Braids and Moños Bring Back Childhood Memories
Evanelly Aguilar’s Moños de mi Niñez events offer a nostalgic space for healing and cultural connection.
Chantal Vaca
Editorial Content Strategy | Multi-Media Journalism | Curation & Audience Growth
Based in New York City
I am a news reporter specializing in audio and am fluent in Spanish.
I graduated with an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University in May. Previously, I worked as a writer for Esquire Magazine, a correspondent for Latino Rebels and an engagement producer for Illinois Public Media’s statewide news talk show The 21st. I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in journalism.
Latina Teen Body-Shamed by Rep. Gaetz Raises $700K for Abortion Funds
Olivia Julianna, a 19-year-old Mexican-American activist, has raised $700,000 for abortion funds days after being body-shamed by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Twitter.
“I would once again like to thank Matt Gaetz for giving me the opportunity to share this message and to grow my platform so that we can help people get the health care that they need,” Julianna told Latino Rebels. “If Rep. Gaetz would be willing to accept it, I would love to send him a bouquet of flowers, one for every $100,000 we’ve
“I would once again like to thank Matt Gaetz for giving me the opportunity to share this message and to grow my platform so that we can help people get the health care that they need,” Julianna told Latino Rebels. “If Rep. Gaetz would be willing to accept it, I would love to send him a bouquet of flowers, one for every $100,000 we’ve
Where Latino Members of Congress Stand on Abortion Rights
It’s been a month since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and abortion is now banned in at least eight states, including Texas, one of the states with the largest Latino population.
Latinos make up a small percentage of Congress, a little over eight percent. Of the 45 Latinos currently serving in Congress, 18 (40 percent) represent states where abortion is banned, restricted, or expected to have restrictions soon—Alex Mooney (R-WV), whose state had its abortion ban blocked by a judge la
Latinos make up a small percentage of Congress, a little over eight percent. Of the 45 Latinos currently serving in Congress, 18 (40 percent) represent states where abortion is banned, restricted, or expected to have restrictions soon—Alex Mooney (R-WV), whose state had its abortion ban blocked by a judge la
Meet the Latinas Behind a Viral Makeup Trend
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 hit cosmetics especially hard within the beauty industry. Yet, as the world swirled with uncertainty, a Puerto Rico-based makeup brand prevailed.
“The pandemic was beneficial for us because everybody was on their phones, and all of a sudden, online business was way more relevant,” Melodié Rodríguez, founder and owner of By Melolops, told Latino Rebels.
A collection in collaboration with Cutcreaser, a Salvadoran makeup artist based in New York, caught
“The pandemic was beneficial for us because everybody was on their phones, and all of a sudden, online business was way more relevant,” Melodié Rodríguez, founder and owner of By Melolops, told Latino Rebels.
A collection in collaboration with Cutcreaser, a Salvadoran makeup artist based in New York, caught
How Latinos Are Responding to the Overturning of 'Roe v Wade'
When the U.S. Supreme Court denied the constitutional right to an abortion in its decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Friday, thus overturning the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade and scrapping nearly 50 years of federal protections for abortion rights, rage and devastation ensued but not shock.
“It’s not surprising to us,” said Lupe M. Rodríguez, executive director for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. “We have been expecting this for many yea
“It’s not surprising to us,” said Lupe M. Rodríguez, executive director for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. “We have been expecting this for many yea
Chilean ‘Ice Mermaid’ Breaks Swimming World Record
Swimmer Bárbara Hernández Huerta officially holds a Guinness World Record by swimming one nautical mile in 15 minutes and three seconds between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in the Antarctica Region south of her native Chile.
Hernández, nicknamed “Sirena de Hielo” (Ice Mermaid), is part of a small, yet growing number of ice swimmers. Without the warmth of a neoprene wetsuit, these swimmers participate in one of the most extreme adventure sports, dunking their bodies into waters as cold as 41
Hernández, nicknamed “Sirena de Hielo” (Ice Mermaid), is part of a small, yet growing number of ice swimmers. Without the warmth of a neoprene wetsuit, these swimmers participate in one of the most extreme adventure sports, dunking their bodies into waters as cold as 41
What House Democrats Are Saying About Latino January 6 Insurrectionists
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Investigators may never determine exactly how many Latinos participated in the January 6 attempted coup at the Capitol, but court records and videos show that several did indeed play a role.
