Marisa Kwiatkowski is a 2005 graduate of Grand Valley State University. She and her colleagues at the Indianapolis Star were behind the investigative reporting that provided the first comprehensive look at the systematic problems at USA Gymnastics.

Kwiatkowski will speak about this story and the impact of investigative journalism at an event at GVSU on March 26.

Kwiatkowski told GVSU she hopes to demonstrate the power of journalism and its role in explaining and uncovering complex systems during her presentation.

She said the power of her team's investigative reporting to make change is based on being able to understand how systems work, but also learn how they break down.

Kwiatkowski said the Nassar story took two years to come full circle, including a year of working exclusively on the investigation with her colleagues Tim Evans and Mark Alesia. The biggest challenge was getting straight answers from USA Gymnastics. She said she also hopes to demonstrate the power of giving a voice to the voiceless.

The event is titled "Local Reporting, National Impact: Marisa Kwiatkowski on Breaking the USA Gymnastics Story." It will take place on Monday, March 26, at 6 p.m. at Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium in Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids.

This event is free and open to the public

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