Kayla Spencer

I have five years of experience helping clients demonstrate the value of their brands through authentic and engaging storytelling. While I write and edit content across industries, I am most passionate about issues of sustainability, social justice, and psychology.

Volkswagen Newsroom •

Violinists traveling in a Volkswagen Westfalia bring music to essential workers

Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim usually perform for crowds of several thousand in renowned venues and concert halls. The classically trained artists had plans to record their debut album and tour internationally when COVID-19 changed everything. To continue performing, Gara and Kim knew they would have to take their music out of the concert hall and into the community.
PayPal Newsroom •

From paddock to table, Virginia family farm goes touch-free with PayPal QR Codes

At Long Stone Farm, doing things the old-fashioned way was part of the farm’s rustic charm. The wholesomeness of the Virginia farm, where visitors can meet the Wisch family and watch their livestock graze, began attracting new customers as the COVID-19 pandemic set in. Families from nearby Washington, D.C. discovered the farm as they looked for socially distant getaways and new sources of quality, sustainably produced food.
PayPal Newsroom •

This Olympian turned bakery owner is outrunning the financial impact of COVID-19

At the corner of 27th Street and Central Avenue in Los Angeles sits 27th Street Bakery, a neighborhood staple for over sixty years. Its third-generation owner, Jeanette Bolden-Pickens, was concerned her family’s business might not survive the financial impact of COVID-19 this spring. Now, through community support and a PayPal Empowerment grant, she is optimistic for the upcoming holiday season.
Professional Builder •

The construction industry can slow climate change by enforcing building codes

Most people do not think of their homes or office buildings as major contributors to climate change, but we should not be so quick to overlook them. Our residential and commercial buildings account for about 40 percent of total energy consumption in the United States. Shifting how we design, maintain, and operate buildings is one of the most meaningful ways we can slow the effects of climate change and protect ourselves from it.
PayPal Newsroom •

Has 'quarantine fashion' changed retailers' marketing tactics?

The holidays are typically one of the busiest times of the year for fashion retailers, and with nationally recognized days dedicated to shopping like Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, the end of the calendar year also tends to be the most lucrative. But this year, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession have caused major shifts in consumer behavior that pose uncertainty for shoppers and retailers alike.
Microsoft Education •

How the University of D.C. is working to close the digital divide

Equity has long been a topic in education, but it has risen to the forefront of conversations about learning during the pandemic. Disparities in funding, support, and access to technology have become more apparent as schools have shifted to remote and hybrid education. One institution that stands out in its approach to equity is the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), which provides students and staff with the technology they need to succeed in an increasingly digital workforce.
PayPal Newsroom •

Why retailers need to get proactive – and digital – ahead of the holidays

While crowded malls and long lines may not be in the cards this year, the holiday season is still a critical time for retailers. New research commissioned by PayPal and conducted by Netfluential reveals that many U.S. retailers are taking a reactive, wait-and-see approach to the holidays. Others are being proactive by finding innovative, tech-enabled ways to reach consumers in an online environment.
Professional Builder •

Pittsburgh combats affordable housing shortage with modular, factory-built homes

As Pittsburgh lost much of its population when the steel industry declined, the Rust Belt city saw thousands of homes demolished. There are about 27,000 vacant properties throughout the city that do not contribute to the tax base, resulting in lower property values for surrounding homes. Module, a local start-up modular design and development company, saw the vacant lots as an opportunity to address Pittsburgh’s need for affordable, turnkey housing.