Brandon Celentano 1200 W Marshall Apt 329 Richmond, VA, 23220 571‐279‐1258 | [email protected] https://www.clippings.me/brandoncelentano https://twitter.com/b_celentano https://www.diigo.com/profile/bcelentano https://www.facebook.com/brandon.celentano.1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcelentano97/ EDUCATION Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA Graduation date: May 2019 Bachelor of Science, Mass Communications Concentration: Digital Journalism Minor: Sociology Deans List: Fall Semester 2017 JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE Reporter for Capital News Service January 2018 ‐ Present Covered the General Assembly and other news for more than 90 news outlets across Virginia, with select stories distributed by The Associated Press. Wrote articles on such topics as offshore drilling, criminal justice reform, and women’s rights. Published by The Washington Post, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times and other newspapers across the U.S. Set the pace for other students in using Facebook Live to deliver real‐time video reports Contributing Writer for the Commonwealth Times October 2015 – May 2016 Wrote for VCU’s independent student newspaper, including a story about the legalization of cannabis oil for treating epilepsy in Virginia Shot video of a march in which students demanded that VCU divest itself of fossil fuels stocks News Editor for the South County Courier September 2013 ‐ June 2015 South County High School, Lorton, VA Utilized Adobe InDesign to design the first and second pages of the school newspaper. Volunteer Production Assistant September 2015 National Mall, Washington DC Worked for the wellness event at the national mall that was cosponsored by the National Park Service and Pan‐American World Health Organization Videotaped attendees and interviewed them regarding their experience at the event Developed questions for interviews with health professionals and attendees Journalism skills: Adobe Software Interviewing Experience with professional video and DSLR cameras writing news articles OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE Food Lion Cashier, Woodbridge, VA July ‐ August 2016 and December 2016 – January 2017 Jimmy John’s Team Member, Richmond, VA October 2015 – December 2015 Pizza Hut Cook and Delivery Driver, Fairfax Station, VA May ‐ August 2015 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Society of Professional Journalists Member September 2015 – Present The Washington Post Local Young Lawmakers Form Group to Address Millennials’ Concerns By Brandon Celentano | AP February 14 at 6:39 PM RICHMOND, Va. — A bipartisan, nationwide organization seeking to involve young people in politics has established a chapter in Virginia, focusing on such issues as student debt relief and government transparency, officials said Wednesday. The Millennial Action Project has created the Virginia Future Caucus, consisting of young lawmakers who vowed to work across party lines. “When we are able to bond together, we are able to see past the tribalism that has divided us for so long,” said Democratic Del. Sam Rasoul, 36, of Roanoke. Republican Del. Emily Brewer, 33, of Suffolk, said the caucus reflects a generational change in Virginia. “Going forward, we’ve got to focus on key issues,” such as technology, she said. “We need to make sure we’re looking at providing opportunities for our generation and the next generation to stay here.” Brewer and Rasoul were among a dozen state legislators who attended a news conference Wednesday to announce the formation of the Virginia Future Caucus. Steven Olikara, president and co-founder of the Millennial Action Project, said this is the organization’s 22nd state chapter. “We want to empower the next generation of leaders to make our democracy function better,” Olikara said. “Today the status quo is insufficient. Trust is declining. Partisanship is rampant. We think the next generation can be part of the solution.” At the news conference, speakers noted that young Americans are more likely to be unaffiliated with a political party. They said these voters are concerned about issues such as: .Clean energy .The “staggering” cost of college and student loans .The “gig economy,” in which temporary employment is common as organizations hire independent contractors for short-term work, such as with Uber drivers Olikara said 30 members of Congress have joined the project. He said the effort has especially focused on state legislatures, “which is really where a lot of young leaders are taking their first steps in politics including here in Virginia.” The average age in the Virginia House of Delegates is 52. But several young people were elected to the House last fall, including Jay Jones, 28, of Norfolk; Lee Carter, 30, of Manassas; Chris Hurst, 30, of