The most notable is Afro-Cuban Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, who this past Monday was charged with seditious conspiracy, but dozens of other Latinos have also been arrested for playing a part in the Capitol attack, like Emily Hernandez of Sullivan, Missouri. Hernandez h
The most notable is Afro-Cuban Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, who this past Monday was charged with seditious conspiracy, but dozens of other Latinos have also been arrested for playing a part in the Capitol attack, like Emily Hernandez of Sullivan, Missouri. Hernandez h
South Texas Democratic Races Take Another Turn, With Calls of Victories and Recounts
On Monday afternoon, the Texas Democratic Party canvassed its primary runoff results, and the latest has South Texas progressive Michelle Vallejo leading opponent Ruben Ramirez by 30 votes in the 15th Congressional District, while in the South Texas 28th Congressional District, incumbent moderate Rep. Henry Cuellar leads progressive Jessica Cisneros by 281 votes.
Both Ramirez and Cisneros have requested recounts.
“We owe it to the district and the voters of TX-15 to ensure every vote is counte
Both Ramirez and Cisneros have requested recounts.
“We owe it to the district and the voters of TX-15 to ensure every vote is counte
TikTok Helps Drive Retail Rebound in SoHo
A couple of months after the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Abby Price prepared to launch Abbode, her vintage home decor boutique in SoHo. She officially opened the day after she graduated from Parsons School of Design in May 2021.
“The only reason I was able to do it was because of COVID,” she said.
Aside from the sickness and death, the pandemic hit SoHo hard financially, according to Jonathan Apple, a commercial real estate agent in the downtown Manhattan neighborhood. Tourist spending, whic
“The only reason I was able to do it was because of COVID,” she said.
Aside from the sickness and death, the pandemic hit SoHo hard financially, according to Jonathan Apple, a commercial real estate agent in the downtown Manhattan neighborhood. Tourist spending, whic
Not Your Mother’s Nail Tech
Imani Myers quit her $90,000 a year banking job last May to pursue her true calling as a nail artist. Six months later, she opened her studio in Midtown. And today, the 25-year-old makes eight to ten thousand dollars a month.
Myers is one of several up-and-coming self-taught nail artists that began to experiment with nail design during the pandemic. She posted her work online and gained enough traction to open up shop in New York. Cooped up at home during the early months of the pandemic when s
Myers is one of several up-and-coming self-taught nail artists that began to experiment with nail design during the pandemic. She posted her work online and gained enough traction to open up shop in New York. Cooped up at home during the early months of the pandemic when s
Through Community, Lorena Borjas’ Legacy Lives On
In the Colectivo Intercultural TRANSgrediendo office, high on the wall next to the Christmas tree, is a black-framed memorial portrait of the organization’s founder, the mother of the Latinx trans community in Queens, Lorena Borjas. Borjas, who died last year, is drawn carrying a canvas bag in each arm and one across her body. She wears a lanyard and glasses around her neck. She has a set of angel wings in the blue, pink and white colors of the flag, and her right hand is raised in a fist. Above
Proliferation of methadone clinics threaten Harlem’s boom
Over a hundred disgruntled Harlem residents gathered at the corner of 126th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard on a recent Friday afternoon. Many rang cowbells and held homemade signs. Among them was one that read, “HARLEM IS NOT THE HUB FOR DRUGS,” and another read, “Compassion ≠ Complacent.”
They marched towards Marcus Garvey Park and once there took turns decrying the increased drug use and dealing in the neighborhood. One 71-year-old speaker who’s lived in Harlem almost all her life said she ha
They marched towards Marcus Garvey Park and once there took turns decrying the increased drug use and dealing in the neighborhood. One 71-year-old speaker who’s lived in Harlem almost all her life said she ha
This Week in Rent: Highs & Lows Across New York City
If there’s one thing New York City is known for, it’s the extremes. New Yorkers are proud to call the biggest, the loudest, the busiest city their home. More billionaires live in the city than anywhere else in the world, however, it also has the largest homeless population in the United States. It regularly tops the charts for highest city rents but is also the municipal home of the largest public housing development ever built.
This week, the RentWire team took a look at the highest highs and
This week, the RentWire team took a look at the highest highs and
Profile: A political punk’s path to a PhD and tenure
Fueled by the righteous rage of punk, then 16-year-old Mimi Thi Nguyen organized her first protest against the first Gulf War in 1991 outside of her high school’s administration building in the northeastern San Diego suburb Rancho Peñasquitos with seven or eight students during a lunch period while withstanding the yelling crowd of students that surrounded them.
