Thirty-year St. Clair County resident Leslie Cieplechowicz has enjoyed several careers over the years, including a volunteer firefighter in Emmett, a paramedic in Detroit, a high school science teacher, and a Schoolcraft College photography instructor.
During Cieplechowicz’s long night shifts as a paramedic in Detroit, she found meaningful and newsworthy stories to share. Adding her passion for photography to the equation resulted in sharing off-the-beaten-path stories that may not have otherwise been heard.
A regular writer with
The Keel, this photojournalist has found a new niche to put her talents to work. In her new role as Community Correspondent, Cieplechowicz will provide her readers with on-the-ground, inclusive stories about the Port Huron area.
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A snowy solitude at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery in Kenockee Township.
This position, made possible through funding from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, will allow her to concentrate on stories highlighting a more diverse part of the community.
“The Community Foundation wants me to focus on the outlying communities in St. Clair County, with a specific interest in stories about the rural community first,” she says. Her work will emphasize the stories more likely to go untold.
Cieplechowicz will also put her visual artistic talents to work in this new role, providing all of her own photography.
In this new endeavor, she believes her experience and love of people will grow and nurture a community that already feels small and known, bringing much-deserved recognition to those who often get overlooked in her beloved hometown.
For more information or story suggestions, email Leslie Cieplechowicz at
4amphotographydetroit@gmail.com.
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