“Love is an action, never simply a feeling.”
bell hooks
About Me
I’m a seventh generation Afro-Texan born and raised behind the “Pine Curtain” of rural Deep East Texas. I’m currently the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund Program Officer with a passion for challenging the status quo in traditional journalism and highlighting the distinctive experiences of BIPOC communities.
My past work has been aimed at providing journalism to historically overlooked communities in rural Texas, especially in the Eastern region of the state.
I’m the former Director of Engagement at watchdog magazine Texas Observer where I spearheaded a grassroots community engagement initiative. The project was aimed at empowering under-covered and misrepresented communities through media training, surveys on media needs and community events. Gathered research was also used to build a reparative journalism framework for newsrooms across the state.
I’m also a former board member and former Freedomways Fellow with movement journalism - journalism in service of liberation - collective Press On.
I’ve worked as an investigative staff writer for Texas Observer where my coverage included environmental issues and Black Southern arts and culture. Other past roles include co-executive producer of the independent podcast Two&Fro, guest lecturer at University of Texas and All Things Considered producer at Austin’s NPR Station, KUT, where I mainly focused on communities of color, especially in rural areas of the Central Texas region.
More of my reporting and writing can be found in publications like Texas Monthly, NBC Think, OkayPlayer, Texas Highways Magazine and more.
My Work
Meet DaLyah Jones, the new Program Officer of the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund
Earlier this month, the Racial Equity in Journalism (REJ) Fund welcomed DaLyah Jones as Program Officer.
What Journalism Owes: COLLAB Results
We believe this project provides a framework for newsrooms looking to repair relationships with overlooked communities across the state, regionally, or on the hyper-local level.
What the Black Lives Matter Protests Mean for East Texas
Protests where I grew up–where lynchings and KKK marches have occurred in my lifetime–could signal a shift in the region long plagued by racial terror.
Efforts to Save What’s Left of Mary Allen Seminary Reveal The Challenges of Preserving Black Placemaking in Texas
The Mary Allen Museum of African American History continues to race the clock to preserve what’s left of Texas’ first African American school for Black girls and women.
Andrea Roberts Is Working to Define What Free Black Space Is
Through the Texas Freedom Colonies Project, researchers are working to liberate data on behalf of Black Texans.
Quilts of Color
Laverne Brackens and her family carry on the interwoven legacy of Black quiltmakers in East Texas.
COVID-19 Could Be a ‘Double Whammy’ for Those in Pollution Hotspots
Texans who breathe polluted air are more likely to have preexisting health issues. That means they're at a higher risk of getting seriously ill from the coronavirus.
On the Road with Pawpaw
It sounds like an oxymoron to say that highways and backroads are where I found solace and felt the safest growing up as a Black girl in East Texas.
Solange’s ‘When I Get Home’ Pays Homage to the Black Rural South
The album honors black culture in Houston, but also looks beyond it to the traditions of rural Texas.
Rapper TTBBY on How Growing Up in East Texas Shaped His Music
Tobias Traylor has overcome poverty, hurricanes, displacement, and mental health challenges, experiences reflected in his music.
“Let’s Have A Sex Talk”: The Eras of Sex Talk By Black Women In Hip-Hop
Over the past four decades in hip-hop, candid sexual anthems have been an arena in which female rappers — with or without vaginas — and queer artists vocalize their standards for sexual satisfaction.
Beyoncé Isn’t Possible Without Houston. Houston Isn’t Possible Without the Black Diaspora.
Texas’ artistic innovation is nothing new and continues to be center stage through artists like Beyoncé during yet another period of Black rediscovery.
My Resume
Education
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
BA, Electronic Media Studies
Minor, Communication Studies
(December 2016)
Awards & Fellowships
Ecosystem Builders – Democracy Fund & Piece by Piece Strategies
(2021)
Grantee – Google News Initiative
(2020-2021)
Freedomways Fellow – Press On
(2019 – 2020)
Full Spectrum Storyteller – AIR Media
(2018)
Early Career Scholar – PRNDI
(2018)
Knight CUNYJ Fellow – Newmark J-School
(2017)
Next Gen – NPR
(2015)
Skills
Community Engagement Strategy | Audience Development | Writing for Print | Event Planning | Audio editing | Videography | Photoshop | Microsoft | Adobe Suite | Garage Band | Pro Tools | Edius | David | Communication | Sales | Leadership | Photography | Mentorship | Coding | Social Media | CMS | WordPress | Audiogram | News Boss
Work Experience
Racial Equity in Journalism Program Officer / Feb. 2022 - Present
I lead the innovation and execution of programming, grantmaking, and partner relationships. I also identify new potential grantees, support existing grantees, provide direct technical assistance and guidance to additional resources.
Freelance Journalist & Community Engagement Consultant / Dec. 2021 - Present
Write about contemporary Black Southern arts and culture, hard reporting, mental health and consult with newsrooms, grassroots organizations, communities and journalists on community engagement strategy approaches.
Director of Engagement Texas Observer / Nov. 2020 - Dec. 2021
Spearheaded a year-long research project which surveyed communities across Texas about their information needs; trained communities on how to combat disinformation, reach out to newsrooms and tell their own stories; Hosted community events; and fed leads to the TxO editorial team.
Treasurer & Board Member Press On /July 2020 – Dec. 2021
Helping strategize events and a listserv through committees, approved and coordinated grant projects and aided in keeping account of the yearly budget.
Investigative Environmental Reporter & Staff Writer Texas Observer / Dec 2019 – Nov. 2020
Reported on the environmental justice and wrote about contemporary Black Southern arts and culture.
All Things Considered Assistant Producer & Reporter KUT (Austin’s NPR Station) / Aug 2016 – Nov 2019
Did on-air hosting, worked board switch, pitched/produced newscasts and features, participated in live events, hiring committee member. Prioritized rural coverage and provided insight into coordinating more equitable internships at the station.
Lecturer KUT (Austin’s NPR Station) / Aug 2019 – Dec 2019
Taught a semester-long class on sound and place in the Moody College School of Journalism. Taught students how to produce non-narrative audio stories, as well as how to capture the sounds around them to strengthen the essence of their stories.
Mentor for Next Generation Project (NPR) / Aug 2019
Intensively worked with student reporters who wrote and produced non-narrative radio story projects for a week.
Executive Producer & Host Two & Fro Podcast / Dec 2017 – July 2018
Research, book appointments, conduct interviews, write scripts, produce content and speak about the contemporary Black experience for our independent podcast.
Health & Digital Intern (WNYC Radio) / Jun 2017 - July 2017
Worked with reporters on daily news coverage and a health news project aimed at providing information about the Affordable Care Act and its impact on New Yorkers.
News Reporter/ News Editor/ In the Public Interest Host (KTSW) / Jan 2015 - Dec 2016
As a news reporter I found, wrote and produced stories. I also read the daily newscast live on air. During DJ shifts, I made sure on air content was played on time, I.D.ed the station, announced ads, and checked audio levels. As an IPI host, I assigned stories to reporters each week, recorded and produced a pre-recorded in the public interest show.
Internship (Texas Standard) / Feb 2016 - Jun 2016
Conducted interviews, produced stories, contributed to website and shadowed the producing team.
Internship (KUT Public media) / Sep 2015 - Dec 2015
I gathered interviews and stories in the San Marcos area and sent a cut and copy to the KUT station in Austin.
