with more than 100 powerful photographs that vanishing cultures and moments of breathtaking humanity. This immersive exhibit showcases decades of McCurry’s work, from the piercing gaze of the “Afghan Girl” to the haunting dust of 9/11, experiencing a vivid, intimate journey through our shared human story.

‘We’re happy to be neighbors’: Stores of W. Loyola Ave.

As Loyola prepares to demolish the 1226–1234 W. Loyola Ave. block, three beloved Rogers Park storefronts — Edge Art, Roman Susan Gallery and Archie’s Cafe — reflect on their roots, their impact and what comes next. Through the voices of longtime owners and community builders, this story captures the heart of a neighborhood fighting to preserve its creativity, connection and character.

Cleveland’s Silent Danger: Lead Paint

Cleveland’s lead paint crisis isn’t a relic of the past — it’s an ongoing public health emergency that continues to harm hundreds of children every year. Through the story of a survivor and the experts fighting to protect the city’s youngest residents, this feature exposes how aging homes, systemic inequities and insufficient enforcement have allowed a preventable danger to persist — and what it will take to finally eliminate it.

Good Writing is NOTHING without Strategy

A clever line or a beautifully crafted story only matters if it’s pointed in the right direction. Strategy is what takes a message from “well-written” to “actually read by people.” It’s knowing who you’re speaking to, what they care about, and how to meet them where they already are. Here’s an example of how I combined my love and writing and strategy into an ongoing project for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s membership team’s website page.

Creating a Content Calendar for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Screenshot of a project management board titled 'Membership Stories for 2025' with various tasks organized by month, including July, August, September, and October 2025. The board contains tasks with labels such as 'Member Profiles,' 'All Members,' 'Email,' 'Website,' and themed titles like 'Member Monday' and 'Story.' There is a photo of three people standing outdoors in front of a glass building on the left side of the board.

The stories were as genre-spanning as the artists in the Rock Hall. From a woman in Michigan who travels every summer to support the museum to a “Curator’s Choice” mini-series, there were no shortage of ideas that led to stories where members could read and think “they are just like me.”

During my 2025 summer internship at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I designed a 6-month content calendar for the membership department. A first of it’s kind project, I wanted to make sure the stories showcased our members love for all things music.