Lottie Joiner, Neighbor

I am a native of Jackson, Miss., and have lived in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for more than a decade. Throughout my journalism career, I've focused on how social and political issues impact minority communities — from health and education to civil rights and economic inequality. I like to write about the triumph of the human spirit, those who have overcome tremendous obstacles to make a difference in the lives of those around them.

My story "Wednesdays in Mississippi" — about Black and White women from the North who risked their lives to deliver supplies to Freedom Schools in the Deep South during the turbulent Civil Rights Movement — won first place for magazines from the National Association of Black Journalists. The piece inspired a documentary by a California-based filmmaker.

I am a recent graduate of American University's Interactive Journalism program. I also attended The New York Times Student Journalism Institute in New Orleans.

My goal is to write stories with great impact by combining my traditional reporting skills with digital storytelling tools. I hope to shed light on the lives of those on the margins of society, the little-known stories of footsoldiers — the people and programs who have helped shape and change our society.