Meet Our Reporters
Xiao Faria daCunha
Originally from Shanghai, Xiao daCunha covers arts and culture in the Midwest, focusing on the Kansas City metro and Chicagoland. She has written for the Chicago Reader, Block Club Chicago, KCUR, The Pitch, Sixty Inches from Center and Bridge Chicago, and spent three years as managing editor at UrbanMatter Chicago. A practicing visual artist, Xiao combines her artistic talent with her writing to contribute to public art education and explores topics relevant to BIPOC artists, gender identity and diasporic identity. When Xiao is not writing or creating, she is probably spending time with her pet bunnies.
Ways to connect with Xiao:
Rekindling my love for radio
The week of NPR’s Next Generation Radio flew by. If anything, it reminded me of how much I truly love radio, multimedia storytelling and constructing a space for people to tell their stories freely. I used to listen to the radio all the time when I was in China. Radio...
Rita Hanch
Rita Hanch, currently a brand activation manager at the theme park Worlds of Fun, hopes that her love for storytelling can soon become her day job. A Kansas City native, Hanch’s goal is to connect her community through multimedia stories, live comedy and journalism. If you see Rita roller skating through Midtown, you are not dreaming.
Ways to connect with Rita:
Learning to trust myself through Next Generation Radio
My experience with Next Generation Radio this week has been a dream come true. I've always wanted to see what it would be like to work in a newsroom, specifically in public radio. Multiple times this week, I have thought back to my younger self and believe she would...
Rosie Pasqualini
she/her
Rosie Pasqualini helps facilitate and coordinate a dementia prevention program at the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Her background is in cognitive science and nonprofit outreach. She is excited to combine her love of science, storytelling and public health advocacy through journalism. She is from Kansas City, Missouri, and likes going for long walks on the Trolley Trail.
Ways to connect with Rosie:
New skills, empathy & a whirlwind introduction to journalism
I had essentially no journalism experience prior to beginning NextGen, and I knew that it would be a challenge. Before applying, I had actually read a couple of reflections from previous program participants, who described NextGen as a sort of transformative...
Zoë Shriner
she/her
Zoë is a recent graduate from Augustana University with a bachelor’s in media studies. She earned summa cum laude distinctions, graduated in three years, and was awarded her degree with honors. Her honors thesis explored the role of media in ethical prison reform. Now, she is an assignment editor and digital producer at KCTV5 News in Kansas City. She believes strongly in the power of effective rhetoric and a well-crafted argument to help logic and accountability prevail. She grew up in a suburb just south of KC and loves the city, but is eager to travel and see more of what the world has to offer.
Ways to connect with Zoë:
Take a breath then go make things happen
I had the luck (or maybe very intentional choice) of being paired with an incredibly like-minded mentor this week. With Maggie’s advice and guidance, I learned how to best balance priorities across the requirements of the project (don’t waste time on small things),...
Lauren Winston
she/they
Lauren Winston is a freelance reporter for the Kansas City Defender who graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2023. She is exploring the art of storytelling as a way to connect with community and rediscover her hometown of Kansas City. Next year, she plans to attend law school. Lauren also loves learning how to DJ, deepening her yoga practice, and spending time with her family.
Ways to connect with Lauren:
Lauren Winston’s First Audio Story
What is one thing that I learned? Anything is possible when you have the right people around you. During the interview on Monday, our goal was to capture the sounds of our environment and the story of Clarisa Evans. Upon arrival, we learned that we were fortunate to...