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Harlem pediatric clinic combats falling literacy levels with free books
An East Harlem pediatric clinic is encouraging families to launch their literacy journey early as data shows falling reading scores nationwide.
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Jessi Mitchell joined the CBS News New York team as a multi-skilled journalist in October 2021, focusing her reporting in Harlem. Nightly, she also anchors the 8pm Atlanta Now News on the CBS-owned station, Atlanta 69.
Jessi spent two years in the CBS News Atlanta bureau, where she won a national Emmy for her work covering major breaking news stories like the Atlanta spa shootings, the Christmas Day explosion in downtown Nashville, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, and natural disasters including deadly flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Prior to joining CBS News, Jessi spent seven years as a multimedia journalist and anchor in Oklahoma City, Colorado Springs, and Columbus, Georgia. Her time in local news sparked a passion for helping others through storytelling, highlighting issues affecting minority communities, homeless populations, and domestic violence survivors.
Jessi was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Atlanta. She attended Hampton University on a full academic scholarship and was captain of the women's golf team. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish.
Jessi is an active member of SGI-USA, the most diverse Buddhist community in the United States. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, a contributor to the Women In Golf Foundation and the Hampton University Alumni Association. In 2023, Jessi was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Hampton's Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.
Jessi is an avid sneaker collector and golfer, and she enjoys hot yoga and taking long walks with her dog Scotty.
If you have a story idea for Jessi, email her at harlemtip@cbs.com.
An East Harlem pediatric clinic is encouraging families to launch their literacy journey early as data shows falling reading scores nationwide.
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