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At Lookout Eugene-Springfield, we believe in the power of local journalism to strengthen communities. But news alone isn’t enough. True community-building happens when people connect, support one another, and work together toward a shared vision. That is why we created the Civic Partner Program, a collaboration between Lookout and local nonprofits to amplify their missions, increase their visibility, and drive real impact.
Eugene and Springfield are home to more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations, each playing a critical role in making life better for our neighbors. Some provide food and shelter to those in need, while others focus on education, the arts, environmental sustainability, or social justice. Through the Civic Partner Program, I have the privilege of working closely with these organizations, helping them tell their stories, reach more people, and grow their support networks.
My role as a community engagement manager allows me to bridge gaps between nonprofits, local businesses, schools, and the community at large. I coordinate partnerships, develop outreach strategies, and ensure that the work of these incredible organizations is recognized and celebrated. This work is more than just a job. It is deeply personal.
I understand what it means to feel connected to something bigger than yourself. My journey to this role began in a small Texas newsroom, where I first saw the power of local storytelling. I wasn’t a journalist by training, but I was determined. Fresh out of vocational school, I landed a job at the local newspaper by sheer persistence. I started with page design, then moved into photography, writing, and editing.
The paper was more than just a workplace. It was a community. I saw firsthand how much local news mattered, how it informed, united, and empowered people. When corporate buyouts gutted our relatively small newsroom, it felt like watching an essential thread of our town unravel. That loss stayed with me.
My career took me from journalism to city government, where I worked to connect residents with local leaders, and then to education, answering the call to teach after witnessing our educators work so hard during the pandemic. But as policies in Texas made classrooms increasingly challenging for both teachers and students, my partner and I made the difficult decision to leave our home state. We sold our house and searched for a place where we could raise our children in a community that valued inclusion, education, and civic engagement.
The Eugene area stood out. The sense of belonging, the dedication to the arts, and the sheer number of people working to make a difference made it feel like home.
Now, at Lookout Eugene-Springfield, I see that same spirit every day. The Civic Partner Program is about more than media sponsorships and marketing opportunities. It is about forging real, meaningful connections between the people doing the work and the community that benefits from it. Our civic partners receive dedicated feature stories, placement in our newsletters, social media promotion, and access to Lookout’s vast local audience. In return, they help spread awareness of Lookout, ensuring that our local journalism reaches the people who need it most.
Each day, I get to meet the leaders, volunteers, and visionaries behind these organizations. I get to hear their stories, witness their passion, and help them expand their reach. It is incredibly fulfilling to be part of something that supports both nonprofit organizations and local journalism, two essential pillars of a strong, informed, and engaged community.
To the people of Eugene and Springfield, thank you. Thank you for welcoming my family and me, for the work you do every day to build a future rooted in care and collaboration. It is an honor to be here, not just as a new resident, but as someone working alongside you to create something lasting and meaningful.
The community we choose is the one we build together.
And I am grateful to be building it with you.
