Stephanie Daniel
Senior Managing Editor, ReporterThe “American Dream” was coined in 1931 and since then the phrase has inspired people to work hard and dream big. But is it achievable today? Graduating from college is challenging, jobs are changing, and health care and basic rights can be a luxury. I report on the barriers people face and overcome to succeed and create a better life for themselves and their families.
At KUNC, we cover northern Colorado’s diverse communities. For me, that means I get to report on an addiction treatment program on the Eastern Plains one day and a Denver DACA student pursuing his college dream the next. It’s the best part of my job.
I grew up in Colorado and, after living out-of-state for many years, am happy to be back. Before joining KUNC, I worked at New York Public Radio and on the podcasts Revisionist History and Empire on Blood. My reporting has been featured on NPR’s 1A, Latino USA and The Pulse. Prior to my journalism career, I wrote and produced commercials and marketing videos for television networks and media companies.
In 2018, I was selected to be an EWA Reporting Fellow by the Education Writers Association. During the fellowship, I reported and produced a multimedia series “Hire Me: Educating Colorado’s Changing Workforce” which was a finalist for the 2019 Education Writers Association National Awards
My reporting on the opioid epidemic was part of The Fix: Treating New York’s Opioid Crisis. The podcast won a national award from the Association for Health Care Journalists and a Regional Edward R. Murrow award. I have also won awards from the Associated Press, Colorado Broadcasters Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists
When I’m not working, I love going on adventures and have visited more than 20 countries. I also like to explore local areas, snowboard, ride my bike and hang out with my family and friends.
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Charitable giving in the United States hit a record high in 2020. The biggest uptick came from foundations, whose philanthropic giving increased by 17%. But according to a national report, these organizations are woefully underfunding one specific group: women and girls of color. One Colorado foundation is working to change this.
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Police often rely on eyewitnesses to identify suspects. But experts say witnessing a crime can be traumatic and the brain is often uncertain on the details. This is especially true when trying to identify suspects with a showup near a crime scene, which usually involves one person versus a group of people in other types of lineups. The misidentification and wrongful arrest of a Black teen led to a grassroots movement in Colorado to change this practice.
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Auraria Campus is home to a community college and two universities. When the campus was built, hundreds of families living the neighborhood were displaced. As part of the compensation, the institutions pledged to give scholarships to those displaced. They recently expanded this promise.
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Science, technology, engineering and math jobs are booming in Colorado. Last year, the state had the fourth highest concentration of STEM workers in the country. To help prepare more homegrown talent, including women and people of color, the state is increasing access to bachelor’s degrees.
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In 2018, Colorado launched “Lift The Label,” an opioid anti-stigma public awareness campaign encouraging those abusing drugs to seek treatment. But the ads primarily reached one group of people. To address this, the state revamped the campaign to reach a more diverse audience.
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Books, supplies and homework — children bring these items into the classroom every day. But they may also carry the effects of trauma due to parental neglect, community violence or COVID-19, and teachers are often the first to notice. That’s why Colorado now requires behavioral health training for teachers and for those studying to become one. But one university has already been incorporating trauma-informed practices into their curriculum.
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Colorado State University recently opened the Panacea Life Sciences Cannabinoid Research Center which will study the health benefits of cannabinoids on both humans and animals.
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“Tomorrow Starts Today,” is the slogan for Westminster High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. The school offers 13 CTE career pathways that are designed to give students both job training and education to prepare them for future success. This episode features current and former students from the aerospace engineering and cybersecurity classes who want to work in some of Colorado’s fastest growing industries.
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Westminster, Colorado began as a small farming community when the first settler arrived in 1870. Today, it is the state’s eighth-largest city. Even though it’s part of the sprawling, urban metro Denver area, Westminster has held onto its agricultural roots. There’s still a working farm about three miles from downtown. So it’s not surprising Westminster High School has a robust agriculture program. This episode features the school’s Career and Technical Education agriculture pathway and two students who’ve found success in the urban jungle.
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One of the biggest barriers to attending and finishing college is money. Yet, most undocumented students are not eligible for federal financial aid.