Rachel Dissell

I'm a reporter for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, where I've worked since 2002. For most of my career I've worked on justice system issues, including investigating and change-making pieces on sexual assault, teen dating violence, the juvenile justice system. Many of my stories have led to changes in laws or police department policies, including a series of stories lead to more than 5,000 sexual assault kits being tested and more than 500 indictments in unsolved cases, some two decades old. My recent lead poisoning reporting with colleague Brie Zeltner alerted the community to the woeful job the city was doing to respond to and prevent the toxin causing damage to the city’s most vulnerable children. I also teach at Kent State, my alma mater. I live in Cleveland with my husband Tim, photojournalist and kids Otto and Willa and niece Angelisa.

Articles

Dear Cleveland: Photos by Air Rodgers, 16

Community & Public Health

Health Equity & Social Justice

Children & Families

Healthcare Systems & Policy

Dear Cleveland: Photos by Air Rodgers, 16

This story was produced as part of a larger project led by Rachel Dissell and Brie Zeltner, participants in the 2018 National Fellowship....

Environmental Health

Photo of Cleveland's skyline from Edgewater Beach by Adora Ezepue

Health Equity & Social Justice

Community & Public Health

Children & Families

With honesty, openness and creativity, area youth share their reality through art: Dear Cleveland

This reporting is supported by the University of Southern California Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship.

Race and Equity

Poverty and Class

Environmental Health

Tim Harrison, Special to The Plain Dealer

Health Equity & Social Justice

Community & Public Health

Dear Cleveland: Training with police gave us a new perspective, but we still have questions

"My neighborhood has too many candlelight vigils for victims of police brutality or from neglect or incompetence from law enforcement who were not around enough to prevent the situations in the first place."

Community Safety

Health Equity & Social Justice

Dear Cleveland: Help us improve police relations and our "life skills"

Cleveland youth shared this week personal stories to underscore the importance of the projects they proposed to police, community and nonprofit leaders in their city.

Race and Equity

Corrin Cooper, 16, speaks to various leaders in the community at League Park in Cleveland, OH, Monday, April 30, 2018. Cooper is

Health Equity & Social Justice

Community & Public Health

Children & Families

Healthcare Systems & Policy

Dear Cleveland: Help us improve police relations and our "life skills"

This reporting is supported by the University of Southern California Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship.

Patient Safety and Ethics

Health Equity & Social Justice

Dear Cleveland: We're ready to talk, will you take us seriously?

As part of The Plain Dealer's "Dear Cleveland" series, the newspaper is bringing young voices to the forefront of the community conversation.

Race and Equity

Health Equity & Social Justice

Empowering Youth, Exploring Justice founder says there's "power" in hearing young voices

This reporting is supported by the University of Southern California Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship....

Coming together to pinpoint Cleveland's problems and propose solutions: Dear Cleveland

The 18 young people first came together in November meeting over five Saturdays, and time in between, with the ultimate goal of making recommendations to Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams, representatives from the Cleveland Indians, and a host of other city and community leaders.

Health Equity & Social Justice

Dear Cleveland: To learn, you first have to listen

A new project from The Plain Dealer will listen to the voices of Cleveland children sharing what it's like to grow up, play, go to school and live in this city — and what needs to change. But some early reader responses have been troubling.

Race and Equity