Sophia is passionate about sports, civil rights, reporting the truth and traveling. She has been involved in student media for seven years, including four years with VCU's independent student press, The Commonwealth Times. In 2017 The CT was named "Best Small, Non Daily"  by the Virginia Press Association. She has fallen in five different countries and aspires to be an SNL cast member but for the time being she is Executive Editor of the CT and working on her true-life novel. 

THE COMMONWEALTH TIMES — RICHMOND, VA Executive Editor | May 2017 - Present

Lead a staff of over 30 editors, writers, photographers and illustrators. Host weekly staff meetings to generate story ideas.Thoroughly edit every article printed in the every section of the newspaper. Create the position of Outreach and Marketing Coordinator Intern. Use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for promotion and advertisement. Work with advertising staff to generate revenue. 

P: (703) 615-9149 E: bellettisr@vcu.edu

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MASS COMMUNICATIONS Major: Print/online journalism Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA  23220 Anticipated Graduation: May 2018

J.E.B Stuart High School Advanced Diploma with IB Certificates Graduation: June 2014

Microsoft Office Apple iOS Adobe (Photoshop, InDesign, Audition, Premier) Social media Photography Copy editing Knowledge of AP Style Journalism  Advertising  Broadcasting Retail Customer service

Creative Reliable and professional Organized Time management Leadership Networking Self-motivation Personable Communication

J O U R N A L I S T

HOMEAID NORTHERN VIRGINIA — CHANTILLY, VACommunications Intern | May 2015 - July 2015

Write and edit campaigns, website material, emails and other media. Research and suggest new ways to reach target audiences.Update social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.Represent and promote organization at networking events.

NORDSTROM — MCLEAN, VASeasonal Sales Associate and Cashier | June 2012 - Jan. 2018

Serve as a clothing consultant.Educate the customer on the department product.Build customer relationships with clients to ensure repeat sales.Maintain the department in a clean and presentable fashion. 

Sports Editor | May 2016 - May 2017

Led weekly section meetings with a team of 10 writers to assist them infinding their angle, writing their stories and contacting their sources.Thoroughly edit every article printed in the sports section.Write editorials and hard news for the sports section.

Staff Writer | Aug. 2014 - May 2016

Write two to four articles a week on a variety of topics within the news, sportsand arts and culture sections.Coordinate interviews and attend events and press conferences.

819 North Harrison Street Richmond, VA 23220

ABC7-WJLA — ARLINGTON, VASports Desk Intern | May 2017 -Aug. 2017

Conduct research to coordinate and administer interviews.Write broadcast scripts and content for online.Assist broadcasters with Facebook and Twitter accounts. 

4/3/18, 10:28 PMYear after ruling, 1 in 6 drivers still has suspended license | WTVR.com

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RICHMOND, Va. – Manassas resident Greg

Ballou was charged with a misdemeanor when he

was 19, and he didn’t have enough money to pay

the fine. As a result, his driver’s license was

suspended.

Nine years later, Ballou, now 28, is thousands of

dollars in debt, and his license has been permanently suspended.

“Everything’s a barrier, and it’s incredibly impossible to have a life at all without a license,”

Ballou said.

Under Virginia law, when somebody is convicted of violating state or federal law and

does not immediately pay the fine, the court suspends the defendant’s driver’s license.

After he lost his license, Ballou said, life went “all downhill.”

“What’s the point?” he asked. “I couldn’t find a job to keep me out of trouble, and from

there, I was bored and had no money.”

Ballou is one of more than 15 percent of Virginia drivers whose licenses have been

suspended due to court debt, according to a report released last week by the Legal Aid

Justice Center.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Last year, then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe asked the General Assembly to discard the

automatic suspension plan, but legislators rejected his request. Last February, though,

the Virginia Supreme Court required all courts to offer all defendants unable to pay court

fines within 30 days deferred or installment plans before automatically suspending their

license.

Year after ruling, 1 in 6 drivers still hassuspended licensePOSTED 12:32 AM, JANUARY 31, 2018, BY CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE

4/3/18, 10:28 PMYear after ruling, 1 in 6 drivers still has suspended license | WTVR.com

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Now Republican Sen. William Stanley Jr. from Franklin County is pushing SB 181 to

eliminate such license suspensions.

