Desert Sun biz reporter Daniels leaves for nonprofit

Melissa Daniels, a business reporter for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, California, is leaving to join a non profit.

Daniels is becoming communications manager for Life to Rise, a Coachella Valley nonprofit that’s working on housing and economic opportunity efforts to ensure all residents are healthy, stable and thriving.

Daniels will coordinate with community-based organizations and partners to ensure continuity in Lift to Rise’s work and mission throughout the entire Coachella Valley region. 

“Constant updates are crucial in making our efforts a success,” said Lift to Rise CEO Heather Vaikona in a statement. “We are grateful to welcome Melissa to the Lift to Rise team, whose experience and passions meet our vision and goals.”

Daniels has been with the paper since August 2019. Since March 2020, she covered the economic fallout of the COVID pandemic.

She previously worked at Report for America and spent two years at Law36o in its Los Angeles bureau.

Daniels also covered transportation and state government for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.