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Freelance Journalist

Posted by Penny Dickerson on January 15, 2017 in About, Journalism

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CONTACT:          pennydickersonwrites@gmail.com

Penny Dickerson is an independent journalist with a passion for cool people, extraordinary places, and good sushi.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Lesley University (Cambridge, MA).

Temple UniversityLesley LogoPassionate about words and writing, Penny has augmented her freelance writing life by working as an adjunct English professor at  Florida State College at Jacksonville where she taught English composition and Humanities courses including Writing for Non-Fiction, Introduction to Literature & Film and Literature. Continue Reading »

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New Lens on Aging

Posted by Penny Dickerson on March 3, 2019 in Fellowships, GSA Journalists in Aging Fellows Program, Journalism, New America Media, Newspapers

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‘New Lens on Aging’

December 2, 2016 Filed under HEALTH, METRO Posted by

Scholars shine light on Blacks and aging during annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society of America

BY PENNY DICKERSON
SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

Little Freddie King is a 76-year-old Blues master and New Orleans icon whose performance range includes appearing in Beyonce’s “Lemonade” video and portrayal on the 2015 poster for the French Quarter Festival.

Little Freddie King is a New Orleans Blues legend. He’s a self-taught guitar player who has always used his thumb versus a pick. It allows him to feel the music better. King appeared alert, spry and possessed the mental facility to fully engage a standing room only audience as he told the story of how he hopped a train from Mississippi to New Orleans when he was merely 14 years old. “The Big Easy” has been his home since.

King is now 76 and lives as a statistical example of aging elders who served as the focus of study at the 2016 annual scientific meeting of the Gerontological Society held Nov. 16-20 in New Orleans. A field of study often confused with geriatrics, gerontology defined is the scientific study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular problems of old people. Continue Reading »

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Soul Food: cultural lifestyle or disease trap?

Posted by Penny Dickerson on March 3, 2019 in Community, Fellowship & Grant Proposals, Fellowships, GSA Journalists in Aging Fellows Program, Journalism, New America Media, Newspapers

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Soul Food ─ Cultural Lifestyle or Disease Trap?

 Florida Courier/New America Media , News Feature, Penny Dickerson, Posted: Feb 21, 2017

Photo: Olean McCaskill in her celebrated soul-food eatery, Olean’s.TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–The roots of soul food run deep within the annals of African American living. The South reigns as king of soul food cuisine. Its origins can be traced back to slavery when plantation owners allowed enslaved Africans to cook and eat only what known as the hog’s undesirable leftovers, the ears, feet, tail, stomach and the intestinal tract known as chitterlings or in the Southern vernacular, simply “chitlins.”

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Soul Food – Healthy & Alternative Preparations

Posted by Penny Dickerson on March 3, 2019 in Community, Fellowship & Grant Proposals, Fellowships, GSA Journalists in Aging Fellows Program, Journalism, New America Media, Newspapers

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http://newamericamedia.org/2017/03/a-newhealthier–era-for-soul-food.php

A NEW ERA FOR SOUL FOOD

March 3, 2017 Filed under FOOD, METRO Posted by

Some African-Americans have adapted new approaches to cooking, which leads to better health and living longer.

Editor’s note: This is the second installment on the legacy of soul food. Part 1 appeared in the Feb. 17 issue of the Florida Courier.

BY PENNY DICKERSON
FLORIDA COURIER

Soul food has taken center stage in the millennium as both a Southern indulgence and palate pleaser.

Restaurants boasting the original recipe of elderly relatives have opened throughout the Southeastern region of the country, and the ubiquitous food genre is even the focus of the reality television show, “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s.” Continue Reading »

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EDITORIAL: Waiting at hospital, and one thing made it worse | jacksonville.com

Posted by Penny Dickerson on March 3, 2019 in Cancer Series, Editorial, Editorial, Fellowships, Florida Times-Union, Journalism, Minority Editorial Writers Fellowship, Newspapers


Waiting at hospital, and one thing made it worse | jacksonville.com.

Waiting at hospital, and one thing made it worse

Posted Mar 14, 2009 at 12:01 AM
 

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Interview with Steve Harvey’s Personal Chef

Posted by Penny Dickerson on March 3, 2019 in Florida Courier, Journalism, Newspapers

‘Architect of flavor’ whips up Harvey’s healthy dishes

March 14, 2013 Filed under ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD Posted by
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 BY PENNY DICKERSON

Judson Allen died of a heart attack earlier this year ( May 2018). May he rest in peace.

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Judson Todd Allen is a winner who loves to lose.

He has won a battle with weight, losing more than 135 pounds. next food network starHe auditioned for the “Next Food Network Star’’ four times before joining the 2012 cast. He again, lost but recalibrated. Continue Reading »

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African American Childhood Obesity: the skinny on fat

Posted by Penny Dickerson on March 3, 2019 in Bold and Bodacious Blogs, Cancer Series, Creative Writing

This blog is featured in HBCU Lifestyles: http://hbculifestyle.com/contributor-how-you-can-help-african-american-youth-fight-obesity/

Being the fat kid will never be cool.

America is a skinny nation and an ad hoc committee on “acceptable appearance” has deemed that fat ain’t where it’s at and skinny is in. Media influences applaud the weight loss efforts of the rich and famous as their guant faces and emaciated bodies are flaunted on red-carpets. The recent exception was Gabrielle Sedibe whose round features earned her the lead role in the film, “Precious.” Personally, I remember her character’s story, not the actresses weight, but many others don’t share my reflections because  bone-thin is considered socially appropriate, beautiful to some, and the cultural standard that’s adverse to being obese. Continue Reading »

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Equal Voice National Magazine

Posted by Penny Dickerson on March 3, 2019 in Equal Voice Magazine, Fellowship & Grant Proposals, Fellowships, Magazines, Marguerite Casey Poverty Fellowship

Equal Voice Fellowship and Scholarship Stories 2015 · Poverty · South ·

Homeless Students in America: What Are We Doing to Help?

By on January 12, 2016

See the source image

Rajni Shankar-Brown moderates a student panel last year at Stetson University’s Poverty and Homeless Conference. Seated from left are Osceola County Homeless Liaison Gabriela Barros, Chantial Vasquez, Tiffaney Langhorne, Alexander Greene, Chyina Powell and Bryanna Anderson. Photo by Penny Dickerson
DELAND, Fla. — Bryanna Anderson is an African-American senior enrolled at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. Amidst tears and fragile nerves, she shared an emotional story that chronicles a life of poverty and homelessness.
Her captive audience was a packed room of Volusia County educators and community leaders attending the 2015 Poverty and Homeless Conference (PHC) on Oct. 23 at Stetson University.

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