Reporting on arts, culture and equity with care to queer and diasporic communities.
(also check out my video and photojournalism under the visuals menu)
Arts & culture
SoCal’s big ‘poetry Coachella’ is back — and more sprawling and diverse than ever | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – December 15, 2022
Sights set on No Nazar | PDF
Jr Hi the Magazine – November 10, 2022
Exhibit reveals role of Black Americans in shaping film industry: ‘This history has never been shown’ | PDF
The Guardian – August 19, 2022
Photo Essay: Nisei Week Celebrates Its 80th Year In-Person | PDF
KCET – August 17, 2022
‘Minding my people’s business’: An acclaimed Sudanese American poet makes a home in L.A. | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – July 20, 2022
The Black performance poetry impresarios of Long Beach | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – April 14, 2022
Here’s what bell hooks’ friends and colleagues want you to remember about her | PDF
National Public Radio – December 29, 2021
After COVID lockdowns, an essential L.A. community reemerges: the poets | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – September 8, 2021
Queer stories
Our experience counts as knowledge: ‘Brown and Gay in LA’ goes beyond West Hollywood | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – October 5, 2022
L.A. Pride’s hottest new club is a queer open-mic night | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – June 20, 2022
Opinion: Harry Styles isn’t the leader of a fashion revolution, but neither is Billy Porter | PDF
National Public Radio – October 20, 2021
Opinion: Fear mongering around sports conceals discrimination against the trans community | PDF
Not WeHo, but East L.A.: A new ‘Queer Mercado’ creates an inclusive, safe space, for LGBTQ-owned small businesses in the barrio | PDF
L.A. Taco – September 20, 2021
Labor, housing, transportation and equity stories
How Genwa Korean BBQ Workers Won A Groundbreaking Union Contract | PDF
Next City – August 16, 2022
Opinion: Asians in Arcadia against homeless people? It’s complicated | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – July 1, 2021
Opinion: Expanding college access in California means prioritizing its most vulnerable students | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – June 25, 2021
Opinion: Removing Metro fares will make public transit accessible, but it won’t fix bad service | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – June 14, 2021
Prison Education Program empowers education within the incarceration system | PDF
The Daily Forty-Niner – December 4, 2020
Meet the CSULB recipients of the Sally Cassanova Pre-doctoral Scholars Program | PDF
The Daily Forty-Niner – October 19, 2020
Personal & reported essays
I found comfort in my body in a place I didn’t expect: The boxing gym | PDF
The Washington Post – June 6, 2022
New to poetry? These poets will help you get started | PDF
The Los Angeles Times – September 9, 2021
Music Reviews
Jett Kwong, ‘Jasmine’
National Public Radio – June 2, 2022
Bohan Phoenix, ‘New York Made Me’
National Public Radio – May 9, 2022
Priya Ragu, ‘Illuminous’
National Public Radio – March 17, 2022
Polartropica, ‘GIVE THEM HELL (Serial Killer Slayer)’
National Public Radio – February 2, 2022
Raveena, ‘Rush’
National Public Radio – January 27, 2022
Media Criticism
Q&A: Johana Bhuiyan | PDF
The Objective – October 28, 2022
Q&A: Caitlin Dickerson | PDF
The Objective – September 2, 2022
Jireh Deng 