I develop stories that inform, inspire engagment, and celebrate the social impact of nonprofits.

1. HELLO,
MY NAME IS
DAVID FISCHER.
2017 PORTFOLIO

2.
WHO I AM
WHAT I DO
HUMOR WRITING
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT MY WRITING
EDITORIAL WORK
WEBSITE & CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
NEWSLETTERS AND BROCHURES
BLOGS & PROFILES
GRANT WRITING
EVENT COVERAGE & PHOTOGRAPHY
SOCIAL MEDIA
INFOGRAPHICS
DAVID FISCHER
CONTENTS
415 S. El Molino Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
P: 1+6162837858
davidblakefischer@gmail.com
www.davidblakefischer.portfoliobox.net
www.linkedin.com/in/davidblakefischer

3. I'M A HUMOR WRITER &
COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST.
I DEVELOP STORIES THAT INFORM,
INSPIRE, ENGAGE & CELEBRATE THE
SOCIAL IMPACT OF NONPROFITS.
DAVID FISCHER

4. HUMOR WRITING
DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS
EDITORIAL
SOCIAL MEDIA
BLOGS
WEB CONTENT
PRESENTATIONS
PROFILES
EMAIL
NEWSLETTERS
BROCHURES
WHAT I DO
WRITE
ACROSS
FORMATS
&
STYLES

5. DAVID FISCHER — 2017 PORTFOLIOMY HUMOR WRITING HAS APPEARED OR IS
FORTHCOMING IN A NUMBER OF AWARD-WINNING
LITERARY EVENTS, JOURNALS & MAGAZINES.

6. “DAVID BLAKE FISCHER IS
ONE OF TWITTER’S DEEP
CUTS.”
@BenJurney,
Contributor at The New Yorker
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT MY HUMOR WRITING

7. PUBLISHED
EDITORIAL
WORK

8. ONLINE DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE &
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
Content Creation
Photography
Research
Writing
Art Direction
Project Management

