Playwright James García combed through records, archives, historical documents and oral histories to craft his one-act play on the Legion, with hopes of it turning into a full-length play in 2027. James García, playwright/journalist. One recurring theme playwright James García kept returning to when researching his upcoming one-act play on the founding of the Phoenix-based American Legion Post 41was that the founders and the community that supported their efforts were after e

Gilbert Bailón, a former high-level editor at major newspapers and in public media, talks with ImpactoAZ about his new role at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gilbert Bailón, deputy director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gilbert Bailón built a successful journalism career that eventually led to top management roles at the Dallas Morning News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Chicago Public Media. Now he's back with an organization that supp

Mark Magaña, founding president of GreenLatinos, shares how his group serves as a convenor to address climate justice issues, particularly in Latine communities. Mark Magaña, founding president & CEO of Green Latinos, a policy and advocacy group dedicated to climate justice issues. In 2012, Mark Magaña and his wife took their months old daughter to see his dying mother in Los Angeles. She was able to see her, hold her and promise to always watch over her. That promise profoun

Community-based participatory research is the lens through which Ada Wilkinson-Lee, Ph.D., conducts her work. That's not always the case in academic research. Associate professor Ada Wilkinson-Lee, focuses her research on community needs. As an associate professor at the University of Arizona's Mexican-American Studies Department, Ada Wilkinson-Lee, Ph.D., is dedicated to conducating research that is needed by her community. While it sounds intuitive, too often academic resea

Many in the Latine community are soul searching after explosive allegations against the late civil rights icon who co-founded the United Farmworkers union, that he sexually abused women and girls. Upper: David Lopez, Distinguished Professor of Practice, Arizona State University law school. Lower: Teresa Puente, journalism professor at Cal State-Long Beach. The New York Times investigative story that documented allegations that C é sar Ch á vez sexually abused women and girls

Valeria Fernández founded Altavoz Lab to support local journalism and create a pipeline of stories critical to those communities. It does by both by giving journalists needed support and resources. Valeria Fern á ndez, founder and executive director of Altavoz Lab. Valeria Fernández knows one of the perils of being a dedicated journalist — burnout. It’s something she experienced after years of covering immigration issues, including the infamous campaign of Maricopa County She

Tom Prezelski's mission is to educate Arizona voters and residents on issues impacting rural areas and the folks who call it home. His current priority is protecting the state's groundwater supply so that agribusiness and foreign interests don't run it dry. Tom Prezelski is the Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Arizona Action. Tom Prezelski current role as Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Arizona Action affords hims a chance to advocate for issues facing rural Arizonans, includ

As the push for diversity and equity in the nation’s English-speaking newsrooms pressed on, the co-anchors delivered and reported on important stories for the nation’s Spanish-speaking communities As I watched María Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos receive the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award from Arizona State University on Tuesday, my feelings welled up into a ball of pride, purpose and nostalgia, with a minor sense of trepidation about the future of journalism. As the first

For the past 10 years, Teresa Puente has been engaged in preparing her students to take on the roles and responsibilities of journalists critical to the functioning of a thriving democracy. Teresa Puente, journalism professor at Cal State-Long Beach. As a Cal State-Long Beach journalism professor, Teresa Puente has been on a mission to develop and train students to become culturally competent journalists with a strong desire to cover underserved communities. The program she's

As an independent journalist, Elvia D í az has covered ICE raids around Phoenix and attended a contentious council meeting on a proposed ICE detention center in Surprise, AZ Elvia D í az, independent journalist and former editorial page editor of the Arizona Republic. When Elvia D í az received a tip that ICE had plans to raid a sports bar and restaurant in central Phoenix, she jumped in her car and headed to the eatery. She arrived even before the ICE agents. She watched the

