Mountain View is a complex place -- a diverse Anchorage neighborhood with a long, colorful history and a rough reputation. I call it home, and I publish local news and stories from my neighbors at MtViewPost.com.

Through a partnership with the Mountain View library and numerous local contributors, we’re transforming the website into a magazine. It’s a place to share stories and build community; a hyperlocal spotlight on the issues and experiences overlooked by traditional media. The Mountain View Post blog has received multiple awards from the Alaska Press Club and built a strong network of readers and neighbors. The magazine will help us reach even more people.

The inaugural print issue focuses on neighborhood youth. The average Mountain View resident is around 27, according to census data, and about 30 percent of the neighborhood is age 17 or younger, so we’re building our first issue around the things that are important to them. Basketball. Music. Art, gaming and the future. Our contributors include young illustrators and photographers and writers who share their hopes and dreams and ideas for the neighborhood. The magazine is a megaphone for the community, by the community and about the community.

We won’t stop with one issue, either: We plan on publishing the magazine quarterly, expanding to reach more readers and eventually offering door-to-door delivery throughout Mountain View. For free, of course.