Olivia Paschal

Staff Reporter

Olivia is a staff reporter with Facing South whose work focuses on democracy, money in politics, the census, and agriculture. She previously worked at The Atlantic and was a Facing South intern in the summer of 2017. Her reporting has also appeared in Scalawag, Southerly, and Civil Eats, among other outlets. Olivia holds a bachelor's degree in history from Yale University.

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Articles by Olivia

Economy

Pandemic closures complicate life for the unbanked

By Olivia Paschal

April 3, 2020 - The South has the nation's highest rate of unbanked people, a population that's always economically vulnerable. It's especially true in the time of coronavirus.

Politics

Bloomberg 2020 organizers sue campaign after layoffs

By Olivia Paschal

March 24, 2020 - The campaign laid off hundreds of staffers this month, despite its promises to keep them employed through the November election. Now several organizers who worked in states including Florida and Georgia are suing.

COVID-19 exposes the precarious state of rural health care in the South

By Olivia Paschal

March 19, 2020 - The global coronavirus pandemic lays bare the existing problems in health care systems that were already stretched to the breaking point.

Politics

Two Southern states could have redistricting commissions on the 2020 ballot

By Olivia Paschal

March 12, 2020 - Arkansas and Virginia would be the first Southern states to have citizen-led redistricting commissions draw their legislative and congressional districts. Advocates hope it will help put an end to partisan and racial gerrymandering.

Politics

How the last presidential election changed rural organizing in the South

By Olivia Paschal

March 6, 2020 - The 2016 election made it clear that neither political party was going to invest in rural Southern communities for the long haul. So the people living there decided to do it themselves.

Politics

VOICES: 'In this crisis, we're going to figure out who we are'

By Olivia Paschal

February 21, 2020 - Jim Wallis, a theologian and founder of the progressive Christian community Sojourners, recently spoke in North Carolina on the topic of "Reclaiming Jesus." Facing South caught up with him to discuss the current political moment, the Christian church's racial divide, and how the nation's changing demographics are also changing religion.

Politics

INSTITUTE INDEX: Will presidential candidates pay attention to the South?

By Olivia Paschal

February 10, 2020 - With the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday coming up soon, some Democratic presidential candidates are turning their resources to the South — yet some states in the region are being almost entirely ignored.