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance was an important moment in acknowledging that Latinos and Latinidad has been part of this country and continent's experience from days immemorial. Jonathan Higuera, Editor-in-Chief, ImpactoAZ.com , host, ImpactoAZ podcast I wanted to put down my thoughts on the Bad Bunny halftime performance before I opened a single story from any other scribe, critic or talking head. In the moment, I can say I felt more validated as a Latino in th

As head of housing initiatives for Chicanos Por La Causa, Patricia Garcia-Duarte says the situation is getting worse for low- and moderate-income people who want to become homeowners Patricia Garcia-Duarte, executive vice president of Chicanos Por La Causa. Patricia Garcia-Duarte has spent most of her professional life helping low- and moderate-income people become homeowners. In those 38 years, the current situation may be as bad as ever. The opportunities for home ownershi

Eileen Higgins' victory is being touted as a breakthrough for Democrats as voters sour on Trump. But Carlos Miller says despite the hype, it may not translate into a clean sweep for Florida Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections Carlos Miller, freelance journalist and native Miami resident. Eileen Higgins became Miami's first Democrat mayor in 29 years -- and first female in the post ever -- earlier this month. But Miami journalist Carlos Miller says it may not portend a cle

Four friends who met in the 1990s in Washington, D.C., reconnect to share what brings them joy and what's keeping them up at night. Arturo Flores, a longtime educator and currently a fifth-grade teacher in Northern California. ImpactoAZ brought together four longtime friends who met in the 1990s and asked them to share what's on their minds and in their hearts during this current era of Trumpism. The array of topics they discussed ranged from AI and education, to the dehuman

Franc Contreras updates ImpactoAZ on Mexico City's transformation, President Claudia Sheinbaum's popularity and his latest project on his hometown of Tucson. Franc Contreras, Mexico City-based news correspondent and nonfiction filmmaker Mexico City-based journalist Franc Contreras shares his life journey that led him to spending the last three decades based in one of the world’s great cities. Along the way, he gives us his take on how the metropolis has transformed over the y

District 35 candidate John Lira talks with ImpactoAZ about his chances of winning in one of the five GOP gerrymandered districts. John Lira, Democratic candidate for Texas Congressional District 35 The irony of possibly winning a Texas congressional seat redrawn to give Republicans a distinct advantage at the ballot box is not lost on John Lira. The Democratic candidate for District 35 says it would be a sweet outcome, given the chaos and confusion the political gerrymanderin

Whether she's proposing legislation to curb evictions, seeking criminal justice reforms, championing small businesses or advocating for public education, the former journalist turned public servant wants to bring a greater quality of life to her district's residents. State Sen. Analise Ortiz's district covers parts of Maryvale and Glendale in the West Valley. Arizona State Sen. Analise Ortiz (D) considers it an honor to represent a district with the greatest percentage of Lat

Civil rights lawyer David Lopez has some illuminating thoughts on why Bad Bunny is a perfect choice by the NFL to be its Super Bowl halftime entertainer. Hint: think globally. The National Football League's decision to feature Bad Bunny as its 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer has generated backlash from some quarters - mostly because he unapologetically performs using his native Spanish language. Arizona State University law professor David Lopez shares his thoughts on why

As the new Chair, she has plans to make Arizona Democratic candidates strong and viable choices for voters in the 2026 midterm elections When Charlene Fernandez was the House Democratic Leader in the Arizona Legislature from 2019 to 2021, the Democratic caucus grew to 29. It was the closest Democrats had come to reaching parity with the GOP majority in decades. Now she has her sights set on getting there and beyond as newly elected chair of the Arizona Democratic Party. "So w

Ra ú l Aguirre's five decade career spans being a college campus activist, a bilingual radio talk show host, a TV producer, and now a business owner. Along the way, he's been an advocate for the Chicano/Latino communities of southern Arizona. Ra ú l Aguirre, President & CEO of REA Media Group. A look into Ra ú l Aguirre's professional accomplishments is also a glimpse into Tucson's civil and human rights history. He's helped found and co-found numerous groups dedicated to gai