Ashley Alvarado

Fun fact: I’ve got the best job. Every day I get to think about the communities who make up Southern California and strategize ways LAist (formerly KPCC) can more deeply engage, reflect, and serve these new and existing audiences.

Growing up mixed in a predominantly white Northwest college town, I felt unheard and unseen — in my community and in the news I voraciously consumed. Through our engaged journalism, we work to remove barriers for participation and create a welcoming space so that more people have access to the information they need to be their own best advocates.

In our newsroom, that looks like community-centered storytelling shows, participatory photo projects, coverage areas rooted in information needs, and thousands and thousands of Angelenos’ questions answered.

It’s hard (and award-winning) work, but it’s so worth it. Just like the bacon-wrapped hotdogs outside of the Coliseum, which are also always worth it.