Montgomery County; and Danica Roem, 33, of Prince William County. Rasoul and Del. Christopher Peace, R-Hanover, will co-chair the new caucus. Peace said he was the youngest delegate when he was elected 13 years ago. Now 41, Peace said there can be an “issue of translation” between young legislators and their older colleagues who may be unfamiliar with terms such as Airbnb and Bitcoin. Peace said the new caucus can “provide some real leadership on policies that would benefit people in the millennial generation.” Olikara said Virginia has a history of young political leaders making their mark: Thomas Jefferson was just 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. This story was produced by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Capital News Service. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 0 Comments 4/11/2018 Construction on monument honoring Virginia women starts soon - Chicago Tribune Construction on monument honoring Virginia women starts soon By BRANDON CELENTANO Associated Press MARCH 1, 2018, 5:30 PM | RICHMOND, VA. onstruction likely will begin this summer on the state Capitol grounds for a monument honoring Virginia C women. The executive committee of the Women of Virginia Commemorative Commission was briefed Wednesday on the timetable for the project, which will feature bronze statues of a dozen historically significant women of various races and backgrounds. Holly Eve, an administrator in the Virginia Department of General Services, and her assistant, Charles Bennett, told the panel that the construction phase is drawing near. "I am pleased to report that we have received the permits. The general contractor can now start procuring materials and start the shop drawing phase," Bennett said. "We should start seeing materials arrive on-site early in the summer." The Virginia Women's Monument, titled "Voices from the Garden," will be built on the western side of Capitol Square at the top of the western sloping dell. The commission broke ground on the first phase of the project - the memorial plaza - on Dec. 4. The monument is expected to be completed by October 2019. State officials said the monument will cost about $3.5 million and will be paid for with private funds. So far, the Virginia Capitol Foundation has raised more than $2.1 million in contributions and pledges, according to figures circulated at Wednesday's meeting. According to the commission's website, the monument "will acknowledge the genius and creativity of Virginia women and their presence and contributions to the Commonwealth. The monument is a metaphor for the often unrecognized voices that have been responsible for shaping our culture, country, and state for over 400 years." The commission says the monument would be the first of its kind in the nation recognizing the full range of women's achievements. The project will feature an oval-shaped garden with statues of: .Ann Burras Laydon, who arrived in Jamestown in 1608 - one of the first female settlers in the colony. .Cockacoeske, a Pamunkey chief who signed a treaty in 1677 establishing the tribe's reservation. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-va--cns-womens-monument-20180301-story.html 1/2 4/11/2018 Construction on monument honoring Virginia women starts soon - Chicago Tribune .Mary Draper Ingles, who was taken captive by Shawnee Indians during the French and Indian War in 1755, escaped and traveled 600 miles back to her home in Southwest Virginia. .Martha Washington, George Washington's wife. In the monument, she will represent the wives of all eight Virginia-born presidents. .Clementina Bird Rind, editor of the Virginia Gazette, an influential newspaper and the official printer for the Colony of Virginia, in the 1770s. .Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a slave who bought her freedom, became Mary Todd Lincoln's confidant and established the Contraband Relief Association, which provided support for freed slaves and soldiers wounded in the Civil War. .Sally Louisa Tompkins, who, as a captain in the Confederate army, established a hospital to treat injured soldiers. .Maggie Walker, an African-American teacher and businesswoman who became the nation's first female bank president. .Sarah Garland Boyd Jones, the first woman to pass the exam to practice medicine in Virginia. She and her husband, also a physician, established a medical association for African-American doctors and opened a hospital and nursing school in 1903. .Laura Lu Copenhaver, who, as director of information for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, expanded southwestern Virginia's agricultural economy. .Virginia Estelle Randolph, an African-American teacher who developed a national and international reputation as a leader in education. .Adele Goodman Clark, a suffragist who became president