the raffish

raff•ish (adj.) Characterized by winsome unconventionality; possessing qualities that are engagingly disreputable; attractively offbeat or unorthodox. To invoke Walt Whitman, we contain multitudes. As lovers of language, we appreciate its vitality, the ability of words to transcend meaning and usage. This word, cobbled over time and place, expresses the nuance and juxtaposition that fascinates us. It resonates with our effort to celebrate that which has been disparaged, empower those who have been disenfranchised, and chronicle the diverse human experience. We believe that storytelling is essential to building healthier communities, and that by sharing our stories we can effect a more compassionate and equitable world. the raffish was established in 2017 by Caitlin Davis and Justin McKee, who'd met the previous year while living in New Orleans, Louisiana. Caitlin grew up in a particularly diverse suburb of Chicago, Illinois, with a family of keen thinkers that saw their fortune change dramatically after the housing crisis of ’08. She’d been enrolled at DePaul University studying communications but was forced to withdraw to help support her family who ultimately lost their home, sending Caitlin on a turbulent journey to self-sustainment. Justin was raised in Northern California, by an immigrant family of community-minded storytellers. Following the 12th grade, he followed a wayward muse that saw him traveling to play music on seedy street corners and at posh cocktail parties, freelance writing whilst toiling in a Tango bar and working as a sign painter. Both have lived comfortably and without a roof over their heads, leading lives that informed their passion for celebrating diversity, community, and storytelling. Once in New Orleans, they collaborated to fuse their passions and create the raffish.