Email: renita@renitadyoung.com
Phone: 773.817.3094
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Birthday: October 6
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RenitaDYoung
Twitter: @RenitaDYoung

Originally from the South Side of Chicago just minutes away from Evergreen Park, Renita Young brings a variety of experience including international business news coverage, production, TV, radio, print and social media. After graduating with a BA in Communication and English from DePaul University in 2007, Young's enthusiasm to learn more about the media industry and perfect her craft led her to attend Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism for graduate school.

While studying broadcast at Medill, Renita worked as a correspondent for the Chicago Journal, UPI.com and FOX News 2 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. She reported on the 2008 Presidential primaries in Chicago, the 2008 Presidential election in Washington, D.C., then the 2009 Presidential Inauguration while on assignment in Kenya, the highlight of her Medill experience. In Kenya, she worked as a business reporter  and special projects show host for Nairobi-based K24TV, Kenya's first locally-headquartered 24-hour news network.

Most recently, Renita worked for WVON 1690 AM Radio in Chicago as the lead contributor to the Urban Business Roundtable, a weekly show produced in conjunction with BlackEnterprise.com, and a contributor to African Diaspora Today, a show produced with the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Renita is happy join Evergreen Park Patch! She looks forward to bringing unique multimedia news stories on board and learning more about the village next door.

My Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. We also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. In the spirit of simple honesty, we encourage editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license to inject our beliefs into stories or dictate coverage according to them. Rather, we hope the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair and balanced manner. If you ever see evidence we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics
Growing up in Chicago seeing the ups and downs of a local government in transition, I continue to be concerned with the factors that earned us the title "The Windy City." As a journalist, it's my duty to help be a true watchdog over the government and report fair, objective news.

Religion
I grew up in a Christian home and am an avid believer that faith can move mountains.

Local Hot-Button Issues
Community and economic development have become huge issues in Evergreen Park. Many large plots of land lie undeveloped, and The Plaza, one of the country's first enclosed malls, remains under close watch as many retailers have pulled out over the years. Residents are also concerned with the state of education and how to further protect children in the community. Small business owners continue to be concerned with their businesses weathering the effects of the economic downturn.

But I want to hear from you. If there's anything buzzing around you, please feel free to call me or drop me an email. I'm interested in finding out what makes Evergreen Park tick, what you love and what you want to hear more about. I love hearing about individual stories and am delighted to be your source for your village news and events!