Conecta Arizona is an innovative nonprofit news organization committed to the communities they serve, both in the United States and across the border in Mexico (especially in Sonora). The Hispanic, migrant, border community serves as the base of Conecta Arizona’s service journalism, which focuses on audience listening and offering essential resources.
What advice would you give other women journalists who are aspiring towards news entrepreneurship?
Keep dreaming even with your eyes open and truly believe that you are enough. Embrace your identity and celebrate it. Being true pays off. Work harder and smarter, and celebrate small wins. Ask for help, delegate and trust. Never, never, never shrink to fit. You can always build your own table. And enjoy, embrace the sense of humor, have fun. Life can be miserable if we forget that we are here to play.
Who are the women who have inspired you in your journalism and entrepreneurship journey?
My mom, my very good friends and colleagues that have been a great resource for me as a persona, as a journalist and as a leader. Valeria Fernández, Dawn García, Silvia Rivera, Kate Maxwell, Paola Jaramillo and many, many more.
Is there any coverage of women’s issues that you’re proud of?
We are working on a couple of great stories about our very powerful Latinas in the border region. We will dedicate a radio show to honor them and to amplify their fight. But we have done great work already highlighting Las Mujeres de Conecta Arizona and other famous women in history. Our editorial pieces on el Día de la mujer are always very popular and generate conversation around the many contrast in our lives.
READ MORE: How the heart of Conecta Arizona beats on WhatsApp
Better To Speak is a movement media platform for young and emerging Black storytellers working to transform silence into language and action. Through content, community engagement and communications, Better to Speak works to amplify the voices and stories of Black people and communities, equip their peers with storytelling tools and cultivate a cultural narrative of self-actualization.
Who are the women who have inspired you in your journalism and entrepreneurship journey?
All of the Black women who have contributed to Better to Speak – either as a contributing writer, volunteer or team member, and/or podcast interviewee, all inspire me so much! I have loved engaging everyone’s stories and ideas over the past nearly seven years, and I’ve learned and continue to learn so much about how to be a better storyteller and writer myself — but, more importantly, about how to work toward being the best publisher I can be to keep this platform available and successful for them to be seen and appreciated through our small corner of the internet.
Is there any coverage of women’s issues that you’re proud of?
I’m really proud of our recent stories on Black women and femme survivors, “The color of victimhood: Believing survivors is only the first step.” As well as our stories that highlight the importance of empowering young Black girls’ voices: “We need to stop shaming young Black girls who love to talk” and “Ghanian filmmaker Claudia Owusu wants Black girls to ‘leap into the sky.'”
Artisan Joy is an independent magazine and online media outlet that features stories about creative entrepreneurs from an array of artistic disciplines. Artisan Joy actively prioritizes and features creative entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and artistic disciplines.
Who are the women who have inspired you in your journalism and entrepreneurship journey?
I started my journalism journey in high school, and the school’s newspaper advisor, Mrs. Buehler, who is no longer with us, supported my career from high school and beyond. My writing colleagues-turned-good-friends, Susan Ring, Jamie Coelho and Liz Deslauriers, have supported me in my entrepreneurial journey, and they inspire me to keep moving forward.
There is another woman who is the reason I could hire Indiegraf. Soon Hagerty, Founder & President of the Boundless Futures Foundation, saw the positive impact Artisan Joy has on creative entrepreneurs by promoting their small businesses and gave me a grant to continue our mission.
What advice would you give other women journalists who are aspiring towards news entrepreneurship?
Find support for your endeavor, such as local business networking groups, and women’s networking groups. Also, seek out training and resources specifically for news entrepreneurs.
