I’m Whitney Dawn Carlson.

Even when I grew up in small-town South Dakota, I dreamed of living in a big city. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do — either teach or write — but I wanted to live in the perpetual commotion of a city. Now, I’m living that dream and loving it.

After graduating high school, I spent two years at college in Oklahoma. I moved to Texas for a semester, then back to South Dakota, and on to Nebraska where I stayed for five years. I love new adventures, which is why I fell in love with journalism.

I finished my journalism degree and moved to Chicago to work for the Chicago Tribune. I freelance and consult with various companies and nonprofits for social media and marketing work. And I’m currently a digital news producer for the Lansing State Journal.

The overarching theme of my life is to help people and make the world a better place. It may seem cliché or like I’m wearing rose-colored glasses, but I don’t care. I’m relentlessly optimistic. When people work together and work hard, they can change the world. And I can help by utilizing my passion and communication skills.

If you have any questions, comments or ideas, let me know! I’d love to hear from you.