Written by Terricha Phillips
I do not take for granted where I was born and raised and who I come from, and this motivates me to use my voice and create authentic narratives. Writers are truth-tellers to the core, and the tenacity Cleveland natives possess is the bedrock of my personality. I move about the world with a uniquely objective lens that guided my 16 years of experience in journalism and mass communications spanning four states and seven cities. What led me to having such a versatile career is knowing how much I enjoyed reading and writing about any subject.
It began in a second grade classroom in Lowden Elementary School when my teacher Mrs. Varty handed students blank journals to write and illustrate stories and I got hooked. Weekly visits to the school library (a library card was my “first piece of plastic”), book fairs and research with World Book Encyclopedia sets were among my favorite things to do. The best skill-building experiences were with the Black & Gold newspaper at Cleveland Heights High School; Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and The Plain Dealer internships; and writing and editing for student-ran newspapers at Spelman College in Atlanta and Syracuse University in New York.
A Black Girl in the CLE is made up of strong stock — many of us descend from no-nonsense Southerners and hard-working immigrants who migrated here for a better life and future for their offspring. There is an inner resilience and grit that fortifies you to endure changing, complicated times (if you were born and raised in the 80s and 90s, you remember how the community used to be). I consider myself blessed to be raised by determined parents who prepared me for life and made sure I attended church, obtained an education and understood networking to thrive on my own. Growing up in many neighborhoods on Cleveland’s east side in a middle class family of four developed my worldview that values empathy and building people up. Everyone is a storyteller, and knowing where you come from and how you got to where you are today means you are a book somebody would enjoy reading.
Living away from your hometown matures you in ways you don’t expect and it is a good experience in building your own community. Being a journalist turned nonprofit communications professional made me a capable storyteller knowledgeable in social determinants of health and impacts on marginalized populations, and how community-centered policies lead to healthier and more engaged citizens. What fills my cup aside from writing is family time, relaxing on the beach with a good book, taking naps, attending New Life Tabernacle of Praise church in Euclid and advocating for greater support of the sickle cell community. Having the will to do what is right and care for your neighbors’ well being is a focal point of my stories published in several Gannett Corporation (now TEGNA) newspapers and various niche magazines and trade publications like Columbia Journalism Review. I currently write grants, recruit volunteers and create social media content for Jackson, Miss.-based nonprofit Genesis and Light Center. My favorite subject areas are public health, sickle cell awareness, transportation and community development. Getting to know my city all over again will be fun, so readers will appreciate nuanced stories written with care. Lastly, my beautiful family is my reason for this work: husband and fellow Clevelander James Phillips, bonus daughter Jada, son James, and daughters Dyanne and Amani — their love and support are my motivation.
