In working for Patch, Jamal Powell is fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a professional journalist.
Jamal Powell is 28 years old, and claims Baltimore, MD as his hometown. In 2000, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for four years as an appliance technician. In his spare time, he kept a journal of his experiences that eventually became a blog.
Following the end of his enlistment term in 2004, Jamal moved to West Los Angeles, California. He lived there for a year before deciding to return to his hometown to go to college.
Jamal got his first taste of journalism not through Towson University's English program, but through TU's college paper, the Towson Towerlight. Jamal graduated from Towson University in December 2010, having attained a Bachelor's degree in English.
In January 2010, Jamal officially began his journalism career by taking on a single freelancing gig for veteran reporter Mark Tyler, a local editor for Aberdeen, MD Patch at the time. Mark Tyler would mentor Jamal for six months, and during that time, Jamal would write over thirty articles for Patch.
In July 2011, Jamal was hired as the new local editor for Stamford Patch, and fell in love with the state of CT not long after he set foot in it.
<strong>Basics</strong>
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Age: 28
E-Mail: Jamal.Powell@patch.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/stamfordpatch
<strong>Politics</strong>
I love democracy. Still, I have do not have loyalty to any political party and do not represent a liberal or conservative point of view.
<strong>Religion</strong>
I was baptized into the Methodist church, however I am currently Christian non-denom.
<b>Local Hot Button Issues</b>
As of July 2011, unemployment, local economy, and their effects on the Stamford community will receive a high degree of focus.
Environmentalism as it relates to Stamford's many parks and beaches.
Local and state education.
Stamford's rich cultural history.
And you. Your life and your story are what make Stamford the fine town that it is, so there is no story more worth telling than your own.
While Board of Finance candidates and professional associations alike poise against long-time Board of Finance members Joe Tarzia and Bob Kolenberg, they have opted to defend their positions, and make no apologies for them.
Pet adoptions, pet rewards, and pet shows in your town and the towns around you.
With only ten hours to prepare for Saturday's snowstorm, Stamford's Department of Operations scrambled to deal with an underestimated situation.
Tag sales and individual item sales in your town and the towns around you.
Rising rental prices and minimum income requirements are forcing more Stamford residents into tight living conditions that can be illegal and uninhabitable.
The Connecticut DECD estimates that the direct and indirect economic benefits of NBC Sports' relocation to Stamford could be considerable.
Halloween parties, open houses, and other events in your town and the towns around you.
Two Stamford Academy juveniles and one legal adult have been charged with several disorderly conduct and weapons charges due to a serious altercation at Stamford Academy.
Construction worker Javier Salinas died on Tuesday afternoon, having fallen 60 feet from the Chelsea Piers roof.
SPFA has responded unfavorably to Mayor Michael Pavia's recent attempts to secure a passage of his Stamford Volunteer Fire Plan.
Apartments for rent, homes for sale, and house care services in your town and the towns around you.
Pet adoptions, missing pets, and pets in need of a home in your town and the towns around you.
Mayor Michael Pavia announced on Monday that he was seeking a lasting decision on the passage of his proposed Volunteer Fire Department Plan, which has been disputed by local fire companies and Stamford residents for nearly two years.
A review of Craig Ferguson's Friday show, greats of late-night talk, and a response to last week's Letter to the Editor.
Unusual arrests and investigations from the area.
Both the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council and Metro-North officials are drafting different "Passenger Bills of Rights" for commuters, meaning input from Connecticut may be left out if Metro-North decides to adopt its own version.
Stamford resident James Hill has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for purchasing and distributing mass quantities of crack-cocaine in Stamford and other Connecticut regions.
![Second Conspirator In Stamford Drug Operation Sentenced to Over Five Years [Update]](https://patch.com/img/cdn/users/635914/2011/10/raw/3ca06ef368a17210c7beb07517690d2b.jpg)
The Stamford police blotter for Oct. 20-Oct. 21. All information is supplied by the Stamford Police Department, does not include convictions, and does not presume guilt or innocence.
There are two Metro-North Bill of Rights being drafted for passengers, and the CCRC suggests that only one was created with 100% commuter input.
Metro-North's unpopular fare hike is a done deal, and MTA says it's working on its own Passenger Bill of Rights.