Staff
Susan Mernit, Editor/Publisher
Susan is Oakland Local’s volunteer editor and publisher. She assigns stories, raises money, writes blogs & articles, and works with nonprofits and community organizations. A former arts activist, and then VP at Netscape and Yahoo! Senior Director, 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 Community Manager
OL co-founder Kwan handles much of our community outreach and training, as well as assigning stories, writing, and managing arts coverage. 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.
Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, Managing Editor
“MFC” is an award-winning journalist who is co-owner of ZM Productions, Editor-in-Chief of the soon-to-be re-launched shades Magazine and President of the Bay Area Black Journalists Association. Her publication credits include co-author of “Living in the Moment: A Guide to Living a Full and Spiritual Life” and contributor to “Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul.” Her awards and recognitions include first place for investigative reporting for her work with the Chauncey Bailey Project and an Associated Press Managing Editors Award for column writing. Contact Michelle at mfc@oaklandlocal.com; follow her on Twitter at shadesmagazine1 and mfcnews.
Amy Gahran, Senior Editor
OL co-founder and volunteer, Amy focuses on mobile development, multimedia, 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 amygahran.
Jennifer Inez Ward, Contributing Editor
Lake Merritt writer and photographer Jennifer has documented Oakland and the Bay Area for more than a decade. As a contributing editor at Oakland Local, Jennifer writes and blogs on a variety of subjects, including the arts, public safety, and city redevelopment issues. She is also executive senior manager of Freelance Café, a networking and resource center for writers, artists, contractors and other independents. Her blog, a funny and passionate look at city life, is oaklandscene.blogspot.com. Contact her at jennifer.wrd@gmail.com and follow her on twitter at Oaklandscene.
Patsy K Eagan, Oakland Local Trainings Manager
Patsy Eagan is a freelance writer and reporter for Oakland Local, as well as our trainings manager. Born and raised in Oakland, California, she has seen and reported on the city's many phases of change. She covers art, the environment, city policy and social justice. Her work has appeared in regional publications like Oakland Magazine and national magazines such as Bitch and Elle. She also holds a Master in Fine Arts degree in Nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh, where she first fell in love with the urban writing center. Contact patsyk@oaklandlocal.com and follow her on oaklandista.
CB Smith-Dahl, Community Media Manager
CB Smith-Dahl is an artist who has always put the community at the center of her work. As OL's Community Media Manager, she works with youth and community members and organizations both to get the very best multimedia content up on the OL site and to reach out to engage and teach community members useful media skills. . Some of the programs CB has taught for are Inner City Filmmakers, Streetside Productions/The East Bay Asian Youth Center, and the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. In 1997, she founded Community Bridge Video, which produces educational and promotional films in partnership with nonprofits and community based organizations. Her client list includes the California Council for the Humanities, Alameda County Health Department, and the City of Beverly Hills. She has an MFA in film & video production from the University of Southern California and a BA in Spanish and education from Spelman College.
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.
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.
Paula Wirth, Contributing photographer
Paula Wirth was born in 1971, in Oakland, California. An accomplished photographer, she now spends a lot of time photodocumenting vintage neon signs and architecture, street art and graffiti, as well as covering music events and taking candid portraiture. Her work investigates the role of the flâneur/flâneuse in the practice of observing and documenting daily modern life through drawing and photography.
Andrew Hoerner, Planning & Strategy
Director of the Sustainable Economics Program at Redefining Progress, and an expert on climate change policy issues, volunteer 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.
Interns (Fall 2010)
Tymeesa Rutledge
Causes Editor Tymeesa is a blogger, writer and budding entrepreneur who blogs at http://www.tinyteeisb0mb.wordpress.com, and on Oakland Local. She hails originally from Richmond, CA and now lives in East Oakland.
Tehea Robie
Tehea is OL's Publishing intern as well as a contributing writer. Tehea Robie recently finished her first novel, Amnesia. She was a finalist for the 2005 Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers, and has been published in Five Fingers Review and Controlled Burn. She has been a featured poet at venues all around the Bay, such as Love Jones, Fluid, LIP all Grrrl MC Battle, Show Your Scars, 2009 Women’s Pavilion at San Francisco Pride, Evolution Networking, I Am A Man Fundraiser, and Shepeoples. She was raised by an exquisite, fierce, working-poor mother. She received her MFA in Writing and Consciousness..
We will be recruiting a set of Fall interns in September 2010; email editor@oakandlocal.com if you're interested.
Summer 20210 interns: Stephen Allen, Stefan Armijo, Tehea Robie, Tymeesa Rutledge, Sara Kassabian
We also have a great group of writers--get in touch if you'd like to write, blog, post or do multimedia for OL!