9. Fall 2017 Newsletter
25 Years of Awarding Scholarships to Churches
On October 15, year-end celebrations were held to commemorate Ascending
Lights’ 25th anniversary. Mass and reception were held at Saint Ann’s Catholic
Church in Los Angeles where Speakers included Gary Krauss (Founder), Marjorie
Krauss (Founder), Dr. Yolanda Brown (Parish Life Director at Blessed Sacrament
Church), Rev. Michael Mata (Azusa Pacific
University), along with graduates Dulce Perez and
Byron Apen.
Since 1993, Dr. Brown has witnessed many
young adults transform their lives in collaboration
with Ascending Lights. Speaking to donors,
friends and beneficiaries gathered for the event,
Dr. Brown shared a number of student success
stories.
“Evidence of the impact of Ascending Lights
is present with your presence,” she said. “It’s
present in the stories of success at Dolores
Mission, in Boyle Heights, and at Blessed
Sacrament, in Hollywood. I thank all of the
Ascending Lights Leadership Network. We are a
people of joy, of hope, and peace because of
you.”
Welcome
New Students
At Ascending Lights, we believe in
the power of churches, Christian
leaders, and community college
education to transform
communities.
This fall, we’re proud to
welcome new students Gage
Graham, Omar Melendez, Adrian
Paredes, Donovan Riley, and
Daniela Rodriguez (below).
Daniela grew up in Harbor
City and graduated from Torrance
High School. Today, she’s an active
ministry volunteer, serving the
youth choir and providing services
to Lomita area families who are
experiencing homelessness.
Name: Daniela Rodriguez, 19
Serving: Saint Margaret Mary
Catholic Church, Lomita, CA
Community College: El
Camino College
Career Interest: Physical
Therapy
. Ascending Lights
Partnering with Churches to Break the Cycle of Poverty and Violence
“This [celebration] is not
a conclusion. This is a
continuation of the
momentum. Ascending
Lights recognizes the
power of education,
spirituality, religion, and
service. It transforms
lives, families,
communities, and
societies.”
- Dr. Yolanda Brown
An Ascending Lights supporter enjoys photos of our 102 graduates and 34 students.
THE CLIENT: Ascending Lights
MY TASK: Create all content for quarterly newsletters to
highlight the client’s work awarding community college
scholarships to student-leaders in low-income communities
across Los Angeles.
PROCESS: Conduct research, attend live events, lead
10 interviews to identify, source, and generate original stories.
ROLES: Writer, Editor, Researcher, Photographer, Producer
Spring 2017 Newsletter
Celebrating 25-Years
On March 5-6, celebrations were held to
commemorate Ascending Lights’ 25th
anniversary. The events were attended by
current students, graduates, board
members, benefactors, and pastors whose
churches have benefited from the service of
the young leaders trained by Ascending
Lights over many years. Students and
graduates helped with the liturgical
roles. Presiding at one of the Masses
was Bishop Dave O’Connell who, as a
parish priest in 1992, was instrumental
in helping us to form our unique vision
of helping churches fight poverty and
violence through community college
education, focused mentoring, and
leadership training. Over 25-years, Ascending Lights has partnered with 61
churches and educated 132 of their young leaders!
We’re Proud of Our
Graduates!
Frankie-Jo Gonzalez is one of
six Ascending Lights scholars
who are graduating this spring
and transferring to 4-year
universities.
A 1st generation college
student, Frankie-Jo grew up in
a family of six kids, supported
only by her mother’s income.
However, her passion for
education was recognized at
The R.O.C.K. Church (Los
Angeles) where she mentors
middle school youth through
the World Impact Teen Center.
At Ascending Lights, Frankie-
Jo found a support system, a
compassionate mentor, and
the tools to overcome the
obstacles that were separating
her from her educational and
career dreams.
College:
Citrus
Major:
Communication
Transfer Goal:
CSU Fullerton
GPA: 3.78
THANK YOU
for supporting our
students and graduates!
. Ascending Lights
Partnering with Churches to Break the Cycle of Poverty and Violence
“We believe it’s so
important to fight
poverty and violence
that the Body of
Christ comes
together, churches
come together, and
we work as a team to
minister in the
broader community.”
- Gary Krauss
Summer 2017 Newsletter
Hope. Vision. Inspiration.
Daniel Torres immigrated to the U.S. at age 12. Throughout grade school he was
in E.S.L. classes. But, financial hardship forced him to drop out of high school to
support his single mother. Later, he earned a G.E.D. and worked in sales. However,
during the recession, Daniel was let-go by his employer and reached a pivotal
crossroad. What am I meant to be? he wondered. Will I ever reach my potential?
In 2014, Daniel joined Ascending Lights. At age 29, he’d spent years as a youth
leader and Sunday School teacher at Rios de Agua Viva Church. Still, many told
him Community College was a waste of time. To provide for his mother, he worked
while studying full-time at East Los Angeles College (ELAC).
Three years later, Daniel is a community college graduate with distinction.
He earned Associate degrees in Spanish and Social Sciences. He was a member of
the Puente Project, UCLA's Center for Community College Partnerships,
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the ELAC Honors Program and Pathway to Law
School.
Ascending Lights removed the barriers that might have prevented Daniel from
completing community college. “There are other programs out there, but this was
the first program that was connected to my faith and educational dreams,” Daniel
says. “Thank you!”
Celebrating
Graduates & Alumni
At Ascending Lights, we believe
in the power of churches,
Christian leaders, and community
college education to transform
lives.
With the 2016-2017 school year
behind us, we’re celebrating
graduates and alumni who have
overcome obstacles and achieved
their dreams through our
mentoring and scholarship
program.
Alumnus: Joanna Chavez
Serving: Rock of Salvation Church,
LA, in youth ministry
Community College: Graduated
East Los Angeles College with a
3.5 GPA (2015)
Major: Social Sciences
Transfer School: Graduated UCLA
with a 3.78 GPA (2017)
Next Step: Law School
. Ascending Lights
Partnering with Churches to Break the Cycle of Poverty and Violence
NEWSLETTERS
& BROCHURES

10. THE CLIENT: Saint Justin Education Fund for Los Angeles
MY TASK: Conduct interviews across 11 community colleges
and 61 churches to capture student accounts of struggle and
success in community college and community service.
PROCESS: Conduct on-campus interviews, identify and
generate original stories and photography.
ROLES: Writer, Editor, Researcher, Photographer, Producer
BLOGS
& PROFILES

11. GRANT
WRITING
THE CLIENT: Northland Village Foundation
MY TASK: Capture stories of the foundation’s social impact work
in Atwater Village.
PROCESS:Conducted research, interviewed leadership and
constituents, wrote and edited grant.
ROLES: Researcher, Writer, Editor
OUTCOME: Awarded $35,000 Sam & Helen R. Walton Award
DAVID FISCHER — 2017 PORTFOLIO

12. EVENT COVERAGE
& PHOTOGRAPHY

13. WHAT I DO
TELL
ENGAGING
STORIES
ON SOCIAL
MEDIA

14. INFOGRAPHICS
THE CLIENT: Northland Village
Foundation
MY TASK: Create infographics to
communicate timeline of organizational
change.
ROLES: Writer, Producer

15. 415 S. El Molino Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
P: 1+6162837858
davidblakefischer@gmail.com
www.davidblakefischer.portfoliobox.net
www.linkedin.com/in/davidblakefischer
DAVID FISCHER
THANK YOU.