Take a look at some of Maia’s reporting work!

Maia has reported stories for several Chicago-based news outlets in recent years, a selection of which can be found below. Her reporting has included several beats as well, including Arts & Culture, Civic Journalism, Criminal Justice, Environmental Journalism, Features & Neighborhood Reporting, History, Investigative Reporting, Labor Reporting, LGBTQ+, Local Event Coverage, Multimedia, Newsletters, News & Politics, and Solutions Journalism.

Below are links for Maia’s work according to each news outlet.

Block Club Chicago

Block Club Chicago is a digital news website that provides diverse coverage of Chicago’s many neighborhoods.

In Englewood, Thousands Of Tulips Are Blooming — During The Winter — Tulips are typically grown in the spring and summer. Southside Blooms' new growing system will produce 18,000 in time for Valentine's Day. Here's how you can order a bouquet. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
A Survivor Torah From The Holocaust Now Housed At Jewish School In Lakeview: ‘It’s For All Of Us’ — Survivor 1089 is one of a handful of Survivor Torahs in the Chicago area. It was gifted to Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, where students take the lead in protecting it. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Pride South Side Creates Space For Black Queer Joy And Unity: ‘Here, You Feel Welcome’ — Local queer artists, including BellaTheeStallion, Yng Romance, Jade The Ivy, delighted the crowd as part of Chicago Black Pride Weekend. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Parents Frustrated As Chicago Public Libraries Phase Out Museum Passes: ‘This Is Reducing Access’ — The popular program is being replaced by the statewide Explore More Illinois offering free and discounted passes to cultural attractions. Some feel the new program is poorly advertised and more restrictive. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Chonk The Thicc Snapping Turtle Is A Superstar — And Great News For The Chicago River — Experts are attributing the return of local wildlife to improvements in the water quality of the Chicago River over time. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration At West Side Church Where King Preached Returns In-Person After 3 Years — At the event at Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church, speakers vowed to put King's ideals into action and disavowed racism and antisemitism. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Underground Chicago Tour (Plus Rats!) Takes Visitors On A Stroll Through Chicago’s Underbelly —The man behind Chicago's Ugly Buildings tour was inspired by a client whose young cousin wanted a tour that focused on rats. 2022. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
After Racist Video, Threats And Slurs, Students Walk Out At East Side High School: ‘Something Needs To Be Done’ — Chicago Public Schools is investigating after George Washington High School students reported racist incidents, including someone writing in a bathroom that a Black student would be burned and hanged. 2022. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Roseland Neighbors Complained About A Problem Building For Years. The City Only Tore It Down After A Man Was Fatally Shot — The house had numerous safety issues, attracted squatters and was an eyesore for neighbors. They complained for years, but it wasn't until this week that the city tore down the building. 2022. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
See more of Maia’s extensive reporting for Block Club Chicago here.

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The Chicago Reader

The Chicago Reader is a nonprofit alternative newsroom in Chicago known for its strong coverage of local arts and culture, that also reports on news, politics, and more.

(Don’t) be deceived // Illinois drops enforcement of law targeting fake abortion clinics — Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul agreed to toss out a law that would’ve cracked down “deceptive practices” by fake abortion clinics. 2024. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Out of sight, out of mind // Illinois abortion funds navigate falling donations post-Roe v. Wade — More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections, midwest abortion funds and providers navigate increased client loads and falling donations. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Not the way a transparent, democratic process should work // What police accountability experts say about the new FOP contract — Chicago community organizers and police reform advocates question the lack of transparency surrounding the city’s new contract with the FOP and say Mayor Brandon Johnson should’ve pushed for greater accountability for cops, not less. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.

Borderless Magazine

Borderless Magazine is a digital news site that provides reporting for and about immigrants living in and around Chicago.

