Staff

Susan Mernit, Editor/Publisher

Susan is Oakland Local’s editor and publisher. She assigns stories, raises money, writes blogs & articles, and works with nonprofits and community organizations. She lives in North Oakland, and is passionate about food access & permaculture issues. Her long time personal blog is susanmernit.com.  Contact Susan at susan@oaklandlocal.com, follow her on twitter at oaklandlocal and susanmernit

Kwan Booth, Senior Producer

Kwan assigns stories, works with our youth reporters, writes and produces content and handles much of our community outreach and training. A West Oaklander, Kwan is passionate about poetry, art, beats, music and empowering others, especially around the digital divide. His personal blog is Boothism. Contact Kwan at kwan@oaklandlocal.com, follow him at oaklandlocal and boothism

Amy Gahran, Senior Editor

Amy focuses on environment, transportation, development and, of course, the emerging Zombie beat. A mobile news guru, Amy is passionate about training and speaking truth to power. A new North Oakland resident, she sees the Town with fresh eyes. Her personal blog is at contentious.com. Contact Amy at amy@oaklandlocal.com and follow her on twitter at oakloc and amygahran

Emilie Raguso, Associate Editor, Community

Emilie Raguso is a multimedia reporter in Oakland who focuses on issues of criminal justice, food and Oakland culture. She is passionate about social media, documentary photography and sustainable living. Her work has appeared on nytimes.com, Salon and NPR, as well as in The Modesto Bee, Greater Good magazine and the East Bay Express. Write her at emilie@oaklandlocal.com, follow her on Twitter (@emraguso) and see more of her work at http://raguso.us and tumblr. 

Irene Florez, Associate Editor

Irene Florez is a sustainable development enthusiast and an Oakland resident of seven years. She writes on issues related to East Oakland, Latinas/os in California, and Colombian Human Rights. Her experience includes weekly news reporting and marketing for grassroots and advocacy organizations. In addition to Oakland Local, she is currently a member of Colombia Aqui Collective.  Dedicated to empowering workers and educating the general public on Latin American issues, Irene holds a B.A. in International Relations from Mills College

Ryan Van Lenning, Staff writer

Ryan writes on issues related to urban agriculture/food justice, sustainable cities, politics, and alternative economics.  Also a North Oakland resident, he is passionate about dissent, the underdog, and building a sustainable Oakland.  Ryan also writes for Terrain Magazine, Truthout, Matador Change, and Ethical Traveler.  He holds an M.A. in Humanities and blogs at Pull the Root, Travelin' Bones, and Rumi and the Cholo. Write him at ryan@oaklandlocal.com, follow him on twitter at vanlenning.

Reginald James, Contributing editor

Reginald James is currently studying African American Studies and Journalism at Laney College. He hosts the internet radio show, The Black Hour. Reginald is an Aries and enjoys walking, running, rowing and biking Lake Merritt.  

Andrew Hoerner, Planning & Strategy

Director of the Sustainable Economics Program at Redefining Progress, and an expert on climate change policy issues, Andy helps guide the strategy and development of Oakland Local. A long-time Oaklander (first Lake Merritt and now near Children’s Hospital), Andrew is committed to cross-movement dialogue in the interest of reform.Contact Andy at andy@oaklandlocal.com.

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Would you like to work with us? Volunteer, outreach, write? Get in touch. editor@oaklandlocal.com