It would repeal “the requirement that the driver’s license of a person convicted of any

violation of the law who fails or refuses to provide for immediate payment of fines or

costs be suspended. The bill provides that the Commissioner of the Department of

Motor Vehicles shall return or reinstate any person’s driver’s license that was suspended

solely for nonpayment of fines or costs.”

Stanley said he was seeing a lot of people lose their licenses – not because of driving

violations but because they weren’t able to pay their fines.

“And because of that, it was threatening their ability to work, take their kids to school or

[travel for medical reasons], and they were getting arrested basically for trying to

survive,” he said.

Ballou said he has no choice but to be flexible in his line of work. He said he purposely

designs his life to be able to walk to work and care for his family.

“You really have to battle up hills,” Ballou said. “How the hell am I going to get to work?

How the hell am I going to actually get a job that’s worth going to work for? How are you

going to do all this without a license?”

The Legal Aid Justice Center, a nonprofit group that provides legal services for low-

income Virginians, reported that as of December, there were 974,349 suspended

licenses in the state due at least in part to court debt. Almost two-thirds of the

suspensions were solely for court debt.

“What we can do is ramp up our collection efforts on these fines rather than continually

hurting people who can’t drive and lose their job, and the next thing you know, they’re

not going to be able to pay those fines,” Stanley said. “We’re perpetuating a cycle of

nonpayment instead of encouraging payment or seeking payment.”

The number of Virginians with suspended licenses due to court debt has not changed

much in the past year despite the Supreme Court’s order. In September 2016, there were

977,891 suspended licenses in the state,according to the Virginia Department of Motor

Vehicles.

“It appears that these reforms have done little, if anything, to stem the breathtaking

current of Virginians losing their licenses,” the justice center’s report said. It said that

from November 2016 to last October, an average of 835 more driver’s licenses were

suspended each day due to court debt.

By Sophia Belletti/Capital News ServiceBy Sophia Belletti/Capital News Service

2/7/18, 2:48 PMExperts call for more resources in fighting opioid epidemic - The Washington Post

Page 1 of 4https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/experts-call-for-more-resources-in-fi…07/83235d2a-0c3b-11e8-998c-96deb18cca19_story.html?utm_term=.b1c817c5f8d6

The Washington Post

Local

Experts call for moreresources in fightingopioid epidemic

By By Sophia BellettiSophia Belletti  ||  APAP February 7 at 2:17 PMFebruary 7 at 2:17 PM

RICHMOND, Va. — An average of 19 people a week overdosed on opioids inRICHMOND, Va. — An average of 19 people a week overdosed on opioids in

Richmond last year, and government agencies and other entities haveRichmond last year, and government agencies and other entities have

responded to the crisis in a variety of ways, from dispensing overdose reversalresponded to the crisis in a variety of ways, from dispensing overdose reversal

drugs to arresting addicts.drugs to arresting addicts.

Academic and law-enforcement experts discussed the problem and possibleAcademic and law-enforcement experts discussed the problem and possible

solutions Tuesday in a panel discussion titled “The Opioid Epidemic: Impactsolutions Tuesday in a panel discussion titled “The Opioid Epidemic: Impact

on Communities” at Virginia Commonwealth University.on Communities” at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“It is our problem, and it is our responsibility,” said Kate Howell, an assistant“It is our problem, and it is our responsibility,” said Kate Howell, an assistant

professor at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Publicprofessor at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public

Affairs.Affairs.

“Addiction is not new,” Howell said. “What is new is the drugs are more“Addiction is not new,” Howell said. “What is new is the drugs are more

powerful and affordable than they were in the past and easier to get.”powerful and affordable than they were in the past and easier to get.”

