Candice Wilder, a Cleveland Documenter since 2020, has been a freelance writer whose reporting and digital media work have appeared in The Daily Beast, VICE, Cleveland Magazine and elsewhere. She has written about health, equity and social justice.

How did you get your start in this work?

In college, I had a passion and interest for telling unique stories, so I pursued a degree in journalism. After college, I got an internship at Ideastream Public Media, where I spent the summer learning and working with the health team reporters. I transitioned into freelance writing and reporting and became a Cleveland Documenter in 2020, when the organization  launched. Now, I am grateful to be a part of the Signal staff.

Why did you join Signal Cleveland?

I joined Signal Cleveland because I wanted to work and learn from peers who care about providing accountable and informative community-centered journalism for the city but also reimagine the way reporters show up, create and build community through the storytelling process. Essentially, I saw Signal Cleveland as a newsroom committed to doing that and creatively thinking about how to tell stories for the residents we serve with our publication.

What’s your favorite story you’ve worked on so far? Or What’s your favorite story you’ve ever done?

I wrote a news story about the naloxone vending machines available for use in medical clinics in Cleveland. The story found its way into a few recovery and addiction support groups and harm-reduction advocacy groups in the city. They were thankful for the information, and it opened the door for me to begin building relationships and learn more about this work.

What do you want to work on/cover in 2023? Or What would you like to learn more about in Cleveland?

For 2023, I am interested in learning and reporting more about lead poisoning and prevention in the city, reproductive health care, mental and behavioral health, substance use and overall diving a bit more into reporting on healthcare and health equity stories. But I always remain curious and open to hearing what Signal readers are interested in as well.

Do you have a side hustle? (hobbies count!)

Freelance writing and reporting was my side hustle for a long time. I am now grateful to make time for hobbies. I spend a lot of time reading short stories and essay collections as well as watching classic films. In the spring, I bought myself a pair of rollerskates, and I’ve been teaching myself how to skate and do cool tricks since summer.