Taking the Lede

So here we are folks. You’ve got a new editor. We’re beginning a relationship and neither of us knows where it will go…yet.

Living in Fargo-Moorhead for the past nine years has taught me much about this unique area. We are both populous, being the largest metropolitan area between the Twin Cities and Spokane, WA, and rural. We are diverse, having a larger number of people of color, and homogeneous with whites making up a majority of the population. We have some of the coldest temperatures in the entire country (or at least that’s how it seems when starting the car in the mornings) and we also have some of the warmest and welcoming people.

However, there is still much more to learn.

Situations like this call for proper introduction. And although expending time reciting my resume might validate my credentials, there’s a better way for us to get to know each other, through dialog.

Perhaps you have already read my articles on Worker’s Compensation. Or perhaps you’ve read my column “¿Que Paso?” but these do not give you much to go on to know what type of editor you now have. The truth is, we can shape this position together.

What do I mean by that?

Well, for starters, this editor wants to hear from you. Through your letters to the editor, your comments, your calls and your voices—you will be educating this editor to grow with your needs and feedback. Together we can raise the issues for this community to discuss and engage F-M in conversations about those things that matter most to you, our readers.

Although sitting in the Editor’s chair was not something that was anticipated, it is a new challenge that enables me to use all the skills of past careers in writing and engaging with the public. Coming from a rural community in Iowa with hopes and dreams to build a new life in the F-M area is similar to building hopes for the High Plains Reader.

So, what’s a girl to do with such an opportunity? Well, first and foremost, this girl is proud of the achievement. Especially given that women editors are not commonplace in North Dakota, and even less so Fargo. Could this be a first? I can probably say without fact checking that I’m certainly the first Latina woman to hold the position. Which tells you something in and of itself.

Recently the first woman firefighter was hired in Fargo. There was much interesting debate, especially among men, about the physical differences between men and women and concerns that a woman be “strong enough” to carry out the role. It is interesting that given the arguably more difficult feat of entering the firefighting field that an intellectual position such as that of editor has not been filled by a woman in the F-M area before now.

This got me thinking: As the first Latina woman to hold the position, the voice and perspective of the editor of the HPR will be unique as well. It will be a voice and perspective that hopes to inspire women and people of color to see themselves in ever growing roles and positions of leadership in F-M.

This vision includes creating dialog that lifts walls and divisions which create barriers toward unity in our community. A voice that applauds and highlights great achievements in F-M by our populous, our leaders, our women, our students, and our communities of color. A vision that encourages our potential and analyzes our weaknesses. A voice that challenges us to dig deeper into the issues of our day and challenges us to act to improve our lives.

Lofty? Perhaps. But, having lived among the people of the F-M area, I know it’s achievable.

Comments and questions: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)