Never afraid to speak up and challenge institutions for the sake of justice, equality and humanity, the questions Dr. Nguyen, professo
Never afraid to speak up and challenge institutions for the sake of justice, equality and humanity, the questions Dr. Nguyen, professo
Grade A rules day for many at UI
Editor's note: This story, much of which appears in Sunday's News-Gazette, was reported and written by University of Illinois journalism graduate students Pramod Acharya, Ramiro Ferrando and Logan Hanson and journalism senior Chantal Vaca, with copy-editing assistance from journalism senior Emily Ward. Their full report, including multimedia elements and a section on how much top grades matter come job search time, is available online at ontheline.web.illinois.edu.
It's finals week at the Unive
It's finals week at the Unive
Audio
The Other Hijacker – Shoe Leather
In 1971, Patrick Critton helped rob a bank as part of a Black separatist group and, to escape capture, became the first person to successfully hijack a plane in Canada.
He spent 30 years on the run until he was arrested and pleaded not guilty on Sept. 10, 2001. Less than 24 hours later, the 9/11 attacks left him as an ironic footnote in history.
“The Other Hijacker” is a story about dedication and pursuit, about how far people are willing to go – and what they’re willing to sacrifice – for the
He spent 30 years on the run until he was arrested and pleaded not guilty on Sept. 10, 2001. Less than 24 hours later, the 9/11 attacks left him as an ironic footnote in history.
“The Other Hijacker” is a story about dedication and pursuit, about how far people are willing to go – and what they’re willing to sacrifice – for the
Amazon Labor Union Won the Election, Making History as the First Amazon Facility to Unionize in the U.S.
Text and audio production by Soo Min Kim and Chantal Vaca
Chris Smalls formed an independent Amazon Labor Union(ALU) after being fired from the company in early 2020. March 25th, 2022. (Photo by Soo Min Kim for NY City Lens)
Thousands of Amazon employees on Staten Island lined up to vote on whether to join an independent union on Friday, March 25th, at the JFK8 warehouse parking lot. According to the released election result on April 1st, the majority of employees have voted to join a worker-l
Chris Smalls formed an independent Amazon Labor Union(ALU) after being fired from the company in early 2020. March 25th, 2022. (Photo by Soo Min Kim for NY City Lens)
Thousands of Amazon employees on Staten Island lined up to vote on whether to join an independent union on Friday, March 25th, at the JFK8 warehouse parking lot. According to the released election result on April 1st, the majority of employees have voted to join a worker-l
TikTok Host Helping Move People To Peoria
A woman on Tiktok has named herself as Peoria’s “fan girl” and has been posting videos of affordable houses in town for sale. She starts off each of her housing videos the same way before showcasing pictures of the house that are listed online. It’s been about a year since she started posting these videos, and since then, she's gained thousands of followers and says she knows of more than 20 people who’ve moved to Peoria.
Angie Ostaszewski, self-named Peoria “Fan Girl” and Creator of Angie's Li
Angie Ostaszewski, self-named Peoria “Fan Girl” and Creator of Angie's Li
Bill To Ban Hair Discrimination In Schools
Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) wants to withhold funding from schools that apply dress codes to hairstyles. Simmons says policies that ban certain hairstyles in schools are outdated. He said he thinks schools will want to be on the right side of history if the amendment to SB817 becomes law. We talked with Simmons and the mother of a student who was ordered to take out his braids by at school.
Ida Nelson, mother of son forced to take out braids at school
#SB817, which bans hai
Ida Nelson, mother of son forced to take out braids at school
#SB817, which bans hai
Keeping Women Out of Prison
In 2018, the Women’s Justice Institute in Chicago convened hundreds of women — including experts, researchers, advocates and those who'd been incarcerated — to form the Statewide Women’s Justice Task Force of Illinois.
The task force, said to be the first of its kind, recently released a lengthy report (web / pdf) examining the incarceration of women in Illinois and outlining a path to reducing the number of women in prison.
The task force, said to be the first of its kind, recently released a lengthy report (web / pdf) examining the incarceration of women in Illinois and outlining a path to reducing the number of women in prison.
Bringing Drag to Spirituality in Bloomington, IL
Isaac Simmons, also known as Ms. Penny Cost, is the first drag queen put forward as a candidate for the ministry in the United Methodist Church — also the first openly gay man put forward in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. The 21st spoke with him about bringing drag to spirituality in Bloomington, Illinois.
