Ah...Lake Merritt, Oakland on a warm, golden day. One of my favorite places to be and to bear witness to past, present and future narratives. It's around this lagoon, and in cities neighboring, where I got my kicks as a local community journalist. 

And over there on the right donning the mask with orange flowers? That's me. Under bright baby blue skies, I gathered with community, rejoicing in beats flowing from live Afro-Latino-influenced drumming, and that of our collective harmonies. 

I'm driven towards seeking the truths of those around me, especially people from marginalized and disenfranchised environments. I've documented dozens of social and cultural movements decrying injustice. It's in my nature to capture this on-the-ground and from the frontlines.

I aim to report with reverie, awe, tenacity and integrity; to curiously uncover what lies at the nexus of justice, accountability and solutions. I'll always be thrilled to learn new skills, advocate for journalists like myself, as well as engage with new spaces where like-minded and -spirited people congregate to uplift one another. 

My present allegiances are with the Asian American Journalists Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and The Uproot Project. I was recently awarded the SPJ 2021 Excellence in Journalism Award in Investigative Reporting (Print/Online Small Division), along with two colleagues, for an investigation on whether the Oakland Police Department violated its policies against George Floyd protesters. I was a co-plaintiff in a public records accountability lawsuit, which resulted in thousands of outstanding records being cleared. For this, the representing legal team won the 37th Annual James Madison Freedom of Information Advocacy Award. 

Currently, I am based in New York City. My stories have been published in New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Oakland Magazine, Capital & Main, NPR Youth Radio (now known as YM Radio), Patch, and Intercontinental Cry. I've championed and contributed to local news outlets Berkeleyside, The Oaklandside, and The E'ville Eye News.

If you'd like to share story ideas, work opportunities, or projects to collaborate on, do reach out. I'm all eyes and ears.