I’m Justin Agrelo, The Trace’s community engagement reporter for Chicago. As someone who was born and raised here, I know what it feels like to have your community written about but not necessarily written for.

Justin Agrelo

That experience drives the motivating question of my work: What would the coverage of gun violence in Chicago look like if we let the people who are closest to the gun violence crisis lead the way? I’d like to invite you to explore that question with me. By signing up for my newsletter, you’ll receive exclusive monthly updates on projects like the Survivor Storytelling Network, and essential Chicago news written by our team.

But my goal goes beyond that. This kind of journalism is a two-way street, and I hope this newsletter serves as a new avenue to hear directly from you — and as an opportunity to learn together. Sign up below:

Justin Agrelo
Justin, a Chicago native, previously worked at City Bureau, a nonprofit civic media organization in Chicago, where he covered housing and development. He was also an editorial fellow for Mother Jones magazine, writing for and fact-checking the online and print editions. In 2019, he earned his Master’s of Science in journalism with a special focus on social justice and investigative reporting from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.