I have a lot of friends who are very disappointed in the outcome of the elections on the state and national level. I am, too, though I can’t be glum because I know this truth: we are the ones who steer our ships. There’s no doubt that our government has an impact on our daily lives. However, we are the ones in control of most of our routines and choices. We vote every day with our wallets and our actions. Elections, and leaders, come and go. Most of our lives are composed of small moments that we decide to have or not have. What’s important is what we do now, and how much we support others in their pursuit of the lives they want to live.
And with that, here’s the intro to Chapter 3 of my novel which is especially appropriate in this time of elections. Emerson and Skylar make their way through the howling wind to The Crooked Willow Cafe—a bit of shelter in the storm.
Skylar, Emerson, and Friday braced against the wind. The harder the wind blew, the closer Skylar and Friday encircled Emerson.
“Who was that woman, Skylar?” asked Emerson into the wind.
“What?”
“Who was that…”
“I can’t hear you.”
The wind was howling now. Trash cans toppled and rolled into the street. Skylar steered Emerson and Friday toward the golden light in the center of the block. Skylar pulled at the door and several burly men stood up from their tables to help her open it. The wind shoved them all into the warmth of The Crooked Willow Cafe.
“I thought we were going right home,” said Emerson.
“And miss our snack?” said Skylar. Her eyes twinkled and it was easy to see how she and Jasper were related.
They settled into their favorite table in the corner by the immense stone fireplace. Friday laid down in his usual warm spot on the hearth. Emerson looked at Skylar with piercing eyes. Skylar tapped the table; The quote etched into it read, ‘I am a willow of the wilderness, Loving the wind that bent me. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson’
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
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