{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"162. Liam T.A. Ford, From Journalist to Non-profit Startup Leader","description":"Show Notes: Liam T.A. Ford, also known as LTAF, shares his initial career plans after graduation. After writing for the Crimson at Harvard, he initially considered a career in academia, but pivoted to journalism. He discusses his first job at the Montgomery Advertiser, where he covered crime and interviewed notable figures including the man who headed the pulpit committee that hired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his pastorship in Montgomery. Liam recounts his transition to Chicago, where he became a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering notable events like Barack Obama's election to the U.S. Senate. Working for a Non-profit Organization Liam talks about his work at the Chicago Tribune, including helping to start the paper\u2019s breaking news desk and maintaining a database of shootings and homicides. He mentions taking a buyout from the Tribune in 2021 and, while he  continued his work in journalism, covering public\/private partnerships, he also worked on a non-profit project called the Ignatian Mission Center, which he now does full-time. The non-profit aims to maintain the former food pantry that had been run by a local parish and eventually provide other social services, including a shelter for Spanish-speaking women who have left domestic violence situations. He still writes and edits on a freelance basis.   Crime and the Criminal Justice System Liam reflects on his time as a crime reporter at the Montgomery Advertiser and the lessons he learned about crime and the criminal justice system. He emphasizes the importance of humanizing crime victims and making readers understand the impact of each death. Liam recounts a significant experience where he had to inform a victim's family about the details of their loved one's death, highlighting the challenges in the criminal justice system. He discusses the role of crime reporters in centering victims and the importance of transparency in reporting. Covering the 2004 Senate Race Liam shares his experiences as a political reporter, including covering the 2004 Senate race in Illinois where Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination. He recounts the story of Jack Ryan's divorce records being unsealed, which led to his withdrawal from the race. Liam discusses his interactions with Barack Obama during his coverage and other significant political stories he covered. He reflects on the importance of transparency in political reporting and the impact of his work on local government and community issues. The Importance of Local Government and News Reporting Liam talks about his early career at the Tribune covering local government bodies like the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Park District. He shares a story about investigating teen programming in Chicago parks, which revealed disparities in resources between affluent and less affluent neighborhoods. Liam discusses the impact of his reporting on improving teen programming and the creation of programs like After School Matters. He reflects on the importance of local government reporting in bringing wrongdoing to light and improving community services. The Creation of the Ignatian Mission Center Liam explains the process of creating the Ignatian Mission Center and the challenges of maintaining the food pantry after the parish closed. He discusses the support from Loyola University and other organizations in providing social services and resources for the community. Liam shares the progress of the non-profit, including securing a planning grant and architectural plans for the former parish property. He reflects on the personal and professional challenges of working full-time on the non-profit project and the impact it has had on the community. Harvard Reflections Liam credits the course Government 1061 with Michael Sandel and Harvey Mansfield for teaching him the importance of examining biases and assumptions. He discusses how these lessons have influenced his approach to journalism and his commitment to finding and speaking the truth. Liam reflects on the impact of his Harvard education on his career and personal life, including his journey to sobriety. He shares how the skills and values he learned at Harvard continue to resonate with him in his current work. Timestamps: 04:19: Transition to the Chicago Tribune and Sobriety Journey  05:47: Impact of Sobriety and Community Involvement 16:04: Crime Reporting and Lessons Learned  24:58: Political Reporting and Significant Stories  30:08: Challenges and Successes in Local Government Reporting  36:12: Formation of the Ignatian Mission Center 43:05: Personal Reflections and Future Plans  Links: Website: www.ignatianmission.org Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/liam.ford\/ LinkedIn:  https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/liamtaford\/ Featured Non-profit: The featured non-profit of this week\u2019s is brought to you by Kristen Hunter  who reports: Hi. I'm Kristen Hunter, Class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is Ivory Innovations. Ivory Innovations catalyzes innovative solutions in housing affordability through the Ivory prize Applied Research and Policy Leadership, advancing ideas that expand access to affordable and attainable housing. The organization also partners with the Harvard master in real estate program through our summer practicum, which gives students the opportunity to complete a two month placement with a cooperating for profit, not for profit or public organization in the United States or overseas, participating in real estate projects and initiatives that advance cutting edge practices, including those promoting social and environmental best practices. I'm delighted to champion Ivory Innovations, especially as one of our recent Harvard Master in Real Estate graduates, Amy Love Tommaso serves as their director of policy innovation. You can learn more and support their mission at ivory innovations.org That's ivory i, V, O, R, Y, innovations.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.  To find out more about their work, visit: ivoryinnovations.org  This episode on The 92 Report: https:\/\/92report.com\/podcast\/episode-162-liam-t-a-ford-from-journalist-to-non-profit-startup-leader\/ *AI generated show notes and transcript ","author_name":"The 92 Report","author_url":"https:\/\/92report.com\/","html":"