As a longtime journalist, my work has focused primarily on health, children, families, and parenting. I am the author of No Secrets, No Lies: How Black Families Can Heal from Sexual Abuse (Broadway Books), and creator of the documentary THICK, in which Black women explore self-care by engaging with the stories of their bodies.
I was Deputy Editor at Health magazine, where I assigned and edited articles for the national women's health publication. My writing has appeared in Essence, Heart & Soul and Parents magazines, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and other publications.
Before publishing No Secrets, No Lies, I was the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Essence.com, and Executive and Deputy Editor of Essence. As Executive Editor of Essence, I managed a team of 60 and oversaw special projects. Under my stewardship, the magazine earned awards from Folio, the National Association of Black Journalists, the New York Association of Black Journalists and the Congressional Black Caucus, among other organizations.
A journalist for more than 20 years, I started my career in newspapers. I was an editor at The New York Times, The Boston Globe, the Detroit Free Press. My career and contributions to journalism garnered me an Outstanding Alumni Award from Michigan State University, in 2004
In 2002/2003, I was one of six journalists selected nationwide by the Kaiser Family Foundation as a Kaiser Media Fellow, where I researched and reported on sexual abuse in Black families, HIV/AIDS, and other health issues. I have also taught magazine editing and production as an Adjunct Professor at New York University, and advanced reporting at City College.
I was a Vice-President/Print of the National Association of Black Journalists, where I founded the Student Education, Enrichment and Development (SEED) committee and co-founded its Boot Camp for beginning journalists. I was also President of the NABJ's New York chapter. I am proud of mentoring and supporting dozens of journalism professionals over the years.