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.
Almost 10 percent of the American labor force now works from home at least one day per week, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. How do you stay productive amid domestic distractions? Here are six tips for working from home.
Almost 10 percent of the American labor force now works from home at least one day per week, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. How do you stay productive amid domestic distractions? Here are six tips for working from home.
If you're gearing up for a happy new year in 2013, start off on the right foot by giving yourself a break when it comes to setting personal goals.
If you're gearing up for a happy new year in 2013, start off on the right foot by giving yourself a break when it comes to setting personal goals.
If you're gearing up for a happy new year in 2013, start off on the right foot by giving yourself a break when it comes to setting personal goals.
Revelers will be able to ride trains until 3 a.m. on Dec. 31.
Revelers will be able to ride trains until 3 a.m. on Dec. 31.
The 51-year-old Concord resident was charged with attempted murder after allegedly choking and threatening his wife with death at an inn in Monterey County.
Clayton had the biggest increase in homes sold in November in the county, and Concord saw a surge of homes sold at higher prices. The most popular zip code in the city was 94521.
Dunn was a former contributor to Concord Patch as well as other local news outlets. He died Dec. 26 after a battle with liver cancer. Share your memories of Dunn here.
Dec. 28 at 9 a.m. was the deadline to vote in Patch's "Deck the House" competition, which included a Concord house as one of the finalists.
This report from the Concord Police Department tallies the 66 arrests in the past week. Almost half of the arrests were alcohol related.
There were 15 burglaries in Concord from Dec. 20 to Dec. 25 — down from 19 the week before. One home on San Vincente Drive was hit on Dec. 25 and three were burgled Christmas Eve.
On a rainy day, a man in Concord, CA launched a message into the bottle and had no idea where it would end up—or whose life it could change.
A Concordian launched a message into the bottle into the rushing water on a rainy day, and had no idea where it would end up — or whose life it could change. This heartwarming story of compassion will warm your heart on a cold Christmas Eve.
This report from the Concord Police Department tallies the 70 arrests in the past week. The majority of those arrested were from out of town.
A 39-year-old Concord man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of stealing a package containing Christmas gifts from a home in town. He was caught on the resident's security camera.
The health care service with centers in Walnut Creek and Concord has gifted funds to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
There were 19 burglaries in Concord from Dec. 13 to Dec. 19 — up from 11 the week before. Most of the burglaries were residential, with nine homes burgled compared to two the week before.
The Concord High football team will be selling #9 Christmas ornaments at Friday's vigil in honor of 17-year-old Montreal Blakely. Blakely was fatally shot in San Francisco last weekend. Did you know him? Share your memories in the comments.
