Journalist. Copywriter. Editor. Storyteller. Speaker. Essayist. Man About Town.
I may not have a blue verification mark (yet), but I am editor-approved.
“You've got a warm, smooth way of writing that makes it really enjoyable to read.”
— Julie Beck, Family Editor, The Atlantic
“Well, this is gorgeous, Vaughn. Bravo!”
— Margaret Eby, Editorial Lead of Food, Food52
“Your reporting and writing skills continue to bring our publication to the next level.”
— Dahlia Snaiderman, Senior Content Associate, Toast, Inc.
“Vaughn is SO GOOD.”
— Alice Bradley, Former Editor-in-Chief, Lifehacker
SAVEUR
The Unmistakable Caribbean Roots of Lowcountry Cooking
I arrived in Charleston at night, during a downpour. But I ignored the foreboding signs—because less than an hour later, the balmy South Carolina breeze caressed my cheeks, wove its fingers through my beard, and swept me into the newness and excitement of my first visit to the Lowcountry. However, the following morning, I realized this would be a challenging trip. Read more.
PARKITE SPORTS
The Pocket Rocket: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce The Fastest Woman In The World
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce set the pace (literally) for Caribbean female athletes, beginning the dominance of Jamaicans in women’s sprinting. Then she stopped to have a baby; now she’s back and on top of the world. Read more.
THE ATLANTIC
How Our Relationships Affect What We Eat
When couples, families, and friends compromise on their diets, it can lead to devastating fights or creative new food cultures. Read more.
ON THE LINE
How Black Brewers Are Decolonizing The Craft Beer Industry
Only 1% of craft breweries in America are Black-owned. But there's a growing number of Black craft beer brewers working assiduously to make the industry more diverse. Read more.
FOOD & WINE
Why Corn Is A Crucial Part Of The Juneteenth Table
The inclusion of corn in Juneteenth celebrations isn't just a seasonal fluke. The symbolism of the plant as a celebratory food for Black Americans is long and deep. Read more.
SMITHSONIAN
A Brief History Of Jamaican Jerk
It’s more than just a seasoning or a flavor. Jerk is a whole culture worthy of celebrating. Read more.
THE COAST
Making The Case For Black Spaces
Survival-mode shouldn't be the status-quo. The need for Black people to have their own spaces is, in a word, healing. Read more.
LEVEL
There Is No Sympathy For Black Men Struggling With Mental Health
Most times, when someone asks “how are you?” I lie. It’s not that I’m a sociopath, or have a pathological aversion to the truth; it’s that, for a Black man living with depression, those three words are loaded enough to induce angst. Read more.
CARIBBEAN BEAT
Caribbean Identities: A Taste of Home
A family friend recently reminded me that "we are lucky to call home somewhere where people pay to escape their lives for a week." Despite being called the developing world, the Caribbean is rich. In culture, in experiences, in history. The soil our ancestors toiled continues to nourish, and the sun that burnt their backs warms our sea. Read more.
STYLECASTER
Retailers Should Be Committed To Protecting Black Workers
I spent the better part of 10 years in retail management. Although I worked for three different organizations, one thing was consistent—management at all three tolerated racist behavior from both customers and fellow staff members. Read more.
Copywriting
I’m a creative storytelling whiz. Romancing brands by placing clients within their narrative comes naturally to me. I call this emotional cartography because “story is place.” With my words, you’ll engage with current and future customers in an unprecedented way. Simply put, I create copy that sells. Here are a few examples.
HUDSON’S BAY
About: Hudson’s Bay is Canada’s oldest retailer, with 90 stores across eight provinces.Task: To create an email campaign to increase awareness of the Hudson’s Bay personal shopping program available at the flagship location.Solution: Spoke directly to the target demographic who was increasingly younger, affluent, time-crunched, and over-index on demands for personalized service and emotional brand experiences.Our service includes advice on fashion cosmetics and skincare; alterations, gift-wrapping and delivery services; assistance in finding the perfect gift.
Thirty-minute, one-hour, or two-hour appointments available. Shop for an item, an outfit, a seasonal style update, or a complete wardrobe overhaul.
ARTSCAPE FOUNDATION
About: The foundation increases the public’s understanding of arts and culture through the support of community arts and educational programs, access to arts and cultural facilities, and creative placemaking.Task: To promote a high-ticket fundraiser, to support the completion of a creative hub housed in a former school in Toronto’s west end.Solution: Used specific language highlighting an exceptional project and atypical event to appeal to wealthy supporters of the arts.Professional home to some of Canada’s most distinguished artists and arts-based organizations, this adaptive re-use project will honour the former school’s history as a gathering place for learning and discovery.
ELENA DRAGOI
About: Elena is an exceptional fine art photographer based in Chicago who has the “power to transform a scene into visual poetry.”Task: To create SEO-optimized content for the artist’s online business that sells unique, limited-edition prints.Solution: Used poetic language to talk about the artist, her passion, the work that she's most proud of, and her process to keep visitors on the site longer and purchase prints.For me, flowers are the most beautiful subject. They are my portfolio's backbone, the inspiration behind my aesthetic, and the photographs I am most excited to share.
Every year I release a limited collection. Once they are sold out, they will not be reproduced. I want you to feel like you’re holding a moment in time. A moment that was created just for you.
Speaking
Do you moderate panels?
Does punditry come naturally to you?
Are you free to be a guest speaker?
Is that your voice?
________________________
The answer to all those questions is yes. I'm blessed with a sonorous timbre which, is ideal for radio, voice-over work, podcasts, and various public speaking engagements. Have a listen. Who is Vaughn Stafford Gray?
Hello there! Feel free to call me VSG; my friends and colleagues do. I'm a journalist, formerly syndicated columnist and editor, with over 20 years of experience writing about culture, the business of fashion, entrepreneurship, retail, food, music, arts, and travel. _______________
I am an engaging storyteller and possess exceptional communication skills honed in business and academia. I can transform technical jargon into a narrative that general audiences can understand without diluting the brand's voice. I've assisted both established and emerging brands across the fields of fashion, technology, retail, banking, food service, and real estate development in building lifelong relationships with core and extended customer bases by creatively utilizing storytelling as a customer engagement tool._______________
I've also done a lot of work (executive profiles, corporate history, website content, ghostwriting for CEOs, etc.) for communications agencies representing government agencies, renewable energy corporations, and multinationals in the manufacturing space. _______________
Fun fact: I share my birthday with both Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde! In addition to being a trained chef, I have enjoyed careers in the fields of retail, PR, marketing, and event planning. I'm a Malcolm Gladwell superfan and have a storage locker solely dedicated to a collection of books on etiquette and entertaining and back issues of Monocle magazine._______________
I am currently working on a collection of short stories based on my time working in retail (yes, I am seeking a literary agent). And, I'm launching an independent magazine project later this year. _______________
In my spare time, I throw epic dinner parties, lecture people on the virtues of Britney Jean Spears, and avidly listen to podcasts. Frequently I can be spotted running after public transit with a 'murse' in one hand and a coffee in the other.