Boyle Heights Beat serves an immigrant neighborhood in East Los Angeles of just under 100,000. Its print edition, produced by youth reporters, is distributed to 34,000 – at homes and apartments, cafes, schools and churches. The Beat came into being in 2010 through a partnership of the USC Annenberg School of Journalism and La Opinión, the Spanish language daily. Today, the Beat is an independent project.
Interested in joining the Beat’s youth team or becoming an adult contributor to BoyleHeightsBeat.com? Write us at editor@boyleheightsbeat.com.
Youth Reporters, Class of 2023-24
Anakin Rivera is a sophomore at Theodore Roosevelt High School. In his free time, he enjoys drawing, playing video games and watching documentaries. In the future, he hopes to explore the field of engineering.
Angela Caliz is a senior at Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School. She loves Hello Kitty and enjoys music, reading, art, photography, and writing. She hopes to attend a four-year university in the future, and is determined to pursue Landscape Architecture, Sociology, or Chicano studies.
Dania Legido is a junior at Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High School. She enjoys painting, writing, and listening to music in her free time. She hopes to attend a four-year university in the near future and explore a career in the theatrical arts.
David Garcia is a junior at Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Highschool. He likes to spend his time going out for runs in the community, listening to music, and hanging out with friends and family. He hopes to major in mechanical engineering and attend Stanford University.
Destiny Ramirez is a junior at Felicitas & Gonzalo Mendez High School. In her free time, she enjoys going to Santa Monica Pier, watching crime documentaries, and playing with her dog. In the future, Destiny hopes to work in the medical field and aims to attend a four-year university.
Edwin Perez is a junior at Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High School. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, watching TV shows, and spending time with friends and family. He hopes to attend a four-year university and find a major he is passionate about.
Emilie Santana was born and raised in Boyle Heights. She goes to PUC eCALS High School where she is currently ASB President. She wants to go to UC Santa Cruz and major in social work. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and exploring the city.
Ethan Fernandez is a senior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School. He enjoys photography, music, and writing. He hopes to attend Occidental College and pursue a career in either journalism or law enforcement.
Ivan Castillo is a junior at Oscar De La Hoya Highschool. He enjoys listening to music, photography and creative writing. After high school he is hoping to attend Cal State Long Beach.
Janelle Quintero is a senior at James A Garfield High School. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends whenever she gets the chance. In the future, she hopes to find a field she is passionate about to explore in college.
Kathryn Mora is a senior at Mendez High School. She enjoys reading, playing chess, and writing. She plans to attend a 4-year university, and to double major in philosophy, and English.
Sofia Peña is a junior at Theodore Roosevelt High School. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, writing stories, drawing portraits, and swimming. She hopes to attend a UC and double major in linguistics and psychology.
Stephanie Perez is a Junior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School. She has interests in editing, and producing podcasts as well as photography and writing. She aspires to attend a four-year university and pursue a career involved in media.
Reana Peña is a junior at Collegiate Charter High School in Boyle Heights. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog and watching movies. In the future she hopes to be a news reporter or work in broadcasting.
