Blog | ImpactoAZ

Mexico City-based Journalist Dishes on Three Decades of Reporting in Latin America

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

6 days ago

Can a Texas Democrat Win a GOP Drawn District? John Lira Thinks So

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

Dec 10

AZ Sen. Analise Ortiz Shares Her Commitment to Community

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

Dec 2

ASU Law Professor Talks Bad Bunny, Linguistic Diversity and the NFL's Global Dreams

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

Nov 10

Meet the New Arizona Democratic Party Chair -- Charlene Fernandez

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

Nov 6

A Chicano Broadcast Pioneer Talks Politics, Adelita Grijalva and Community Empowerment

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

Oct 31

The late Susan Carroll's Journalistic Legacy Shared and Explored

Susan Carroll left behind a rich mosaic of stories that humanized her subjects, exposed wrongs, which sometimes led to regulatory change, and brought to light financial malfeasance. Three colleagues share their memories of her. Susan Carroll Award-winning journalist Susan Carroll stories exemplified the role of the media in a well-functioning democracy. Whether it was exposing wrongs, bringing to light dangerous trends that in some cases led to regulatory change, or humanizin

Oct 26

ALMA: Working for Diversity in the Media and Journalism since 1997

The Arizona Latino Media Association has been helping youth become journalists for 27 years and supporting media professionals since the organization was formed in 1997. Two longtime board members discuss the successes and challenges over the years. Al Macias, ALMA president, and Anita Luera, ALMA board member and High School Workshop leader . For many Arizona Latino journalists, the Arizona Latino Media has been a strong source of support, both for the networking and provi

Oct 21

First Things First: Tackling the Readiness Gap for Our Youngest

The state agency First Things First aims to get infants, toddlers and preschoolers ready to learn. First Things First's Angela Rabago shares what parents, child care professionals and policymakers can do to boost that readiness. Angela Rabago, Chief External Affairs Officer for First Things First. In 2006, Arizona voters approved an initiative that led to the creation of First Things First, the state's first publicly funded agency dedicated to early childhood development. An

Oct 14