Welcome! My name is Laura, but most of my close friends call me LC, Coco or Lolo. Thanks for stopping by to find out a bit more about me and The Journal of Cultural Conversation.

Me in more than 140 Tweet-able characters:

1. I’m an armchair sociologist, creative writer, photographer and storyteller. Oh, and a voracious reader, obsessed traveler, yoga lover, hiking fanatic, committed foodie and excited activist.

2. I spend both sunny and rainy days working in global marketing and communications with a fabulous crowd of creative folks.

3. Writing inspirations: traveling and exploring global cultures, reading any books I can get my hands on, diving head first into social change efforts and experiencing art in all its forms.

4. I eat one chocolate chip cookie a day.

5. I’ve lived abroad twice, traveled to over 30 countries and know enough of a few languages to get around.

6. I once went to a funeral where I wore the same dress as the woman in the coffin. I was 16, she was 88. This is a true story that can be verified by many.

7. Nerd alert: I have an Excel spreadsheet with all the countries I’ve been to and all I will visit (and I will!). Color coded and sorted.

8. In reference to #3, I’ve contributed to a number of publications and books as a freelance writer and editor. Most recently, I was a contributing author to Hungry? Chicago 2009. My other pen projects are listed here.

9. I don’t take commitment lightly. I stay an active member of the National Book Critics Circle, the Association for Business Communication and PEN American Center.This year, I broke out of my pen to paper writing practice and moderated a panel for TALK NYC: “Differentiated Content in the Blogosphere and How to Capture It.”

10. When I was 17, I was hit by a car crossing the main street in my small town while attempting to get a hot dog. I was really hungry. (don’t worry, no injuries, just a small flesh wound.)

11. I believe working for social justice isn’t a project, it’s a lifestyle. I serve as a writing mentor for the Afghan Women’s Writing Project and completed the Off the Mat, Into the World Intensive Leadership Training in June.

12. I’m the oldest and shortest of five children. My sister is the funny one.

13. I happily graduated from The College of The Holy Cross and have graduate degrees in women’s studies and business management.

14. I live in New York City and am not jaded one bit.

15. I love playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles.

16. I relate a bit too well to 30 Rock’s Liz Lemon.

My Favorite Quotes:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

- Audrey Hepburn

“It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us.”

—Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1952