Cicero Residents Reeling From Summer Floods Blame City’s Poor Communication — As Cicero recovers from historic summer floods, some residents believe the city fell short in communicating support and resources for the town’s majority immigrant population. 2024. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Illinois Bill Seeks To Bolster Language Services At State Agencies — A language access bill making its way through Springfield would create a new office tasked with bringing interpretation and translation services to state agencies for many non-native English speakers. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Locally Made App Puts Interpreter In Immigrants’ Pockets — Joel Arzu and his brother Regis are the brains behind CoVoice, an app people can use to be connected with an interpreter in real-time. 2023. View as PDF.
How Chicago’s All-Women Mariachi Group Is Embracing Their Roots — And Bucking Tradition — Despite lukewarm feelings about the genre as a child, Mariachi Sirenas cofounder Ibet Herrera helped form Chicago’s first all-women mariachi band. The group has fostered a sisterhood of talented musicians while honoring their roots. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Experience Life as Chicago Immigrant in New Interactive Theater Show* 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
A Community-Led Approach To Stopping Flooding Expands — In a region where communities of color are most impacted by flooding, RainReady is bringing together community members to create flood mitigation plans. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.

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City Bureau

City Bureau is a non-profit news organization and civic journalism lab based on Chicago’s South Side.

A Crash Course in Youth Homelessness and Runaways* — A closer look at the nuts and bolts of local government and civic power. This week we’re recapping the latest Public Newsroom co-hosted by City Bureau and the Invisible Institute. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Worker Advocates Say More Temp Worker Protections Are Needed — As the industry grows, worker advocates say it is ever more important to fix some of the issues they have been fighting against, including racial discrimination, wage theft and permatemping. 2022. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Temp Workers’ Labor Rights, Explained — City Bureau answers common questions from Chicago staffing agency workers — from what to do if they suspect wage theft to where to file complaints with the city and state. 2022. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Worker Advocates Offer Ideas to Reform the Temp Industry** — The temp industry can be improved by teaching workers their rights, holding companies accountable and by enforcing and strengthening current laws. 2022. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.

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Maia’s work has also been republished by other news outlets, including Cicero Independienté, Chalkbeat Chicago, the Chicago Reader, Grist, Sahan Journal, Wisconsin Watch, Inside Climate News and more.

For more of her recent work, you can check out her Muck Rack portfolio, which includes an up-to-date feed of her reporting as it’s published.

*Asterisks indicate stories Maia’s written for newsletters.**Double asterisks indicate a story where she contributed reporting.

Austin Weekly News

Austin Weekly News focuses on covering Chicago’s Black West Side communities.

West Side residents reflect on historic election — Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot’s rise to office prompts praise, questions from residents. 2019. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
After loss, Preckwinkle supporters ponder her future — The county board president says she’ll still focus on progressive agenda. 2019. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.

The TRiiBE

The TRiiBE is a digital news and media platform that aims to highlight the many facets and concerns of Chicago’s Black community.

The Guardian

The U.S. digital edition of the London-based daily newspaper.

Chicago religious leaders urge peace after killing of six-year-old Muslim boy — Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders shook hands, talked and prayed together after killing of Wadea Al-Fayoume. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.

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In These Times

In These Times is a Chicago-based newsroom that covers labor and social movements.

A Whirlwind for Chicago Cease-Fire Politics — Mayor Brandon Johnson announces support for a cease-fire as the city council delays a vote on a cease-fire resolution. 2024. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
“Is This a Union Town or What?” Chicago's Transformative Role in the Labor Movement—Past and Present—Fuels UAW Rally — Mayor Brandon Johnson and local, national and international labor leaders joined United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain at a rally for striking autoworkers and allies at the Local 551 union hall. 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.
Record Profits, Paltry Contracts Fire Up Chicago-Area Autoworkers to Strike — “It’s not fair that [CEOs are] bringing home these millions of dollars and have so many summer homes ... and we’re living paycheck to paycheck.” 2023. Read a preview. ✦ View as PDF.

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MAIA MCDONALD

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MAIA MCDONALD ✿