As Mirror Indy’s Reynolds Journalism Institute Innovation Fellow, I help lead the kid correspondents program, where young people tell stories about Indianapolis and their neighborhoods in their own voices.

I’m excited about this project because I I think local news often focuses on what adults care about. But kids notice things too – sometimes better than adults.

I’m originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, and I’m currently a graduate journalism student at the University of Missouri. I love traveling, learning about different cultures, and have visited 25 countries. In the U.S., my life has become very Midwest-coded: I lived in Ohio as a high school exchange student, now I study in Missouri, and this summer I’m in Indiana. Apparently, the Midwest has adopted me.

I’m interested in comedy journalism, travel journalism, entertainment, and organizing projects and events that bring people together. Also, I’ve never been to Indianapolis before, so this summer I’m exploring the city right alongside our kid correspondents!