Amy Cook, also an assistant professor in the Wilder School, said there areAmy Cook, also an assistant professor in the Wilder School, said there are

three approaches to combating the epidemic:three approaches to combating the epidemic:

?Expansion of community-based services?Expansion of community-based services

2/7/18, 2:48 PMExperts call for more resources in fighting opioid epidemic - The Washington Post

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?Recovery housing?Recovery housing

?Needle exchange programs?Needle exchange programs

In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly legalized needle exchange services —In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly legalized needle exchange services —

but no program has been implemented in the commonwealth.but no program has been implemented in the commonwealth.

Cook said needle exchanges recognize the multidimensional factors needed toCook said needle exchanges recognize the multidimensional factors needed to

treat addiction. However, she said, there is not a “one size fits all” approach.treat addiction. However, she said, there is not a “one size fits all” approach.

“Were looking at a variety of treatment approaches — community-based,“Were looking at a variety of treatment approaches — community-based,

sociological issues, biological issues,” Cook said. “The key part is, you have tosociological issues, biological issues,” Cook said. “The key part is, you have to

be able to address it all and monitor it all — and when it’s not monitored,be able to address it all and monitor it all — and when it’s not monitored,

that’s where we drop the ball.”that’s where we drop the ball.”

Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard said he uses an “arrest them all”Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard said he uses an “arrest them all”

strategy when it comes to preventing overdoses.strategy when it comes to preventing overdoses.

“There is no other program for them to get the help they need,” Leonard said.“There is no other program for them to get the help they need,” Leonard said.

“At least arresting and bringing them in, they’re alive.”“At least arresting and bringing them in, they’re alive.”

Leonard said he doesn’t want to arrest addicts, but said the resources theyLeonard said he doesn’t want to arrest addicts, but said the resources they

need aren’t accessible in most communities. Through the “arrest them all”need aren’t accessible in most communities. Through the “arrest them all”

strategy, Leonard allows addicts to get off the street and sober.strategy, Leonard allows addicts to get off the street and sober.

“In 37 years, I never saw any drug as harmful, as plentiful, as cheap as“In 37 years, I never saw any drug as harmful, as plentiful, as cheap as

heroin,” he said. “As a state, we’re failing.”heroin,” he said. “As a state, we’re failing.”

The leading causes of unnatural death in Virginia from 2007 to 2013 wereThe leading causes of unnatural death in Virginia from 2007 to 2013 were

motor vehicle collisions, gun-related deaths and fatal drug overdoses. Inmotor vehicle collisions, gun-related deaths and fatal drug overdoses. In

2013, fatal drug overdoses became the leading cause, according to the2013, fatal drug overdoses became the leading cause, according to the

Virginia Department of Health.Virginia Department of Health.

First responders who work with the Richmond Ambulance Authority haveFirst responders who work with the Richmond Ambulance Authority have

seen a spike in the number of opioid overdose patients in recent years. Theyseen a spike in the number of opioid overdose patients in recent years. They

2/7/18, 2:48 PMExperts call for more resources in fighting opioid epidemic - The Washington Post

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estimate using about 1,000 doses of the overdose revival drug Naloxone toestimate using about 1,000 doses of the overdose revival drug Naloxone to

save people’s lives last year.save people’s lives last year.

In November 2016, then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared opioid addiction aIn November 2016, then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared opioid addiction a

public health emergency in Virginia.public health emergency in Virginia.

The opioid crisis has affected people not only in cities but also in suburbanThe opioid crisis has affected people not only in cities but also in suburban

and rural areas, especially in Appalachia. That has made the problem hard toand rural areas, especially in Appalachia. That has made the problem hard to

ignore.ignore.

“It wasn’t a crisis until it hit a group of communities we can’t ignore,” Howell“It wasn’t a crisis until it hit a group of communities we can’t ignore,” Howell

said. “Once it hit our suburban communities, they called it a problem. It setssaid. “Once it hit our suburban communities, they called it a problem. It sets

up this dichotomy where we expect a certain kind of people. Now it’sup this dichotomy where we expect a certain kind of people. Now it’s

different; we say, ‘Oh no, we have to do something.’”different; we say, ‘Oh no, we have to do something.’”

This story was produced by Virginia Commonwealth University’s CapitalThis story was produced by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Capital

News Service.News Service.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material mayCopyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may

not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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