Justice, Mental Health and Following

Ah, the writing life. Working on stories for different publications means, well, you're working. Reporting, interviewing, writing, editing, it's all part of the process of telling the story. Which can mean, of course, neglecting to post those stories on your blog once you're sent them on to the editors and they've tweaked and published them.

So just to keep semi-current, here's a recent sampling of a few of the articles I've written lately:

Coverage for the Salem News of the Salem award ceremony of two men long committed to justice.

A story for New England Psychologist on the new congressional bill proposing funding for mental health first aid.

An article on following vs. leading for Duke's Faith and Leadership online magazine.

What's next? Biking and birding on Boston's North Shore for North Shore Magazine! Who knew so many cyclists were also avid bird-watchers?!

Watching Generation Next Get the Story

Yes, I've been missing from blog posts. But not missing in reporter action. In fact, since late January I've been walking alongside a few reporters from the next generation as they write interesting stories for the Gordon College News Service, an internship program where aspiring journalists partner with local newspapers to cover the community. Since January 2010, the GCNS has been sending stories to papers and news sites, and it's exiting to see a new cohort. Here they are with editors and reporters at the Salem News as we talked shop over pizza. (Thank you to the generous professionals who give so much time to these young reporters!)

Meet the 2013 spring GCNS Fellows: Alanah Percy, Stephanie Francis and Tala Strauss (pictured here second, third, fourth from left). Click here to read their bios.

Walking Past the Future, One Story at a Time

So I was walking my dog in the neighborhood a few weeks ago, past a cool and hip office on a street a few blocks away. As we walked by and I glanced in, I couldn't help but wonder what those folks were working on. A few days later, I was meeting with a friend for breakfast, talking about cool and hip office spaces. We literally got up from the table and hurried around the corner to that first office. That's when I discovered, well, the following story (that ran in today's Salem News). Curiosity sure can introduce you to some fascinating stuff, even in your own neighborhood . . .

December 26, 2012

Exploring the future from a corner in Beverly

Research firm's founder likes city's 'great vibe,' accessibility

By Jo KadlecekCorrespondent

The future has come to Beverly, and you can find it in the old taxi dispatch just around the corner from Cityside Diner.

The renovated street-level office on Knowlton Street now houses Latitude Labs, the newest venture for parent company Latitude, a global media and technology research company that has grown from a single employee when it began in 2001 to 16 and serves clients such as ESPN, The New York Times, BBC and Nickelodeon. Founded by CEO Steve Mushkin from a computer in the Beverly Public Library, Latitude’s headquarters now consists of four offices above the diner on Cabot Street. Its location in downtown Beverly is as important to Mushkin as the company’s global reach.

READ the rest of the story here:

When the Parade Comes Marching In

Of all the things that make a small town into a community, a parade tops the list. You see your neighbors, hear their kids' music and learn more about the small businesses that make up downtown. Yesterday, I covered my town's holiday parade for the local paper and discovered more of the spirit of the place. This is the fun stuff of local journalism!

November 26, 2012

'The spirit of Christmas'

Beverly celebrates 65th annual Holiday Parade

By Jo KadlecekCorrespondent

Ray Novack has never actually seen the Beverly Holiday Parade. As the former director of the Beverly High School marching band (he retired last year), Novack has marched in 35 consecutive parades. At yesterday’s 65th annual parade, he sat atop a silver Mustang convertible as the grand marshal, waving to the thousands of residents who lined Cabot, Elliott and Rantoul Streets, braving the chilly winds to welcome Beverly’s official start of the giving season.

“Usually we (the BHS marching band) are at the end of the parade,” Novack said. “This year, I’m at the beginning, the first time (in 35 years) I haven’t marched, so it’s nice to ride in such an esteemed place of honor. Maybe next year, I’ll actually watch it from the street.”

Novack was one of several hundred participants in this year’s parade, the biggest ever with 50 entries and floats, according to Wendy Kelley, vice president of the parade committee and assistant vice president of Salem Five Bank.

The Kora Shrine Log Rollers from Maine came again to drive their miniature log trucks and raise money for burn victims. The Girl and Boy Scouts were also on hand, along with librarians, firefighters, dance groups, Little Leaguers, Red Cross representatives, Momball team members, mayors and marching bands. Oh, and that guy with the white beard and red suit.  READ MORE.

