Meet Chandra Thomas Whitfield

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chandra Thomas Whitfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chandra, why did you pursue a creative career?
It’s one of my favorite stories to tell. When people ask me how long I’ve been a journalist, I quickly respond: “since 11th grade!” Of course they usually respond with a look of bewilderment. My English teacher in high school ,who I lovingly refer to as “The Great Mattie Murray,” literally MADE me become a journalist. LOL! She recruited me for the high school newspaper staff and being every bit the know-it-all teenage girl I was at the time, I scoffed at the idea, mostly because I would be the only 11th grader in a senior class, However, I quickly learned that you don’t say no to a proud, strong-headed Southern Black woman like Mrs. Mattie Murray. She ganged up on me with my mom and let’s just say the fight was over before it started. I was completely outnumbered. Little did I know that Mrs. Murray’s daughter was a professional journalist and she saw something in me that even I didn’t see. It ended up being the biggest honor and it also meant that I automatically became editor-in-chief when everyone else graduated. My newspaper class teacher ultimately recommended me for an amazing summer high school journalism workshop on the campus of what would become my college alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, and I have been hooked ever since. I always loved writing, being nosey and asking a bunch of questions, so I knew this was the career for me! Alas, Chandra the journalist was born. LOL!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being a journalist is not only what I do, but who I am. I am naturally a people person, inquisitive and I enjoy being creative. I also love a challenge and setting goals, so journalism is the perfect career for me because it entails all of that nearly on a daily basis. I must say that I am most proud of my commitment to telling stories in my work that give voice to underrepresented groups like people of color, women and those who are economically disadvantaged and are a part of the disability community. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great fluffy and fun feature story or an arts piece too, but I am most proud when I write and report something that people tell me made them stop and think and consider another perspective or think about a topic or issue in a different light. In fact, it’s one of the highest compliments I can receive. Writing these types of stories, especially covering diverse communities is definitely not easy and not always the most popular, but the payoff feels bigger when someone says, “your work has made me feel ‘seen.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I know Colorado is all about being outdoorsy and active, which I love about raising my family here, but at the end of a long work week and the day-to-day demands of life as a mom, wife, daughter and journalist in my free time I am all about relaxation, indulgence, pampering and fellowshipping with friends. As a native of New Orleans, where food is practically a religion, I am always looking for a good meal and it’s often a struggle here in Colorado, but we make it work (please send your suggestions, my way). That being said, whenever a friend or family member visits I’ll usually host a house party or “get together” at my home or you can catch me indulging in cocktails on the rooftop of El Five or The Art Hotel, grabbing a taste of home at NOLA Voodoo Tavern and Pappadeaux, or grabbing down home fare at Bertha’s Baja Bistro or Tupelo Honey. I also would take my guests downtown to check out a live episode of the show I co-host, “Colorado Matters” on Colorado Public Radio, then head to the Blair-Caldwell African American Research for a quick Colorado Black history lesson in its upstairs free museum or hit up the Museum for Black Girls on 16th Street Mall. My newest obsessions are ramen at Katsu Ramen and tea tasting (think of a wine-tasting set-up, but with tea) at TeaLee’s Teahouse & Bookstore. The hubster and I also love Culinary Dropout, Le French, Fire on The Mountain and Blanco Cocina + Cantina! We’re both from food cities, so we go hard for a good meal!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my station, Colorado Public Radio @CPRNews for investing in me and providing me with a platform to tell stories that impact the Colorado community and illuminate important topics on “Colorado Matters,” which airs at 9am and 7pm weekdays. I co-host with the great Ryan Warner and it has been such a joy to join the team. After years writing for national outlets like NBCNews.com, The New York Times, Essence, People, Ebony The Huffington Post, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and, with the occasional Colorado feature, it has been great to hone in on covering Colorado! I also have to shoutout the Colorado Association of Black Journalists aka “CABJ” for all of the support and camaraderie its members and leadership has extended to me over the years. I was honored as its 2024 “Journalist of the Year” at Cableland, the official residence of Denver’s mayor. The award from this professional organization that supports journalists has meant the world to me as a person who essentially had to start my career all over when I relocated to Colorado from Atlanta just more than a decade ago. It was a challenging and humbling experience to say the least after having an award-winning career in my adopted second hometown of Atlanta, but to be honored by my Colorado peers meant the world to me. It has reignited my passion to pay it forward to the next generation of journalists! We have launched an outreach effort for students and other aspiring journalists in Colorado. Even better is that CABJ has its own “comeback story” that epitomizes the resilient spirit of the organization!

Website: https://muckrack.com/chandra-thomas-whitfield

Instagram: @chandrarwrites

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crtjournalist