The Problem
For more than a decade, I ran LoganSquarist—a hyperlocal media platform and neighborhood hub built to connect and inform the people of Logan Square, Chicago. What started as a small idea to share local stories evolved into a vibrant, award-winning community of neighbors, readers and volunteers who cared deeply about where they lived.
In 2011, I founded LoganSquarist as a passion project. My goal? Help people get to know the neighborhood better and feel more connected to it. With a background in journalism and digital content, I began covering hyperlocal news and events that weren’t being picked up elsewhere.
The Approach
As publisher, I led the editorial vision, marketing strategy, volunteer operations and product evolution. Highlights included:
- Building the brand from the ground up: its positioning, core graphics and the look and feel that lasted
- Cultivating a community of neighbors, readers and volunteers around one mission: socializing the neighborhood
- Owning website development and creating most of the site’s assets
- Developing editorial processes, tone and contributor guidelines
- Managing social media, SEO, email marketing and ad sponsorships
- Supporting dozens of aspiring writers, marketers, event planners and designers as they built portfolios and found their voice
In 2021 LoganSquarist became an Illinois nonprofit with a board of directors.
“Kate is a phenomenal editor and visionary. Working under her guidance was a turning point in my career.”
— Theresa Boehl, Editorial Director
What We Built
Over time, LoganSquarist grew from a blog to a beloved neighborhood brand that cultivated neighborly connections through:
- Ongoing local news coverage so neighbors remained informed on hyperlocal news that other outlets didn’t cover.
- Monthly Neighbor Meetups and special events that brought neighbors together.
- Best of Logan Square, a reader-voted awards, that highlighted local businesses.
- A Logan Square coloring book, published in 2022, that celebrated a cherished neighborhood.
The Result
Over 12 years, LoganSquarist grew into one of Chicago’s most recognized neighborhood publications:
1,600+
Original articles and posts published
150+
Community events hosted
60K+
Monthly website visitors
- 13K+ social followers
- 150+ volunteers mentored over time
- Featured by Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune’s RedEye, Curbed, DNAinfo, Block Club and more
- Recognized twice by Cook County Commissioner Luis Arroyo Jr., 8th District
- Named a Twitter handle to follow by Chicago Tribune’s RedEye
Why it mattered.
LoganSquarist didn’t just tell stories—it created community. From monthly Neighbor Meetups to deep-dive profiles on small businesses, we helped people feel connected, represented and proud of their corner of Chicago. By socializing the neighborhood, we turned hyperlocal journalism into a shared experience.
It also shaped how I lead today: balancing storytelling with systems, passion with process and always putting people first.
Where it landed.
LoganSquarist sunset in 2023—a bittersweet close to a long-running labor of love. But the platform’s legacy continues to inform my work as a marketing strategist, brand builder and team leader.
Inspired by LoganSquarist or want to create something with similar heart and strategy? Read Engaging a Hyperlocal Audience, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish and One Way to Keep Local Journalism Alive.
