The backstory: PRB+ 'Great Rivers Greenway' cover

In the two years since landing my first assignment for PRB+, a B2B publication for parks and recreation/camp professionals, I've contributed seven additional articles. Six of those were pieces I pitched, and one was an assignment on incorporating sustainable design choices into aquatic recreation facilities.

Nearly all of my editorial work comes through existing relationships with editors or referrals from within my network, so when the PRB+ editor accepted my cold pitch, it was a major confidence boost! Jefferey is based in Saint Louis, but lived in Central Iowa not too long ago, and we have some wonderful people in common. On one of my trips to STL, we met up for lunch, and it turns out he's an award-winning writer of poetry and prose.

This month, I have the PRB+ cover story on the Great Rivers Greenway.

PRB0726_Sanchez.pdf

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Here's how this story came about: I pitched a feature on this incredible regional asset based on posts I saw Emma Klues share about an event that explored "the civic power of greenways." (If you don't already know, I am a public land/civic engagement geek.)

Emma and I met briefly a couple of years ago when she tagged along to summer camp pickup. (She was a longtime camp counselor there and remains close with my former neighbor.) We reconnected online because, apparently, we have a bunch of other mutual friends from my time at Mizzou and I'm delighted by her approach to community engagement. (She hosts laughter meetups in her free time! Which is to say, if you find yourself anywhere near Emma's orbit, you want to get sucked in.)

Contributing to PRB+ has been the perfect outlet to connect my passion for topics like improving pedestrian safety, growing public art collaborations and following my curiosity when I see something like a mobile recreation unit pop up in a nearby suburb, or see an opportunity to collaborate with one of my favorite past colleagues thanks to the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s timely mini-pitch initiative.

I have a travel story idea that will require cold pitching to new outlets, so collecting these examples is helpful to remind me how one good idea can blossom into a fruitful collaboration.