Recent Work:
Freelance work
I currently work as a freelance journalist with bylines in a number of different publications. You can read some of my most popular pieces below. I also run a Medium account that you can read here.
“Chicago Ugly Buildings Tour Is An ‘Educational Roast’ Of Downtown’s Least-Loved Buildings” – Block Club Chicago, August 2021
“Bonus Round Board Game Cafe Welcomes Back Patrons For Inclusive Gaming As Lakeview Reopens” – Block Club Chicago, July 2021
“Witches Are Casting A Spell to Help Democrats Win the 2020 Election” – Medium, Oct 2020
Built In
From October 2021 to October 2022, I was a news reporter for Built In, an online platform for finding jobs, upskilling and keeping up to date on news in the tech industry. Below are a few of my best-performing articles and you can read all of my articles for Built In National, Built In San Francisco, and Built In Boston online.
Post-Roe World Presents Big Challenges for Healthtech
Why Government Tech Is So Slow — and How D.C. Companies Are Bringing It Up to Speed
Afropolitan Works to Build Network State Aimed at Fostering Black Community
Forage Raises $22M From Instacart Founder to Make Online Grocers SNAP-Friendly
Fandom Forward
From 2018 to 2021, I volunteered as the content resource coordinator for Fandom Forward. My team and I write the organization’s resource guides and curriculum for Wizard Activist School. Some of my work for this organization can be found below:
“Yip, yip! How Avatar: The Last Airbender Fans are Helping #StopLine3”
Avatar at Home: A COVID-19 Toolkit
Star Wars Fandom Forward Toolkit
“Thousand Year Old Wars: Steven Universe and Intergenerational Trauma”
“Inara Uses Backpage: Sex Work Representation in Firefly”
Other Work:
Secret Chicago
From October 2019 to April 2020, I was the founding editor of Secret Chicago, an online guide to things to do in the windy city. Below are a few of my best-performing articles and you can read all of my articles for this publication here.
“Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Cannabis Legalization in Illinois”
“The World’s Largest Marvel Exhibit Is Coming To Chicago”
“C2E2: Everything You Need To Know” Sponsored content
“This Chicago Jazz Club Flies You To The Moon With An Immersive Music Experience” Sponsored content
“Here’s How To Have The Ultimate Harry Potter Experience At Home”
“CPS Will Distribute 100,000+ Devices Under New Remote Learning Plan”
Jackalope Magazine
From January 2015 to December 2017, I wrote for the student news publication Jackalope Magazine and in 2017 served as its associate editor. Here you will find all of my clips for this magazine. My top articles are also listed below.
Interview with Mayor Javier Gonzales
“Conflict in the Gender Neutral Hall”
Hush Comics
From 2014 to 2016, I worked as an assistant editor and staff writer for Hush Comics. Here you can see all of my clips for this publication. My top articles are also listed below. Note: The Hush Comics website is currently under a redesign and some photos may be missing.
“What I Learned Doing Gishwhes”
Charli Renken 