Gazette welcomes new editorial fellows

Two years ago, we started The Gazette’s editorial fellows program with hopes of providing a greater diversity of viewpoints on our Insight pages. The program has brought some outstanding writers to The Gazette, where their work is published twice monthly in Sunday Insight.

We’re now welcoming our latest class of fellows, including a couple of new faces.

One new fellow is David Chung. Here is his brief bio:

“David Chung, an Iowa native, has lived in Cedar Rapids for 33 years. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, where he served as student body president. Prior to a career in tech, he managed restaurants and convenience stores. He is a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and occasional preacher in a local Baptist Church. His eight adult children have diverse educational backgrounds from public, parochial, to home schooling. He has been a candidate for the Cedar Rapids Community School Board, served over a decade on the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Iowa, and is an Electoral College alumnus. He enjoys cooking, bicycling, fishing, traveling, and participating in a pistol league.”

Another new fellow is Chris Espersen:

“Chris Espersen is a Civil and Human Rights Commissioner and health equity consultant working with health care, public health, and civil rights organizations. Chris has provided facilitation, training and technical assistance both domestically and in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She taught social determinants of health at the university level and speaks nationally on a variety of topics including anti-racism, social determinants of health, and topics related to health equity. Chris has three awe-inspiring children and a less amazing yet still wonderful Husky, and loves to cook, enjoy nature, and travel.”

Staying with our program is fellow Sofia DeMartino:

“Sofia DeMartino strives to open dialogues that serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring readers to question the status quo, challenge their own beliefs, and seek greater understanding for collective growth.

“Sofia’s lived experience and love for empowering others have led her to spend over a decade working in social services. Her work in this field has shaped her worldview, fostering a profound interest in the transformative power of human connection and the evolution of identity.“

We’re looking forward to another great year and more terrific work from our fellows.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com