Nasir Anthony Montalvo

Portfolio

Portfolio

Managing Editor | The Kansas City Defender

Read Montalvo’s reel at The Kansas City Defender >

Writer
November 2021 – April 2023


Managing Editor
May 2023 – July 2024

I supported Black digital news organization, The Kansas City Defender, through copyediting, grant fulfillment and support of its community survival programs.

Some achievements:

  • I built The Defender’s editorial system and process from scratch,
  • piloted and conceptualized their first merchandise launch,
  • began grant writing/fundraising and won 10+ awards for the organization, raising over $100,000 over the course of my time there,
  • founded our Young Defender’s Fellowship Program, and
  • led The Defender’s strategic planning sessions for 2024.
Montalvo creates The Defender’s first-ever fellowship program. Pictured is Montalvo among first class of Young Defender Fellows >
Montalvo founded what would become {B/qKC} through their work at The Defender. Learn more >
Montalvo proliferated the number of Black writers published for the first time in Kansas City through their role. Learn more about one of their engagement tactics >

Congrats on everything you are accomplishing! It was a pleasure working with you. Thanks for all of your help and insight when it came to furthering my writing.

Lonyae Coulter, Former Employee