Born and raised in Philadelphia - "North Philly to me!'' - Ms. Amos graduated from 12 years of Catholic elementary and high school into Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, where she achieved a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in economics. Those subjects came in handy over her reporting career at the Grand Rapids Press, Orlando Sentinel, Detroit News, St. Petersburg Times and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"I've spent most of my life sticking my nose where some people think it doesn't belong. In the process I seek to shine light on the dark places of secrecy in our society and economy and at the same time, hopefully, help people to help themselves and others. This column is one way I hope to fulfill this life's mission. Instead of just sticking my nose in, though, I'm also offering my two cents. I hope people feel it's worth it.''

E-mail: damos@enquirer.com; phone: (513) 768-8395; fax: (513) 768-8340; mail: Dee Amos, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202.

S E P T E M B E R   2 0 0 3
•Longtime cashier is sold on union membership
•How many more Javontays must die?
•Real-life 'Drumline' playing at Taft
•With a nickel here and there, Ky. taxes creep up
•2-year steppingstone to college lost in UC shuffle
•50,000 white cards, no good answers
•Take a tour of two very different elementary schools
•Where Lynch lives matters; family life doesn't
•As it turned out, SARS wasn't the threat

A U G U S T   2 0 0 3
•Parents, schools share blame for low attendance
•Homeless man plans to stay that way
•Black Family Reunion needs parents to stick around
•Owners say homes 'lakeside' to sludge pond

J U L Y   2 0 0 3
•When you need a helping hand, Cincinnati Works
•Over-the-Rhine task force needs more involvement
•School expects more - And students achieve it
•Young violinist is black, American and talented
•Scholarship cuts: 100 fewer incentives to achieve
•City's Convergys deal gives too much, gets too little
•Norwood's growth swirls around reluctant couple
•Fathers commit selves to learning how to nurture
•Will new group let public in on downtown decisions?
•Kids playing with fireworks are going to get burned

J U N E   2 0 0 3
•Funk returns to Cincinnati for Cameo appearance
•Music festival deserves corporate Cincinnati's help
•Kaleidoscope of friends biggest lesson of college
•Losing child-care help could keep some workers home
•Substitute parenting - A father figure for foster kids
•Canceled concert - Station takes on Etta James with lawsuit
•Beyond bicycle theft - Bullies look out: You can be bullied, too
•Was prison punishment or revenge?
•It takes a village - That can-do attitude alone isn't enough
•Anti-loitering drug law has serious flaws

M A Y   2 0 0 3
•Not born to privilege? Think again
•Targeting racism - New ads make America face discrimination
•Three strikes - Repeat offenders targeted
•License to panhandle - Culling bad beggars from good ones
•Wake up, lawmakers - School gets A for saving child's life
•Drug dealers ticked off by complaints
•Wake up! - We're living in our own 'Matrix'
•Neighborhood power - A vote for elections by district
•Perseverance pays - Parents of 5 gut out XU degrees
•CPS bond issue - District must prove it can handle funds
•CPS levy - Volunteers battle low turnout
•Real-estate 'investors' up to no good
•FOP wants out - Collaborative jammed in racial politics

A P R I L   2 0 0 3
•A second chance - Helping others is his salvation
•Covington Diocese named - Priest named in suit tough to track
•Wyoming hurting - High achievers learning to live with loss
•Slavery of crime - We must face down the killers
•Slavery of crime - We must face down the killers
•In harm's way? - Police horse a magnet for controversy
•All His children - Joined in the presence of our God
•The Twitty probe - A waste of time, talent, resources
•A fragmented front - Boycotting within the boycott

M A R C H   2 0 0 3
•Protecting the innocent - Many of our kids live in war zone, too
•Safety net - Dohn school struggling to help kids
•A question of support - Budget cut would hurt veterans
•The real story - Black Front left agreement for good cause
•No simple solution - Quick war spells success - or does it?
•The 14th Amendment - Ohio finally joins the rest of the U.S.
•Boycott or not - It's time we all start listening to one another
•What really matters - Trucker put another's life above all else
•Over-the-Rhine needs more than face lift
•Earned but unclaimed - Helped offered for taxpayers to get refunds
•Kids and crime - Track down guns as well as the drugs

F E B R U A R Y   2 0 0 3
•Belated appreciation - Mr. Rogers was grown-ups' neighbor, too
•Ex-cons as neighbors - Turning life around now a lot harder
•Sex-change lawsuit - Which cops lack command presence?
•Homeland security - Terror plan or not, I'm still nervous
•Fighting winter blues - Picture this inspirational cow for relief
•Contribution chopped - Charity begins cuts at HOME
•Against all odds - Questions remain in l shooting
•Scars of racism still sear - Little Rock memories echo here
•Retiree's life turned upside-down
•Anti-hate laws - Some need to be told the obvious
•14th Amendment - Ohio needs to plug a loophole

J A N U A R Y   2 0 0 3
•Little progress - Strong mayor's speech ignored the 'B' word
•A question of college - Too much of a good thing deprives all
•What's black and white and loved?
•Community initiative - New plan could make a difference
•Fighting prejudice - An open heart can open minds
•'Peace over profits' - Businesses miss the point of symbolism
•Affirmative action - Let's face it, playing field is never level
•Fighting bigotry - Blatant or inadvertent, slurs are slurs
•T-shirts show pride in police work
•Blessing denied - Southern Baptists have long way to go
•Teen sex - Turning up the volume to sell abstinence
•'Hanging yourself' - Breakfast boycott takes toll
•Greg Freeman was part of the solution
•Some awards come with a big price

A R C H I V E :
• 2002 columns