Astrid Kayembe: Award-Winning Independent Journalist & ProPublica Fellow

Astrid Kayembe is a distinguished independent journalist and investigative reporter currently serving as a 2024 ProPublica Local Reporting Network fellow. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Astrid Kayembe focuses her professional efforts on chronicling the experiences of underserved communities, with a particular emphasis on housing, healthcare, and local business. Her reporting is defined by a commitment to accountability and a deep engagement with the social issues that impact daily life in the Mid-South and beyond. Before her current fellowship with ProPublica, Astrid Kayembe was a Report for America corps member at The Daily Memphian and the Memphis Commercial Appeal. During this time, she gained significant recognition for her coverage of neighborhoods like South Memphis, Whitehaven, and Westwood. Her career also includes a prestigious reporting fellowship at the Los Angeles Times (2022-2023), where she covered culture and local news in her hometown of South-Central Los Angeles. A graduate of the University of Southern California (USC), where she studied journalism, Astrid Kayembe has consistently sought out roles that bridge the gap between institutional power and public impact. Her accolades include being a 2023 finalist for the Livingston Awards, which honors the best in professional journalism by those under age 35. Astrid Kayembe’s work has also appeared in USA Today Network publications, Refinery29, and L.A. Taco, reflecting a diverse portfolio that spans national news and community-centric features. Through her investigative projects and narrative storytelling, she continues to provide a vital platform for the voices of those often overlooked by mainstream media.