Lauren Richardson, a Chicagoland native, arrived in East Oakland in 2009. While specializing in media production, such as photography, videography, and graphic design, Lauren has worked with grassroots organizations and community campaigns as well as with local businesses celebrities as both a creative director and project facilitator. Her interests include history, political commentary, structured debates, and business analysis. She is currently a journalism student at Laney College and creates independent media through many web outlets under the pen name, L.J. Rich.