Dearborn Patch Editor Says Goodbye—Sort Of

I spent Oct. 25, 2010, on a plane to Los Angeles. I was going to get trained for this thing called Patch. What was it, exactly? What would it mean for my life and work? Would people even want to read it?

One thing I knew was the goal all Patch editors had in mind: to do hyperlocal journalism in the communities we knew and loved.

Dearborn Patch launched Dec. 20, 2010, with a handful of stories and a handful of readers (thanks, Mom, for logging in on Day One). More than two years later, we’re thousands of readers and contributors strong. People know and love “The Patch,” and it’s amazing to think that this site is helping and informing people on a local level every day.

And most importantly, Dearborn Patch stands as a testament to the strength, pride and drive of this community.

You've shown that residents really care about Dearborn—like the Fordson senior who spent his summer fixing up the Hemlock Park basketball courts, or the resident who wants to make her local intersection safe.

You've proven that Dearborn residents play an active role in the city's future, contributing to conversations about keeping local pools open, moving City Hall, and helping local business thrive.

And you've banded together as a community when times get tough—like the thousands of dollars donated to the Cannizzaro family, or the hundreds of Facebook shares to help bring Gus the stolen pug back home.

That's why launching Dearborn Patch wasn't just about a job—it was my chance to come home to a community that really matters and cares about its future.

Now, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be taking on a new role that will allow me to engage with residents on an even larger scale. I start March 19 as the Digital Media Coordinator for the City of Dearborn.

I’ll be handing the city’s website, as well as working to increase their social media presence on a variety of platforms. Most importantly, I’ll continue to do the thing I love most: connecting with residents on a daily basis.

People want to know what day their trash will be picked up this week or when the DISC has open skating. They also want to know what’s happening downtown, or at City Hall. I love being the person who gets those answers.

In my new role, I hope to contribute to the city’s mission of informing residents and earning their trust. I also look forward to bringing residents a new level of online engagement from the City of Dearborn.

And I look forward to continuing to use Dearborn Patch—because even though I won't be the editor, it's not going anywhere. You can connect with the new Dearborn Patch editor Daniel Lai (look for a welcome column from him in the next few days) for any news tips, and Community Engagement Editor Jason Alley for any questions about uploading events and announcements, and blogging on Patch.

So, this is goodbye, but not really. You can find me where you always have—online, and in person, ready to talk Dearborn with you.