The Beacon’s Kansas City housing and labor reporter Mili Mansaray was just announced as a part of the 2024-2025 reporting class for the Chips Quinn Program for Diversity in Journalism. Mansaray is one of 11 early-career reporters who will be paired with a Chips Quinn alum or veteran journalist to complete a yearlong mentorship and will also receive a $10,000 stipend.
The Chips Quinn Program, which is operated under Journalism Funding Partners, aims to enhance diversity and provide career growth for journalists from underrepresented communities.
“This means a lot,” Mansaray said. “I’ve been wanting a mentor for a long time and as a woman of color, it would be nice to work with someone who’s superseded similar challenges to know if I’ve succeeded.” And as the journalism industry struggles to maintain diverse talent, Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners have worked to increase mentorship programming since 1991, so strong journalists of diverse backgrounds don’t leave an industry that needs them.
Mansaray just celebrated two years of reporting with the Beacon on May 31, 2024.
“A year from now, I hope to produce really impactful stories and I hope my series on the homeless can really impact Kansas City,” Mansaray said. “I hope to feel secure in my career.”
