AQEELA STARKS
WHO IS SHE? Aqeela Elisha Amani Latrice Starks is 18 years old and graduated from Big Picture high school Class of 2017. She loves spending time writing and drawing. When she’s not doing that she spends hours playing The Sims 3 and 4 and watching Netflix.
LAUREN BAKER
WHO IS SHE? Lauren Baker is an award-winning illustrator and writer based in the Central Valley, with big dreams of bringing her two passions together to create her own independent publishing company one day. A life-long artist, Lauren first discovered her an interest in drawing playing in her mother’s art supply boxes as a child, and would often recreate many of her favorite stories into little paperbacks of her own. After discovering the wonderful world of the comic book industry, Lauren steered her professional interests in that direction, which led to her stumbling upon journalism–an avenue which has created much of the successes and experiences she has had to date. Lauren started out as an illustrator and ended her college journalism career as Editor-in-Chief, and has gone on to work for multiple publications, including The Know Youth Media. Today, Lauren currently serves as a Mentor and Editorial Illustrator for The Know and as a Publications Coordinator for a local book publishing company.
Elsa Mejía, 26, graduated from the Mass Communication and Journalism department at Fresno State in 2015. She is a 2015 public relations intern in Washington, D.C. through the Institute on Political Journalism program, which is part of The Fund for American Studies.
Esmerelda Soria: Bringing Diversity and a Unique Perspective to Fresno City Council
Far and Near — Reflections on Friendship and Immigration in the Tech Era
Miguel Bibanco, 20, is a long-time member of The kNOw and is always eager to help his community through direct advocacy or journalism. He has worked as a Peer Health Educator with Fresno Barrios Unidos, held an internship with Univision, and is a 2015 fellow with the Dream Summer Program at the UCLA Labor Center. Miguel still contributes when he can.
Cut to Indigent Care Program Would Hit Undocumented Fresnans Hardest
Fresno Unified Students Aim to Remake School Discipline
Colby Tibbet, 27, graduated from the Mass Communication and Journalism department at Fresno State in 2015. His writing has appeared on Vice, Streetsblog, and The California Institute for Rural Studies. He is now a Digital Content Specialist at Banjo, a tech company in Las Vegas.
Kuppajoe Was Safe Place for Artists to Grow
#OneHealthyFresno Campaign Shines Light on Blight
Civic Leaders Discuss Mass Incarceration in Valley
Fresno’s Recyclers Come Out of the Shadows
Karina Guzman, 21, graduated from the Communication department at Fresno Pacific University in 2014. Karina served as an intern at The kNOw in the summer of 2014, where she led team-building activities and mentored younger members while editing their work. She is now the Communications Associate for the Franciscan Mission Service based in Washington, D.C.
FAX Leaves Evening, Weekend Riders Out in the Cold
Antonio Flores, 20, is a Master Control Operator, and Live-Content Producer at Cocola Broadcasting for channels 33.2 and 43.1.
“It’s a day to remember what Martin Luther King did for us as a nation…”
Audio Commentary: Gun Control Legislation
Video: BHC Fresno Celebrates Community Work
Ellen Carretero, 20, is a 4th-year student in Biology at Fresno State. She is a member of Phi Lambda Rho Sorority and wants to be a Primary Care Physician.