Lucia Verzola

Recent Graduate, Aspiring Writer and Editor

United States

Having recently earned her undergraduate in English and journalism from the University of San Francisco, Lucia is a highly motivated, self-starter dedicated to reaching goals with an eye for detail. She was on staff of her university student-run newspaper, The Foghorn, serving as general assignments reporter and copy editor before leading a team of eleven as editor in chief her final year at USF. She co-led The Ignatian, USF's student-run literary magazine, for the 2021-22 academic year, helping the publication return to print for the first time in two years and spearheading the inaugural Ignatian zine in Fall 2021, a miniature version of the traditional print.

Lucia has strong experience team building and communicating with others. She also performs well under deadline, drawing from her time with The Foghorn as well as working with The Pitch, a Kansas City based independent publication, as an editorial intern. She also enjoys building close relationships with others, having served as a research intern for Bay Area science author, Mary Ellen Hannibal, in Spring 2021. Lucia is quick to adapt to new challenges and willing to take on new roles as required. She places importance on remaining curious and finding inspiration in daily life.

Portfolio

The Pitch

The Pitch
10/02/2020
Haunted houses have devious designs to out-spook a murder virus

The spookiest time of the year is about to get a bit more spine-tingling for Kansas City, thanks to the growing presence of COVID-19. In a city with nearly 35,000 total COVID cases reported since March, Halloween is going to be unrecognizable from any previous iteration.

The Pitch
05/17/2021
After 19 years, Keith Carnes' conviction re-evaluated by Missouri Supreme Court

In 2014, The Pitch shared the story of Latahra Smith and her work advocating the innocence of Keith Carnes-a former drug dealer who was convicted of murdering Larry White, a rival drug dealer in 2003. Since Carnes was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in 2006, more evidence has been found causing further questions to be...

The Pitch
10/28/2020
First generation Vietnamese barista brings mobile coffee shop to KC

Jackie Nguyen of Cà Phê // Photo by Travis Young The day all of us spooky season fanatics have been waiting for is arriving this Saturday, Oct. 31. No, not Halloween (insert side-eye emoji here). Kansas City is finally being forced to acknowledge the city's lack of Vietnamese coffee!

The Pitch
01/15/2021
Local creative arts are getting creative

Relying heavily on live performance and interactive experiences, our local arts community was unsure how they would stay afloat when the city went on lockdown in March. However, the pandemic has demonstrated the resilience and creativity of the arts in Kansas City. These organizations have not only adapted but are thriving with COVID safety precautions in place.

The Pitch
10/08/2020
Black Lives Matter street artists reinvent murals after vandalization

On September 5, the community came together to create Black Lives Matter street murals at six different locations across Kansas City neighborhoods. Less than two weeks after this event, the street mural located at Northwest Briarcliff & North Mulberry Drive was vandalized with white paint and burned rubber.

The Pitch
09/10/2020
Kansas native returns to her roots for comedy special

Born and bred in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, Nicole Burch has been a writer as long as she can remember. A graduate of Bishop Miege High School and Washburn University, Burch moved to LA at the age of 27 to chase her Hollywood dream of being a dramatic actress.

The Pitch
10/06/2020
Local vintage store Boomerang celebrates over three decades in the community The Pitch

Founded in 1989 by Kevin Kinkead and Keith Rosen, Boomerang is an eclectic vintage store that its founders would describe as, "men's and women's vintage clothing costumes, and more, from the 1920-1980s." Though the business partners opened the store mainly selling vintage furniture from the 1930s-1950s, today they are a destination for those looking for costume and clothing for all occasions (hello Halloween 2020).

The Pitch
09/17/2020
Johnson County Jail attracts lawsuit for withholding mail from inmates

On September 14, the Human Rights Defense Center, a Florida-based nonprofit that focuses on prisoner rights, filed a lawsuit against the Johnson County Board of Commissioners and the Johnson County sheriff, Calvin Hayden, accusing them of withholding mail sent to inmates at the New Century Adult Detention Center in Olathe.