Charlie Kolodziej is a writer, editor and big talker living in Chicago.
Kolodziej’s work has appeared in the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Reader, Block Club Chicago, and the South Side Weekly (among other pubs). They are the co-founder and managing editor of Write That Down!, a quarterly magazine capturing Chicago’s essence by collecting art and artifacts from people who call the city home.
Kolodziej’s journalistic passion lies in telling stories that challenge binary perspectives on people and politics. Their undergraduate research on the rise of LGBTQ+ gun owners, was published in the Spring 2023 issue of the Chicago Journal of Sociology and received an honorable mention at the University of Chicago’s thesis awards. You can read the full paper here.
When they’re not writing, they’re helping support individuals negatively impacted by Illinois’ criminal legal system through their work at Cabrini Green Legal Aid. They also play the drums—ba-dum tsh.
Recent Stories
- “From fast casual to fine dining: 50 years of the American gyro, and a look at the dish’s Chicago history” The Chicago Tribune, July 14, 2025.
- “Unpacking the Past (and the Groceries) With Your Therapist” The New York Times, July 11, 2025.
- “The Rise of Malört, an Unexpected Midwest Princess” The New York Times, November 15, 2024.
- “A Cumbia Renaissance” South Side Weekly, October 11, 2024.
- “Beyond the Walls: Chicago Theaters Build Worlds Outside Prison” Newcity Magazine, May 8, 2025.
- “What does Transvengeance mean to you?” Chicago Reader, June 12, 2024.
- Their full portfolio can be found on MuckRack or on the Writing page.
Charlie Kolodziej 