COMMUNITY, CULTURE & PLACE-BASED STORYTELLING

Selected Portfolio Samples

Reported and narrative-driven storytelling rooted in community, culture, and place. This work highlights artists, organizers, small businesses, and civic spaces through human-centered reporting that blends interview-based journalism with cultural context. The emphasis is on ethical representation, local impact, and accessible prose that strengthens community connection and public understanding.

Core strengths: Feature reporting, interviews, narrative journalism
Audiences: Local communities, arts and culture readers, civic-minded audiences
Formats: Reported features, profiles, cultural essays
Focus: Place, lived experience, ethical storytelling

Community Profiles & Civic Spaces

The Midnight Sun: Illuminating Olympia’s Underground Since 1993

Actress Vanessa Postil, manager of Midnight Sun Performance Space, discusses Midnight Sun’s history as a nurturing hub for local performers and events, highlighting its integral role in the community.

How Olyphant Found its Trunk

Brothers Nick and J.B. Baldridge, co-owners of art supply store Olyphant, share how their personal journeys and creative backgrounds culminated in the establishment of their store.

Social Issues & Human Impact

Three Feet from Gold: Re-examining Homelessness with Arno Matz

Profile of a documentary filmmaker using visual storytelling to humanize homelessness and reframe public dialogue.

ION EcoBuilding Promotional Video: “Building as Our Birthright”

Scripted and produced a video highlighting regenerative construction and community stewardship.

Food, Sustainability & Place

Farm-to-Table Series: Calliope Farms

Jacob Wilson, co-owner of Calliope Farm, attributes his farm’s success to offering high-quality products, a variety of seeds, and strategic market positioning, especially through direct-to-consumer channels. Published February 2016 by Washington Hospitality Association.

Farm-to-Table Series: Shepherds Grain

Mike Moran, General Manager of Shepherd’s Grain, discusses efforts to reconnect people with their food source, and highlights the sustainable farming practices, including the no-till method, used by every wheat grower for Shepherd’s Grain. Published January 2016 by Washington Hospitality Association.

Capitol City Dolls: Pinups for the People Bodies with a Cause

Reported feature highlighting a body-positive, philanthropic pinup troupe challenging stereotypes through art, confidence, and community outreach.

Bicycle Noir: A Love Story on Wheels

Narrative arts feature exploring a noir-inspired bicycle performance at the intersection of romance, creativity, and local theater.

Product, Brand & Concept Development

Narrative development and conceptual storytelling for artists, creative professionals, small businesses, and mission-driven organizations. These projects focus on shaping identity, articulating values, and translating creative or ecological intent into language that resonates with audiences — often blending interpretive writing, brand voice development, and long-form narrative framing.

Core strengths: Brand storytelling, conceptual framing, voice development
Audiences: Arts audiences, creative professionals, values-driven consumers
Formats: Liner notes, artist profiles, brand narratives, conceptual essays
Focus: Meaning, identity, voice

Fábio Caramuru ~ EcoMúsica Aves

Liner notes commissioned for album “EcoMúsica | Aves”: Brazilian pianist Fábio Caramuru’s 20-track album pays tribute to various bird species native to Japan, inspired by his travels.

ION EcoBuilding: Turning a House into a Home

Joseph Becker, owner of sustainable building company ION Ecobuilding, founded a business dedicated to educating the community about alternative methods and materials for enhancing the local environment.

Facing Lorem’s “Adversarial Feelings”

Promotional interview with Italian musician and visual artist Lorem (Francesco D’Abbraccio), exploring his AI-programmed project “Adversarial Feelings,” framed around narrative collaging techniques to simulate AI grappling with its sentience.

Ursula K. Le Guin & Todd Barton: “Music and Poetry of the Kesh”

Promotional review of science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin’s 50-year body of work, including a canonical album adapting her literature to music, uses a crossword puzzle integrating playful themes from Le Guin’s society-probing work.

Rafael Soto’s Fall Fashion Line

Developed branding and website copy highlighting craftsmanship, local presence, and customer experience.

Applied Community & Event Communications

Audience-focused communications supporting events, performances, nonprofit initiatives, and cultural programming. This work emphasizes clarity, engagement, and call-to-action — helping organizations communicate value, increase participation, and connect with their communities through strategic messaging.

Core strengths: Promotional writing, campaign messaging, audience engagement
Audiences: Event attendees, donors, partners, general public
Formats: Event promotions, campaign copy, social media, web content
Focus: Participation, awareness, impact

Event Promotion

Rise Up’s Moving Call to Action

Promoted a Seattle-based Hamilton tribute production through targeted, attention-grabbing event copy.

Rock Party At Capitol Theater

Promotion for Chastity Belt, Seattle-based indie rock band touring in support of their album, “I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone.”

Brand Voice

A Gene from a Genome: The Transient Tapes of Muzan Editions

Promotion for Muzan Editions, an electronic music cassette label from Nara, Japan, led by a trio of non-native humanities enthusiasts.

Pecking at Borders with Corvo Records

Promotion for Corvo Records, Berlin-based music label founded by Wendelin Büchler, devoted to publishing vinyl records that merge visual art with sound art.