I’m an established journalist and political advocate who now aspires to write middle grade fiction and picture books!
Journalism and nonfiction
I’ve won dozens of awards for my journalism and non-fiction. Here are a few:
The Livingston Award, the premier all-media, general reporting prize for young journalists in America.
The National Journalism Award for outstanding contributions to journalism, from the Scripps Howard Foundation.
The NCTE George Orwell Award, from the the National Council of Teachers of English for distinguish contributiond to public discouse.
The National Association of Journalists and Authors general nonfiction award for the best general nonfiction book of the year.
The Independent Publisher Book Award gold medal winner for multicultural non-fiction.
The C.B. Blethen Award honoring the best investigative story in the Pacific Northwest.
My book Buried in the Sky, co-authored with my cousin Amanda Padoan, is now published in about 20 languages and counting. It was selected by Outside Magazine as part of the “Contemporary Adventure Cannon” of all-time greatest adventure books.
My investigative journalism was the centerpiece of two major documentaries: PBS’s “In a Small Town” (nominated for an Emmy Award) and Luminant Media’s “The Church and the Fourth Estate” (premiered at the Sundance Film Festival). The Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation for Excellence in Journalism highlighted my work in its series on courageous reporting.
Advocating for Change
As a communications strategist and campaign leader, I’ve helped shaped significant social justice victories in Oregon and beyond:
Marriage equality: Press secretary for the successful campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples in Oregon
Anti-discrimination: Communications director for the successful campaign to defeat a ballot measure that would have allowed businesses to turn people away based on their sexual or gender orientation.
Criminal justice reform: Communications director for the successful campaign to end criminal punishments for marijuana possession.
Immigrant protection: Communications director for the successful campaign to protect Oregon’s sanctuary city law.
Drug treatment: Campaign manager for the successful campaign to expand treatment and reduce criminal punishments for people struggling with drug addiction.
I also worked on successful local initiatives to win trans-inclusive healthcare, expand accountability for district attorneys, and raise energy efficiency standards.
Fiction writing
I’m now persuing my passion for writing middle grade and picture books. My development as a writer includes:
MFA candidate in Writing for Children at Hamline University
Two-time recipient of the T.A. Barron Scholarship for Fantasy Writing
Graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop, the Kenyon Writing Workshop, and the Taos Toolbox writing workshop
Personal Life
I live in Portland, Oregon and enjoy beekeeping and beermaking. I identify as gay, Jewish, and neurodivergent.
