Hello, Livingston!
My name is Ashleigh David-Vasquez, and I am the Co-Founder and Publisher of Living In Parish Magazine.
As we present our very first issue—Hello, Livingston—it feels only right to begin by acknowledging where this story truly starts.
Long before lifestyle magazines, digital platforms, or social media, our family’s connection to Livingston Parish was built inside a newspaper office. The Livingston Parish News, founded in 1898, has documented the life of this parish for well over a century—its growth, its struggles, its celebrations, and its everyday moments. For decades, that paper was not only a business to my family; it was a responsibility.
My grandfather, G. Norman David, purchased the newspaper in 1962 and served as publisher until 1977. His column, Hindsight, reflected his belief that journalism should both preserve history and provide perspective. When he passed unexpectedly, my father, Jeff McHugh David, stepped into the role of publisher at just thirty years old. He led the paper for nearly four decades, from 1977 until 2015, carrying forward the conviction that a community newspaper must serve as both watchdog and record keeper.
Under his leadership, the Livingston Parish News became a trusted voice—one that chronicled births and deaths, Friday night football, parish politics, natural disasters, and recoveries, all with the understanding that local stories matter most when they are told by people who truly know the community.
I grew up in that world. The smell of ink, the hum of the press, stacks of freshly printed papers, and conversations about headlines and deadlines were part of everyday life. By the time I officially began working at the Livingston Parish News in 1996, I already understood that journalism was not glamorous work—it was hands-on, detail-driven, and deeply human. Over the next twenty-one years, I worked through nearly every role in the operation: advertising, graphics, page layout, business office and management. I learned the entire production cycle from the ground up, understanding not just how stories are written, but how they are physically brought to life and delivered into the hands of readers.
That experience shaped how I view media. It taught me precision, accountability, and the weight of publishing something that becomes part of the historical record. It also taught me that local media survives not on trends, but on trust.
My career continued beyond Livingston Parish, including work in commercial printing with Baton Rouge Press and long-standing involvement with the Louisiana Press Association, where I have served on the Contest Committee since 2011. I have spent years evaluating journalism across the country, which only reinforced my belief that strong local media is essential—especially in communities that are growing and evolving as quickly as Livingston Parish.
At the same time, my commitment to community has never left home. Today, I serve as President of Denham Springs Main Street, working to revitalize and protect the historic heart of our city. I have remained involved in civic leadership through organizations such as Leadership Livingston, the Krewe of Denham Springs, and through my role as Commissioner in Charge for local elections. Each of these roles reflects the same belief that guided my family’s work in journalism: communities thrive when people are willing to invest in them.
Living In Parish Magazine was born from that belief. While this publication is different in form from a traditional newspaper, it is built from the same foundation—respect for place, people, and story. Hello, Livingston is our way of opening the door and inviting readers into a publication that honors where we come from while embracing where we are going.
Launching this magazine alongside my daughter is both personal and purposeful. It represents a continuation of legacy, but also a new chapter—one that blends generations, perspectives, and voices. This magazine exists because storytelling is in our blood, because community still matters, and because Livingston Parish deserves to see itself reflected with care, pride, and authenticity.
This first issue is a beginning. And like every meaningful beginning, it is rooted in history.
Welcome to Living In Parish.
Welcome home!
Ashleigh David-Vasquez
Co-Founder & Publisher
Living In Parish Magazine
