Age 37
Between social media and countless online communities, it’s never been easier to tell a story. But Andrew Paul focuses on telling ethical stories. Having spent years writing and curating for alternative news- papers and local magazines, Paul developed an affinity for being questioned by editors. “I’ve always taken criticism well because I believe in not being the smartest person in the room. I strive to be better and surround myself with people who are going to make me the best writer I can be.”
Now the communications associate at the Edmonton Community Foundation, Paul references the opportunities he was given early in his career as to why he supports a network of freelancers who face more and more difficulty in finding work.
“I remember calling up the editor of my local rural newspaper to ask if I could write a column. The editor took a chance on me and said yes.”
In creating Legacy in Action — a publication that expresses the rich and vibrant stories of Edmonton’s various communities — Paul has worked to ensure the diversity of Edmonton is represented in the freelance writers he hires. “If you want to tell the story of a certain community, someone with the lived experience of that community will bring so much more context and nuance to the piece than someone without.”
Paul feels that complex story telling allows community members to be prompted to reflection and not quick opinions. “Any opportunity to support that, is something I feel compelled to do.”
This article appears in the November 2021 issue of Edify
