Editor, Noticias Watsonville
“My default position is wonder,” as adrienne maree brown writes in Emergent Strategy. That sense of curiosity shapes my work and drives my interest in imagining and supporting journalism solutions that advance equity and foster social and economic change. I believe the future of media lies in horizontal, community-rooted, and diverse local news organizations, which is why I feel so proud to be part of Santa Cruz Local’s team as a Noticias Watsonville editor.
When I first visited Santa Cruz and the Pajaro Valley, I immediately felt at home — the influence of the Pacific Ocean makes the landscape very similar to where I grew up in Chile. I came to the U.S. at 30 to attend Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Since then, I’ve reported for El Diario/Prensa in New York City; WHYY, NPR’s affiliate in Philadelphia and FactCheck.org, where I continue to manage our Spanish-language content and partnerships. Along the way, I’ve returned to Chile to teach journalism and to create a community radio station, and spent time in Mexico as a freelance reporter.
I currently live in Philadelphia with my wife and son, who, every time we buy strawberries, scans the box and shouts in approval, “From Watsonville!” I can’t wait to be back in those beautiful fields.