WXXI News is Rochester’s public radio newsroom, producing in-depth reporting across the Finger Lakes and Western New York. As a reporter and producer, I covered stories rooted in community life, from rural mental health and endangered Indigenous languages to harm reduction, urban farming, arts inclusion, and LGBTQ+ visibility. My work blended field reporting, thoughtful interviews, and narrative writing to make local issues accessible and human-centered for a broad public radio audience.

Stories I worked on

“Farming towns shift toward training community members when it comes to mental health”

A story from rural Wyoming County about farmers, neighbors, and agricultural workers taking Mental Health First Aid training to support one another during economic and emotional strain. I reported on the barriers to mental health care in rural communities and how local residents are stepping in to help bridge the gap. Listen here.

“Native American communities are fighting to preserve endangered languages”

An exploration of Mohawk and Seneca language revitalization in Western New York. I spent time in community-led language classes and with researchers using new tools (including AI) to document and preserve languages deeply impacted by the legacy of residential schools. Listen here.

“Fashion as a force: Cornell exhibit explores women’s empowerment through clothing”

A feature on Cornell University’s “Women Empowered” exhibit, which traces how clothing has been used as a tool for solidarity, protest, and self-expression. I spoke with designers, students, and curators about how fashion shapes identity and political power. Listen here.

“Artists Unlimited productions are a family affair for many”

Part 3 of a three-part Inclusion Desk series following the cast and families behind the inclusive theater group Artists Unlimited. This story centers on one family’s experience and the sense of belonging, pride, and connection the program fosters for actors with disabilities. Listen here.

“How to deal with the computer in my pocket”

A personal and reported piece about navigating digital overwhelm in the age of smartphones. I spoke with technology experts (and with my own parents) to explore the tension between constant connectivity, nostalgia for “dumb phones,” and modern communication habits. Listen here.

“Urban farming cultivates a sense of ownership over food”

A look at three urban farms across Rochester, from brand-new community gardens to long-running refugee-centered growing programs. The story highlights how gardening creates connection, sustainability, and empowerment in neighborhoods across the city. Listen here.

“Syringe exchange program meets active drug users where they are”

A deeply reported feature inside Trillium Health’s syringe exchange program, part of New York’s statewide opioid crisis coverage. I documented how harm reduction centers build trust, provide safety, and offer compassion to people who use drugs, often becoming one of the few places clients feel welcomed. Listen here.

“Out Alliance workshop breaks down pronouns”

A story on International Pronoun Day from Rochester’s Out Alliance, where educators taught respectful, practical tools for gender-inclusive language. I explored why correct pronoun use matters and how small shifts can make spaces safer and more welcoming. Listen here.

“Drag Story Hour is more than just reading”

A joyful feature on Drag Story Hour in Rochester, following Mrs. Kasha Davis as she reads stories about kindness and individuality to young families. I reported on the event’s atmosphere, its educational goals, and why early exposure to diverse identities matters for children and parents alike. Listen here.

Services

Radio reporting & storytelling: field reporting, interviews, scripting, audio editing, narrative writing, cultural and community coverage, and public radio production.

Results

• Reported and produced stories across culture, public health, LGBTQ+ issues, arts, and environmental topics
• Elevated underrepresented voices and community perspectives
• Contributed to WXXI’s local reporting for NPR member station audiences
• Created accessible, empathetic storytelling grounded in strong fieldwork and thoughtful interviews

Great Lakes Today was a collaborative public radio initiative created to highlight the environmental, economic, and community issues shaping the Great Lakes region. The project brought together reporting teams from WBFO (Buffalo, NY), ideastream (Cleveland, OH), and WXXI (Rochester, NY), producing in-depth stories that explored the people and ecosystems connected to the lakes. As part of WXXI’s contribution to the project, I reported on climate impacts, invasive species, watershed health, and lakefront communities navigating extreme conditions. My work combined field reporting, interviews, and narrative storytelling to help listeners understand how ecological shifts affect daily life in New York and beyond.

Stories I worked on

“Amid climate change, tiny bug causes big problems”

A field report from Ithaca, NY exploring how the hemlock woolly adelgid (a tiny invasive insect) is killing hemlock trees across the region. I spoke with city foresters and researchers about climate change’s role in accelerating the adelgid’s spread, the ecological risk of losing hemlocks in fragile gorge systems, and the scientists racing to protect forests using biological controls. Listen here.

“Not a scientist? You can still help collect valuable data”

A story about citizen science and how everyday people are helping gather environmental data across New York. Reporting from the Cumming Nature Center and Oatka Creek, I followed volunteers collecting stream bugs for the DEC’s WAVE program and learned how community members contribute to scientific monitoring, environmental awareness, and stronger stewardship of local ecosystems. Listen here.

“Along Lake Ontario, high water and damage persist”

A report from the south shore of Lake Ontario during a season of severe flooding and erosion. I spoke with longtime residents about disappearing beaches, damaged homes, ongoing repair costs, and the tension between climate-driven weather patterns and public disagreement over lake level management policies. The story highlights how rising waters continue to reshape life along the lake’s edge. Listen here.

Services

Radio reporting & environmental storytelling: field reporting, interviews, scripting, audio editing, feature writing, and community-focused environmental coverage.

Results

• Produced in-depth, on-the-ground environmental stories for a multi-station public radio collaboration
• Helped listeners understand climate impacts and ecological issues affecting Great Lakes communities
• Elevated expert voices, local residents, and scientific perspectives through accessible storytelling
• Contributed to regional coverage that connected environmental change with lived experience

KNOM Radio is a non-commercial news and music radio station based in Nome, Alaska. I collaborated with their team on several audio storytelling segments designed to highlight local culture, language, and love stories rooted in the Alaskan experience.

Stories I worked on

“Finding Love on Story49”

A Valentine’s Day special series exploring stories of love in Western Alaska. I co-produced and edited a set of heartwarming interviews featuring local couples alongside fellow producer Kristin Leffler. Listen here.

“Learning Iñupiaq, One Word — and One Laugh — at a Time”

An educational-yet-playful language series where I collaborated with Marjorie Tahbone to help teach Iñupiaq on the airwaves. This project blended humor, vulnerability, and cultural storytelling to make language learning more approachable. Listen here.

Services

Radio storytelling: Interview production, voice work, editing, scripting, and cultural collaboration.

Results

• Delivered community-first storytelling grounded in joy and connection
• Helped elevate Indigenous voices and languages for public radio listeners
• Supported KNOM’s mission to offer meaningful, mission-driven programming