Isaac Simmons, Director of Operations at Be Hope Church in Bloomington, IL, first drag queen put forward as a candidate for the ministry in the United Methodist Church & the first open
Isaac Simmons, Director of Operations at Be Hope Church in Bloomington, IL, first drag queen put forward as a candidate for the ministry in the United Methodist Church & the first open
NFT Art with Illinois Artists
Various forms of digital art can be sold as a “non-fungible token," including a GIF of the iconic 10 year old meme, Nyan Cat — this is a cat with a Pop-Tart for its torso flying through space with a rainbow trailing behind it, which recently sold for 300 Etherium, which is worth more than 613-thousand dollars. The Nyan Cat NFTs sold for a lot, but it’s picket change compared to the much hyped, record-breaking sale of an NFT artwork by the artist Beeple. It’s called "Everydays: The First 5000 Day
Asian Women: The Toll of Decades of Dismissal
Sexism, racism and invisibility have targeted Asian American women for decades. Today on The 21st, Asian women talk about finding their voices and power after decades of dismissal. We were joined by a licensed clinical psychologist in Urbana and the executive director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community in Chicago to talk about the history of anti-Asian sentiment in America and some solutions that may help change minds.
Help shape our coverage on The 21st by joining our tex
Help shape our coverage on The 21st by joining our tex
How TikTok Is Helping Combat Period Poverty
Just a couple of months into the coronavirus pandemic, two college best friends from Illinois came together on a venture to collect and donate bras and tampons to women who need them. With the power of the popular video social media platform TikTok, they’ve managed to expand their venture from a pandemic project to a non-profit with volunteers across the country that are working to combat period poverty.
Period poverty is a public health crisis that affects low-income women across the country,
Period poverty is a public health crisis that affects low-income women across the country,
Illinois Breweries Cope With COVID-19, Can Shortage
We are quickly encroaching upon the one year mark since the sudden closure of all bars and restaurants across the state because of COVID-19 restrictions. Overnight, keg sales were put on pause for the indefinite time being. As breweries diverted their beer to cans early in the pandemic, by the time we reached summer, there were signs of a can shortage. As the demand has persisted, so has the shortage, and is expected to linger, at least for the first half of 2021, and has pushed some breweries t
Instacart, Organized Labor, and the Gig Economy
Since the pandemic began, a lot of people have been avoiding crowds by relying on delivery services for takeout and groceries. One of the most popular grocery delivery services is a multi-billion dollar company called Instacart. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, a group of Instacart employees in Skokie, Illinois voted to unionize with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546. That chapter of the UFCW represents around 25,000 workers in Illinois and Northwest Indiana, across a
How COVID-19 Hurts Women More
The coronavirus pandemic threw a curve ball at parents across Illinois this year. As schools and child care centers began to close in March and April, parents were suddenly forced to juggle their work, Zoom school and 24/7 child care. With children at home and more household responsibilities, working mothers in particular have had to reduce their job hours or walk away altogether — that is, if they didn’t lose their jobs because of the pandemic.
The 21st explores the disproportionate economic t
The 21st explores the disproportionate economic t
Latinx, Latino, Hispanic: How Do You Identify?
Over the decades, Hispanic and Latino have been the most prominent labels used to describe the U.S. population of people who trace their roots to Latin America and Spain. Within more recent years, Latinx has been introduced as a gender-neutral label for the Latino and Hispanic community and has been used by universities and news organizations. A Pew Research study in August revealed "Latinx" was used by just 3% of U.S. Hispanics.
The 21st was joined by a panel of guests to talk more about the u
The 21st was joined by a panel of guests to talk more about the u
Video
Everything You Should Know about NYC Bagels
NY City Lens illuminates the rich and varied life of New York City—borough by borough, neighborhood by neighborhood, one good story at a time. It is produced by students at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. The site is staffed by students in the City Newsroom
New Faces in the Mix
Last Saturday, Bassel Al-Rahim performed their first ever DJ set at Mood Ring. The bar is one of the most popular in the Bushwick electronic music scene with a policy that doesn’t allow an all-male lineup.
“There is a fundamental lack of representation of queer and trans people – and especialy queer and trans people of color – in electronic music live events in the city,” said Al-Rahim. “Breaking into it is really tough.”
Al-Rahim was one of three DJs that performed at a She.They.DJ event held
“There is a fundamental lack of representation of queer and trans people – and especialy queer and trans people of color – in electronic music live events in the city,” said Al-Rahim. “Breaking into it is really tough.”
Al-Rahim was one of three DJs that performed at a She.They.DJ event held
What Do Residents Do in New York’s Wealthiest Neighborhoods?
We were at the wealthiest neighborhoods in NYC.
Here is what the residents do for a living!
Here is what the residents do for a living!
360º: Japan House at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Experience the student experience at Japan House today!