I'm dancing for a cause -- again!

(Photo - Austen leake)

It was in 2020 when I put on my ballroom shoes and danced the tango for a cause. I participated in “Dancing with the Terre Haute Stars” which supported an organization called Chances and Services for Youth (CASY). Their goal — making sure children can grow up in safe, nurturing environments.

I was paired with an awesome dance partner and went through weeks of fun (and sometimes intense) practices that made for a beautiful performance! Of course, it was during COVID so we did not have much of a crowd. But it was a very rewarding experience.

(pHOTO - AUSTeN leake)

Well — I’m doing it again in Omaha but this time West Coast Swing!

I am excited to share that I will be a participant in this year’s Dance for a Chance in support of Youth Emergency Services (YES). Their mission is providing housing and support for youth experiencing instability, crisis and homelessness. They want to ensure youth between 16-24 have a place to feel at home and so do I.

Having a stable home is a critical to the future success of our youth. It is often taken for granted that other family members or close relatives can pitch in, when that is not always the case.

We’re also dancing through the decades of YES’ existence —so I’ll be dancing to a song from the 2000s.

By lending your support, YES can continue to fund programs that will give our youth the firm foundation they need to be the changemakers in our community, our country and our world.

So how can you help me support the organization? You can buy a ticket to attend, buy a table or a sponsorship for event and note that you are supporting my by entering my names before you check-out. You can place “votes” for me by donating a dollar for each one (100 votes = $100). You can also drop off in-kind donations to YES and include my names on the donation slip. Lastly, you can provide a meal to YES and put a note in the “type of food” box or reply to the auto-email.

I hope I can have your support in this fun, but critical endeavor. The event is on October 17th and is something of a costume party. We’re celebrating 50 Years of YES so dress in your favorite decade over the last 60 years!

See you there!

How genuine connections create the best stories

As I’ve moved from market to market, I’ve grown more comfortable with networking. I can attest to the fact that it can feel very unnatural at times to go up and talk to strangers, but as a journalist I’ve found it to become very valuable.

About a year ago I was attending a networking event hosted by the Midlands African Chamber. We went around the room to introduce ourselves and share what we did for a living. After my introduction and a few others, a man named Rodney Bennett stood up to speak. He shared how he was starting a business venture and one of his products was dedicated to the person who donated a kidney to him. He shared that because of this donation, he was able to have a second chance at life and wanted to use his business (SunFlare Brand Company) to pay it forward.

In that moment I’m sure he didn’t think anything of this being worthy of media attention. But I did. At the end of the event I made a beeline to find him and let him know that I really wanted to tell his story. So, we made the connection and set things up.

In our interview he shared that he was on the search for his donor family. Through a letter, he wanted them to know that their loved one was making a tremendous impact even after their passing.

We also had an opportunity to watch his process of creating candles. It was really awesome to see!

(The first story I did on him is below)

Fast forward to now.

Rodney participated in the Midlands African Chamber’s Pitch Black competition, where he won a cash prize and other resources to support his business. We connected there since I was the event’s emcee.

And recently, Rodney reached out to me with exciting news that not only did he find his donor family (they wrote each other a letter), but he also made it to his five-year anniversary of his kidney donation.

He invited me to join him as he gave out candles from his business to the medical providers who cared for him. It was truly an honor to see this story through.

Not only that, but his story helped bring awareness to the need of kidney donors and the process that it takes to potentially connect with a donor family. As Rodney told me, sometimes recipients hear back from them and sometimes they don’t. He was very grateful to be one of the ones to get a response.

I know that networking can be tough. Stepping out of your comfort zone and breaking out of your shell can be hard. BUT… you never know what you’ll discover on the other side of that “hello”. It could end up bringing you one of the best stories you’ve ever told.

How working in news prepared me for solo travel

“You’re going to another country by yourself?!” I heard my mom say in my ear. Months ago, I made the decision that I was going to embark on my first trip to Europe. After having Eiffel Tower posters on my wall as a college student and pasting an image of the Ritz Carlton London on my 2024 vision board, it was time.

Initially, I planned to go with one of my best friends. When we couldn’t get our schedules in line to book the trip together I decided I would go on my own. When I’d share with people that I was going on a solo trip to Europe their eyes would get wide. “Are you sure you want to do that?” “Aren’t you scared?”

The simple answer to that… nope.

When it came time to ease the nerves of family members about my plan, there was a point they could not argue with. For the last seven years I’ve lived on my own in four different states away from family. And you know what… I survived every move. For me, traveling to Europe would be no different than packing up all my things and moving to a new state. Anything that could happen to me abroad could also happen at home. (Spoiler alert: I made it back safely!)

Having this kind of confidence is owed to my career path. Climbing the ladder in news often means forcing yourself to start new in unknown places. And not only that, but putting yourself out there to build a life and have new experiences. In living state-to-state, I did not have my family or friends to depend on for comfortability. I had to come out of my shell and make bold moves (like eating alone at a restaurant or attending an event where I don’t know a single soul) in order to create the community I now have. The same goes for my solo travel experience. Just as I have in each state I’ve worked in, I also made new friends on this trip!

Had I not grown and developed the way I have by way of my career journey, I don’t think I would have been able to do it. However, my confidence grows with every move and I’ve discovered that I have no reason to fear.

Thankfully, things worked out where my friend was able to join me on the latter portion of the trip. But nothing was more liberating and freeing than to visit two dream cities on my on. If I can do that, I can do anything!

I won my first award!

One afternoon while sitting at my desk, my co-worker leaned over to me and told me he had a secret to share. Once I made my commitment to keep my lips zipped he told me to look at his computer screen. It was an e-mail listing me as a winner of one of the esteemed Eric Sevareid Awards by the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. While it didn’t specify where I placed, it was more than good enough to learn that my work was finally recognized by my colleagues and peers.

Yes, I’ve gotten a number of compliments on my news stories through the years. But It wasn’t until year five of my reporting career that I had a piece of hardware to show for it. I certainly don’t work in this field for the sake of accolades and acceptance of others outside of our viewers. However, when you once worked in a newsroom with no regard at all for your talent or worth it feels good to know that you are seen.

Earning this award also taught me not to be too hard on myself. My co-worker who told me the exciting secret was also one who helps to choose which stories make it from the newsroom to the judges table. They saw my work fit enough to be shared. The stories I submitted, I wasn’t so sure about. After I chose them I certainly felt I could have picked better. Something more exciting, riveting and punchy. But I was wrong. It was stories from the heart that were more than enough to earn me an Award of Merit. No, it wasn’t first place and that’s okay. That time will come. Even when I get it (the EMMY I aspire for), it’ll never supersede my first award. The one that came from the heart and soul of a young journalist like myself with the mission above all to tie my community together by the telling of our stories.

In the video below you’ll find my story submissions:

Three stories shot, written and edited by me. Two of the three are enterprise stories.