Hope in the Hard Stuff

Every so often an assignment comes along that at first you don't want to take; it'll be too too emotional, too challenging. But you say yes and when you do, you experience inspiration, courage and service. That's what this story was like for me. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, this story is one of many the local newspaper ran. And I'm glad they did.

Jill Moriello

October 16, 2012

Survivor's recovery a sign of hope

By Jo Kadlecek CorrespondentThe Salem News

Jill Moriello used to have long, black, curly hair — “beach bum hair,” she likes to call it. Hair that once hung to her waist and, in some ways, defined her as a person. Losing it was one of the hardest parts of the chemotherapy and radiation she received just weeks after she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

Stares were the other hard part.

“Not the looks from strangers, I could handle those,” Moriello said. “But the stares from my family members — seeing their concern, that was hard.” 

READ MORE HERE.

Finding Courage to Enter the Political Discussion

As it happened, I'd been thinking about the presidential election a lot. Chewing. Brooding. Wondering how I could contribute, knowing if I did I could be opening a can of worms with friends and strangers a like. Then I read about Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban as a result. Her courage far surpassed mine, but it certainly nudged me to at least try.

So I wrote the following column in about 45 minutes, edited it, asked my husband to read it, and then sent it to the religion editor at the Huffington Post, who sent me an email an hour later that it was on the homepage of the HP. No time to back down. And as I think about it, I'm glad I didn't. I've heard from dozens—really—of people I don't know, telling me I'd said what they wanted to, what they were thinking but hadn't been able to articulate. Many called me "courageous" but really, I only wrote a piece for a web site.

I never faced a rifle for my words.

And I wonder still: why are we afraid to talk about the things that matter to us in this election?

Jo Kadlecek

Journalist-in-residence, Gordon College

Unapologetic: Evangelical Christian, Pro-Life and Democrat

Posted: 10/10/2012 2:24 pm

I'm in trouble now. Not so much because I work at a Christian college where many of the students (and donors), um, sit across the proverbial aisle. As fellow Christ-followers, they'll give me grace. And not so much because the Democrats I hang out with sit in an altogether different theological pew. As liberals, they'll show me tolerance. Right?

No, I'm in trouble because now I'm putting my religion AND politics out there on the Internet, for all the other crazies to see and comment in nasty one-dimensional diatribes about how wrong and misinformed and ridiculous I am.

Still, some things are worth the risk. And this election has gotten scary. So here goes:

I wasn't always like this. I grew up in a Christmas and Easter Presbyterian suburban home to Republican parents. My dad campaigned for Barry Goldwater and my mom cried when Nixon resigned on national television because he'd been her hero.  READ MORE.

Good Coffee For Business and Community

I've long admired the efforts of small business women, those who work ridiculously hard every day to live out what has become their professional dream. And because everyone loves a good cup of coffee, this was a story with spark, with wisdom, with, well, Gusto. And it landed in the business section of the local paper, helping, I hope, inspire other small business women and men with big dreams that also happen to serve the community.

October 10, 2012

Gusto Cafe serves cup of world's hospitality

By Jo Kadlecek CorrespondentThe Salem News

Call it an American dream with a shot of espresso. The way Albana Meta sees it, there’s enough good will — and coffee — to go around for everyone, if you just work hard enough.

So six months ago, despite an ominous economy, Meta, 39, of Danvers, opened Gusto Cafe at 280 Cabot St. in Beverly and renovated what was formerly the Trevi coffee shop. She’d searched for two years for her own place, all while working two and three jobs, including four years at Starbucks in North Beverly, where she learned much of the coffee business. She was just about to sign a lease for a cafe in Peabody when she learned the Trevi owners were moving on.

Now she has seven part-time employees and a steady stream of customers, many of whom she knows by name, coming for Stumptown direct-trade organic coffee, fresh paninis, and homemade gelato and soup. Business has been so good that Meta — who can’t seem to finish a sentence without a smile or a laugh — says most of her friends are surprised at the early success — especially given the legendary presence of the nearby Atomic Cafe.

READ MORE HERE.