Writer ~ Editor ~ Dog Lover ~ Vegetarian
Shamontiel (pronounced Shə mawn T L) Latrice Vaughn is a full-time, freelance editor and writer. From 2014 to mid-2023, her primary freelance jobs were via Upwork before transitioning to an independent client base. The Chicago native has approximately 21 years of combined publishing experience in journalism; print and online editing; website building and editing; social media marketing; and four years in mid-level management. Although she started off wanting to be a full-time author and self-published two novels ("Round Trip" and "Change for a Twenty") between undergrad and grad school, she was surprised by her own intrigue in the editing and publishing industry.
One paid the bills; the other just paid for her veg(etari)an takeout. She switched gears and has completed 253 interviews (entertainment, business, health, real estate, painting) for various print and digital newspapers and magazines. After leaving Corporate America in 2018, and to get some exercise while working from home, Shamontiel became a dog caregiver. Three years later, she adopted a Hound mix on Juneteenth. No matter the industry, Junee couldn't care less about her bills or her bylines. She has zero issues with interrupting Shamontiel's workday for regular walks, mail carrier announcements and ear scratches.
One paid the bills; the other just paid for her veg(etari)an takeout. She switched gears and has completed 253 interviews (entertainment, business, health, real estate, painting) for various print and digital newspapers and magazines. After leaving Corporate America in 2018, and to get some exercise while working from home, Shamontiel became a dog caregiver. Three years later, she adopted a Hound mix on Juneteenth. No matter the industry, Junee couldn't care less about her bills or her bylines. She has zero issues with interrupting Shamontiel's workday for regular walks, mail carrier announcements and ear scratches.
Work
As a full-time freelance journalist and editor, her current lineup includes the following:
- MARKETING: Fact Checker, Proofreader and Ideation Writer for a marketing firm covering legal, investing and insurance news, medical, and real estate news
- FINANCIAL: Quarterly Editor for a financial company discussing stocks, bonds, Wall Street, e-commerce
- LEGAL: Digital Marketing Strategist for a debt defense and real estate attorney licensed in Illinois and Michigan
Her latest op-ed bylines can be found on Substack. Additional writing clips can be found in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Defender, CBS Chicago, Go4Rent Magazine, Blavity, Home & Texture, AfroTech and Travel Noire.
Before becoming a full-time freelancer, she dabbled in the marketing industry and completed a co-writing partnership for a legal blogging series. Her corporate resume includes past full-time employment as a Digital News Editor for the Chicago Tribune, a Beat Writer for Sun-Times Network, and a Staff Writer and Web Editor for The Chicago Defender. Her print editing background also includes live events (Feld Entertainment) and K-12 books (Pearson Education), as well as her first job in adult finance education and book licensing when she was the Assistant Copy Editor for Kaplan Financial.
Before becoming a full-time freelancer, she dabbled in the marketing industry and completed a co-writing partnership for a legal blogging series. Her corporate resume includes past full-time employment as a Digital News Editor for the Chicago Tribune, a Beat Writer for Sun-Times Network, and a Staff Writer and Web Editor for The Chicago Defender. Her print editing background also includes live events (Feld Entertainment) and K-12 books (Pearson Education), as well as her first job in adult finance education and book licensing when she was the Assistant Copy Editor for Kaplan Financial.
Volunteer
Shamontiel L. Vaughn, CC, PM5, ACB, was a former member of Unity Toastmasters, a community Chicago Toastmasters club. She's held five offices in years' past: President, VP of Education, VP of Membership, VP of Public Relations (two times) and Sergeant at Arms. Shamontiel competed at the division level with a corporate Toastmasters group for the 2018 International Speaking Competition before joining Unity TM. In February 2018, she completed her Competent Communicator certification. In May 2019, she completed Pathways and became Presentation Mastery Proficient. In December 2019, she earned certification in Advanced Communicator Bronze. She was also a yearlong co-host (2019) of Do Not Submit Chicago: Rogers Park. Outside of public speaking, she was the 2020-21 condo association board president and 2021-22 condo board treasurer for her residence.
Learn
This Chicago native graduated Cum Laude from Lincoln University (MO) with a Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing. Shamontiel has also taken graduate school courses at DePaul University in Lincoln Park (Chicago). Her focus areas were writing, communications, Spanish and criminal justice. She is also a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society.
Shamontiel is unapologetically politically active, including promoting and raising money for President Barack H. Obama's presidential campaign and completing canvass assignments for the Affordable Care Act registration. In the past few elections, she's also been an Election Judge, a Key Judge and a Cell Phone Judge. When it comes to social justice and health, she occasionally writes about her 20-year vegetarian (and second-round vegan) lifestyle and volunteering for (now-defunct) charitable organizations such as BEHIV to speak about safe sex, STD and STI testing.
Shamontiel is unapologetically politically active, including promoting and raising money for President Barack H. Obama's presidential campaign and completing canvass assignments for the Affordable Care Act registration. In the past few elections, she's also been an Election Judge, a Key Judge and a Cell Phone Judge. When it comes to social justice and health, she occasionally writes about her 20-year vegetarian (and second-round vegan) lifestyle and volunteering for (now-defunct) charitable organizations such as BEHIV to speak about safe sex, STD and STI testing.
Play
Dance choreography is the most enjoyable form of exercise for her. She's been taking hip-hop dance classes off and on for the past two decades, and is no stranger to Kukuwa Fitness and WERQ dance routines. And yes, she does own a handmade fan and will not hesitate to join you for "Boots On the Ground." From 2019 and onward, she finally mastered meditation (after attending countless vegan and vegetarian cooking events), and a Lincoln University football coach taught her how much fun weight training is. But after adopting her Hound mix, she's as likely to be strolling around Chicago and randomly mumbling, "Get away from that squirrel!" as she would be joining you on the dance floor.
When the Interviewer Gets Interviewed
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