Read on Twitter
A Kinda Sappy Thread: I took a lot of risks this year: I quit my job in July, which opened more opportunities, and allowed me to see my value. I moved TWICE during the pandemic. I was published in national and local outlets. And recently, I began my new job with @SavannahNow.
I learned a lot about myself and grew as a person in ways I don't think I would have had I allowed myself to stay stagnant. That said, here are a few stories I'm proud of that reminded me of my worth as a reporter and (to an extent) a human being:
At the top of the year, I wrote about the financial challenges Hosea Helps faced (again) as they headed into another year feeding residents around the MLK Holiday: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/atlanta-beloved-hosea-helps-needs-funds-for-building-renovations/mt6CjUKWNxC7FeuyGrJTGK/
Rising rent concerns in Atlanta have always been an issue and I wrote about some of the city's efforts in addressing that concern: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/atlanta-urges-legislature-allow-return-rent-control/CGk1XZwxnKaaCP5WvNgG8K/
A proud sinner was the Sunday reporter for @ajc, leading me to write about how churches were grappling with services as the pandemic left everyone forced inside. It turns out "new normal" was the right use here: https://www.ajc.com/news/metro-atlanta-churches-livestream-services-could-the-new-normal/Ys469YIcb0SchjcZlorAmN/
Having had housing issues myself, I thought about how the city's homeless residents were handling the pandemic. I spoke with some of the city's shelters about how they were handling testing and sheltering during the pandemic: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/homeless-shelters-ramp-testing-stave-off-spread-virus/SPHYP0SuKctftE54Ts9ubK/
As I covered BLM protests in Atlanta, I felt they would last at least through July. This was from the first night of protests when KLB gave a passionate, unrehearsed speech to protesters. https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/atlanta-mayor-urges-violent-protesters-home/t22rY6BywWhnCxhi2QNxoK/
With fewer cars on the roads (before the outside magically reopened), I wondered how it affected the city's air quality. So, I wrote about it: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/with-fewer-cars-and-pandemic-atlanta-air-quality-improves/Z68fNAa0eaB1RMu1pV5VnI/
I'd covered BLM protests, but never a funeral for a victim of police brutality. I worked with two of my colleagues to cover Rayshard Brooks' funeral: https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/funeral-for-rayshard-brooks-planned-tuesday-historic-atlanta-church/pYN6jKWDLobgIfrGyb0IUJ/
Uncertain of what the next six months would bring, I wrote my first freelance story for The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/georgia-gov-brian-kemps-mask-assault-stokes-coronavirus-despair-in-atlanta
For @Poynter, I wrote about how parents are grappling with the pandemic at the start of the school year. This hit home because I live with a teacher who tells me the heartbreaking stories we don't always get to report on: https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2020/how-black-parents-juggle-their-work-and-kids-virtual-schooling-during-the-pandemic/
A tried and true political reporter, I started covering democracy and politics for @SaportaReport. Like many residents and reporters, I've learned a lot about Georgia's political process: https://saportareport.com/georgias-elections-hinge-on-increased-poll-workers-voting-machines-and-ballot-scanners/raisa-habersham/raisa-habersham/
With next to no assistance, Black restaurants in Atlanta made a way for themselves in the pandemic: https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2020/black-owned-businesses-forge-ahead-despite-pandemic-setbacks/
Perhaps the most exciting thing I've done this year, I wrote my first full-length feature for @AtlantaMagazine on the political generational divide among Black people: https://www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/theres-a-generational-divide-between-black-democrats-how-will-that-play-out-at-the-polls-and-at-home/
All eyes were on Georgia as early voting began in the general election. I wrote this piece for @thedailybeast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/mail-fears-beat-out-coronavirus-as-voters-flock-to-glitchy-polls-in-georgia?ref=author
To kick off the start of my job, I wrote a short item on an open letter from religious leaders to Kelly Loeffler: https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2020/12/22/church-leaders-loeffler-stop-attacks-warnock-black-church/4015668001/
This year challenged me and reminded me what matters most: My family. I'm incredibly thankful for my supportive husband, my mentors and colleagues, and editors who took a chance on me. It restored my confidence in myself and reminded me I'm valuable.
I'm very excited about this new chapter and to work with a forward thinking team of reporters that care about the communities they cover. I've done so much this year, and there's still more to come. Stay tuned! 
