Authors List

Authors

  • Sheila Lorrett Emerson is a community reporter and producer who focuses on uplifting and celebrating the joy in underrepresented and marginalized communities, especially those of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC); and, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, 2 Spirit, Plus (LGBTQ2S+); as well as serving as a change agent to help eradicate the stigmas surrounding areas such as mental health, disabilities, and sex work.

    Sheila likes to get, in the words of Civil Rights Leader John Lewis, “in good trouble, necessary trouble!” Sheila’s advocacy work took center stage when she spoke at the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, addressing attendees from across the nation. Sheila is a Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.

  • Autumn is a graduate of Rowan University with a degree in Radio/Television and Film. Throughout her time at Rowan, she has explored a wide range of roles, including anchoring, editing, directing, and scriptwriting.

    She’s also had the opportunity to work with companies like Immortal Vision Studio as a Graphic Design intern, and WHYY as a TV Production Intern, where she contributed to TV shows including Check, Please, You Oughta Know, and On Stage at Curtis and radio programs such as Studio 2, as well as getting an inside look at Fresh Air.

    Currently, Autumn is Public Affairs Director at Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM, where she produces a talk show called “A Community Affair.”

  • Alisha is a journalist in Philly mostly covering food, drinks, and travel. She’s been reporting on Philadelphia for several years and is excited to continue expanding her journalism work.

    In 2022, Alisha launched an event series, #LatinxIndustryNight, highlighting Hispanic and Latinx bar pros.

    Alisha is excited to be part of this fellowship and dive deeper into multimedia training to do more cross-platform storytelling.

  • Tamara Rusell, also known as P.O.C. (Proof of Consciousness), is the Founder and Host of REVIVE RADIO, an online broadcasting platform, and a media correspondent for the joint venture REVIVE Media, featuring interviews and conversations on a topics including politics, societal issues, small businesses, music, health, nonprofits, and trending topics.

    When she is not behind the mic, she is curating workshops for the youth, engaging with the community by meeting them where they are, and volunteering for different community services.

    In 2020, P.O.C. became the youngest African-American woman regularly scheduled on Philadelphia NPR member station WHYY, and she is an active member of WHYY’s News Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E.) program and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism Constellation News Leadership Initiative Fellowship. She also completed the 2023 Philadelphia Media Founders Exchange Fellowship.

    P.O.C. is an honorary founding member of the National Black Media and Press Association and a member of For(bes) The Culture. P.O.C. is the recipient of The National Black Media and Press Association Award for excellence in audio media.

  • Nikki is thrilled to return to Philly after spending her days outdoors as an experiential educator in rural Connecticut. As a writer and audio producer, she is passionate about exploring how we experience belonging and connection in public spaces and the natural world.

    Previously, Nikki apprenticed at the award-winning podcast Shelter in Place and interned with several nonprofits, including Impact Services and The Borgen Project. These experiences deepened her love for storytelling and community engagement, inspiring her to connect with others as an audio storyteller.

    When she's not at home with her partner, Jake, and their imaginary cat named Tofu, you can find Nikki reading books, diving into big ideas, and befriending trees and birds.

  • Winter is an abolitionist educator and organizer committed to historical reckoning in service of liberation. With a PhD in history from UCLA, their research and writing projects focus on exposing the roots of colonial infrastructures in Haiti, Philadelphia, and the Midwestern United States.

    They are passionate about finding and creating conditions that make transformation possible at any scale, engaging methods like archival research, studio and installation art, dance, speculative fiction, and live action role play. They are proud to work in the field of community archiving as Director of Resource Mobilization and Strategic Planning at People’s Media Record.

    Winter has made their home in Philly since 2018, and is a parent to a public school pre-teen and several fur babies.