I'm a cofounder and partner at Commoner Company. I help people deepen civic life in the places where they live by creating more participatory newsrooms and more collaborative community information networks. In 2015 I co-founded City Bureau, a civic media lab based on Chicago's South Side where, as Co-Executive Director of National Impact, I orchestrated the development of the award-winning documenters.org platform and strategic expansion of the Documenters Network to its first 11 cities. Together, my team and I helped re-invigorate the participatory media landscape and train thousands of people to engage their local government, a credit to the impact of our network. The culmination of these endeavors was celebrated with the $10 million Stronger Democracy Award.From thought-provoking articles to inspiring speeches, I've traveled the world to engage in meaningful dialogue about the indispensable role of local journalism and bolster diverse civic movement-building initiatives. I love testing new ideas through writing opportunities and speaking events, and my relationships and projects have kindled participatory media programs locally, nationally and internationally.A diverse range of experiences have shaped my perspective. From my experience as a beat reporter for DNAinfo Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times, to my early years as cofounder and director of the Illustrated Press, a comics journalism collective, I’ve honed an ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Later, my stint as a producer at the Invisible Institute solidified my dedication to pursuing journalism as a public good. My contributions haven't gone unnoticed, and I’m grateful for recognition from fellowships and awards, including an Ashoka Fellowship, the Leaders for a New Chicago award, the Studs Terkel Award, the Sidney Award, and the Alfred P. Weisman Award.Eager to forge new connections and collaborations, I'm always excited to connect with fellow travelers and world-builders.