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Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
Welcoming New Staff to the Broadband Team
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In 2020 the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative said sad goodbyes to Lisa Gonzalez and Katie Kienbaum, but we have three new thoughtful and talented people joining us.
Sean Gonsalves, Senior Reporter, Editor and Researcher
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Sean Gonsalves is a longtime former reporter, columnist, and news editor with the Cape Cod Times. He is also a former nationally syndicated columnist in 22 newspapers, including the Oakland Tribune, Kansas City Star and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. His work has also appeared in the Boston Globe, USA Today, the Washington Post and the International Herald-Tribune. An award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist, Sean also has extensive experience in both television and radio. Sean has made appearances on WGBH’s “Greater Boston” TV show with Emily Rooney and was a frequent guest on New England Cable News (NECN), commentating on a variety of Cape Cod tourist attractions as well as making regular appearances on WCAI's weekly news round-up broadcast, "The Point with Mindy Todd."
He left print journalism in 2014 to work as a Senior Communication Consultant for Regan Communications and Pierce-Cote, advising a variety of business, non-profit and government agency clients on communication strategy. In October 2020, Sean joined the Institute for Local Self-Reliance staff as a Senior Reporter, Editor and Researcher.
Reach Sean by email at sgonsalves@ilsr.org
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Maren Machles, Senior Researcher and Multimedia Producer
Maren Machles is coming from an investigative journalism background and has spent her career digging into the finances and backgrounds of powerful political figures as well as the systemic oppression of a variety of marginalized communities. The combination of Machles’ studies in economics as an undergrad at Ohio University, and her time reporting in under-resourced communities, has fueled her understanding that fast, affordable broadband access is an absolute necessity for the equity of all Americans.
She was a recipient of the 2020 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Grand Prize Award for her work on criminal justice issues in Indian Country. Her work has appeared on Stitcher Premium, PBS Newshour, USA Today, Newsy, DecodeDC, Long Beach Post and across Scripps local television stations.
Reach Maren at maren@ilsr.org
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Jericho Casper, Associate Broadband Researcher
Jericho Casper graduated with a Bachelor's in Science from the University of Virginia's Media Studies Department, where her work centered around advancing racial, economic, and social justice in public policy. Jericho believes the policies governing communications infrastructure should increase social good and well-being — rather than private political interests. She is a strong supporter of telecommunications policies that promote racial economic equity. Before working for ILSR, Jericho was Assistant Editor of Broadband Breakfast, a Washington D.C.-based telecommunications news outlet.
Reach Jericho at jericho@ilsro.org
We're excited to bring on all of this new talent to the Community Broadband Networks team and dig into everything that 2021 brings. Drop any of us a line at broadband@muninetworks.org
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The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit working to reverse today’s extreme levels of corporate concentration and advance policies to rebuild the economic capacity of local communities. We use in-depth research, reporting, and data analysis to produce influential reports and articles.