Email: saraf@patch.com

Bio: After five years (and more importantly, four winters) in Chicago, I saw the light (and the snowstorms) and moved back to Southern California. I grew up in San Diego, moved to Chicago and graduated from the Medill School of Journalism with an emphasis on newspaper and online reporting in 2010. Before Patch, I reported for the Orange County Register, Interlochen Public Radio, WNUR News, the Better Government Association and the Medill Innocence Project.

When I'm not reporting, I love to explore Los Angeles and train for half and full marathons with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. I also love classical music – before I became a journalist, I studied clarinet performance. If you see me around, please stop me and say hi!

Beliefs: I believe in the power of empathy, understanding and tolerance.

Politics: As a reporter, I'm very interested in politics but I believe in maintaining a rigid separation between my personal politics and my work.