Arieon Whittsey
© Arieon Whittsey

Civic Reporting Fellowship


As a City Bureau Civic Reporting Fellow, I spent 16 weeks improving my journalism, community outreach, and project management skills and immersing myself in solutions-based community reporting. 


Spring 2024 topic of investigation: How do teens and young adults access mental health services in Chicago — and what sort of resources do they need most?

Flyer that was posted on social media to advertise our Public Newsroom

Fellows and attendees played the “Concentration” game to break the ice and start the wellness workshop with something fun.

My fellow bio written by Kathleen Hayes

My cohorts and I

Public Newsroom 156: Wellness Workshop — Focus on Your Joy

My cohort and I assisted in and led public newsroom 156 as fellows. The goal was to create an event that allowed people to find community and resources for coping with mental health challenges.



Read: 'A symptom of a larger sickness': 

Navigating mental health care on 

Chicago's South and West Sides

Chicagoans in under-resourced neighborhoods say the barriers to accessing mental health services affect youth, adults, and communities alike.

How Can Chicago Keep More Young Teachers? Focus on Mental Well-Being, Experts Say


This is the final story that I published at the end of the fellowship.