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Tommy Correa
Editor-in-chief
Saludos a todos. I am a third-year English major. I joined La Gente in Fall 2022 as a freshman and spent my first two years as part of the visuals and writing teams. I love all things creative, and La Gente has given me the space to pursue artistic endeavors outside of the classroom. También soy chismoso, and I wanted to use my skills for good.
Outside of La Gente, I am involved in the American Indian Student Association and am the editor of the Native Bruin. I love to learn about Indigenous cultures across the Americas, and I have learned quite a lot from being in AISA.
I love milk, guava products, and Halloween. My family is from Jalisco, Michoacan, Colima, Zacatecas, and Texas. I adore the heavy rain and lightning in Jalisco during the summer months.
He/him/él/dele
Raul Aguilera
Managing Editor
I’m a second-year transfer from Whittier CA, majoring in International Development Studies with a minor in Latin American Studies. I joined La Gente to help create and provide a space for Latine writers and artists. I love La Gente because it helped provide me with a space to tell stories and connect with people who also love journalism as much as I do. At La Gente, I could discover my voice and share the stories of my family and journey that have meant so much to me. A fun fact about me is that I collect vinyl records, and I have every Supremes vinyl. 🙂
He/they; él/elle
Jazmin Chavez
Content Editor
Second-year Neuroscience Major minoring in Gerontology
Hometown: Westminster, CA
My family’s roots: Queretaro, Mexico
Favorite type of writing: Creative & Analysis
Fun fact: I work as a certified nursing asssisant during the summer!
This will be my second year in La Gente. I joined because I found a community of people to reconnect with our Latine/Hispanic culture, while also spotlighting thought-provoking issues that impact the Latine community through writing.
She/her/ella
Andrea Hernandez
Content Editor
Hi everyone! I am a third-year double majoring in Chicana/o and Central American Studies and Public Affairs. I joined La Gente my second year because I wanted a writing outlet that wasn’t strictly for academia. With La Gente, I was also able to branch out into photography and art! My favorite accomplishment with La Gente has been my publication, "Thank you, Jenni", for our Winter 2024 print that honored the late Gran Senora Jenni Rivera and her feminist influences.
she/her/ella
Javier Murrillo Jr.
Content Editor
Hello everyone, my name is Javier Murillo and I am a third-year undergrad double-majoring in Sociology and Chicana/o & Central American Studies. I joined La Gente in my second year to advocate for and represent the Latine community as a writer while also honing my writing abilities. One of my proudest achievements thus far has been writing my piece "Pocos Pero Locos" which aimed to highlight UCLA’s vibrant Latine music community!
He/Him/Él
Olivia Zepeda
Content Editor
HIIII I’m Olivia 💋
I‘m a second-year Political Science & Global Studies double major also minoring in Spanish. I joined La Gente last year as a writer because I have a passion for writing and my community (corny but true), and La Gente is a perfect blend of both-- I write about my community 😍😍. I read & write about the history of U.S. politics in order to better understand systemic issues (domestic and internationally) that the country upholds thru policy. I seek to educate others about and reform these institutions that prevent youth of color from realizing our full potential. I also love to learn about Latino culture-- especially Latino/Chicano youth culture-- to foster a sense of pride and community-responsibility within myself and those don’t mind the yap!!!! My favorite piece so far is the article I wrote about Ghetto Rodeo‘s creative director & owner! I’M FROM L.A. Most LA thing ab me is that I will gatekeep tf outta my swapmeet 🧎♀️🙏😇
She/her/hers
Cris Avitia Camacho
Spanish Content Editor
Hi y‘all! I’m a third-year triple majoring in Chicana/o and Central American Studies, Labor Studies and Gender Studies. I joined La Gente fall 2023 because I wanted to join an org that used writing as a means of power. I was born and raised in México, but currently reside in the Inland Empire (IE). I enjoy creative writing a lot, and I actually got to read my piece "Mis Dos Pilares" at the winter 2024 launch party for La Gente!! Outside of La Gente, I‘m involved in Compas, a farmworker empowerment organization, and Latinas Guiding Latinas, a mentorship program for Latine youth to pursue higher education. A fun fact about me is that I have over 500+ books, so you’ll always find me with a new book at hand 🙂
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Missy Soto
Layout/Visuals Editor
4th year Sociology major and education minor
I am from Long Beach, and I joined of La Gente to be part of a Latine/Hispanic community on campus.
She/her/hers/ella
Alexia Jimenez
Copy Editor
Alexia Jimenez is a third-year Undeclared major, who hopes to major in Communications and minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. She is from East Los Angeles and outside of La Gente, she’s involved in College Corps and volunteers for the LA Food Bank through this program.
She/her/hers
Naomi Orozco
Marketing Director
Hello I’m Naomi! I joined La Gente in winter quarter ‘22 with the goal of finding a Latine community on campus. I am a fourth-year student majoring in Communication and Sociology with a minor in Film, TV, and Digital Media Studies. I am from Long Beach, CA. During my free time I love to cook, bake, read books, and watch movies. A fun fact about me is that I love going to concerts and movie theaters! While I am not a write myself i enjoy reading articles and creative work.
She/her/ella
Ryann Mitchell
Radio Head
He/him
Evelyn Castillo
Radio Team Member
Evelyn is a second year, double majoring in Chicanx/Central American Studies and Labor Studies. She is from East Los Angeles and enjoys being part of her community like taking part in COMPAS, SLAP, First To Go Gentorship Program, LFTA, and more!
She/her/hers
Christine Barnfield
Copy Editor
Christine is a third-year Gender Studies and Chicana/o studies double major and Central American studies minor. She is from SoCal and outside of La Gente, she loves to read and be in the outdoors. She is also involved in UNICA here on campus.
She/her/hers
Natalia Zeledon
Copy Editor
Natalia is a first year transfer majoring in English with a minor in Central American Studies! She is from Hawthorne and outside of La Gente you can find her with FEM newsmagazine, Unión Centroamericana, and trying coffee spots around LA!
She/her/hers
Arianna Macias
Copy Editor
Hi! I’m Arianna, and I’m a second-year Pre - Math for Teaching major. I grew up in the heart of LA in Boyle Heights! I joined La Gente my first year because I have always been interested in writing. A fun fact about myself would be that I co-founded my high schools newspaper club!
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Mari Garcia
Copy Editor
I am a second-year English major from Hawthorne, CA. I’ve been a copy and writing staff member since 2023/2024. I joined La Gente because writing is a vital tool to represent marginalized communities and I want to work in a space that shares my values. My reporting on the encampments at UCLA this past fall has been a major accomplishment and I hope to delve deeper into investigative journalism this year. I enjoy writing in all formats, but analytical essays hold a special space in my heart. A fun fact about me is Tyler, the Creator went to my high school and worked at my local Starbucks.
She/they/ella/elle
Jessica Hernandez
Copy Editor
La Gente Newsmagazine - University of California, Los Angeles
Luis Magaña
Copy Staff
My name is Luis Magaña and I am a second year transfer (4th year), majoring in Sociology with a minor in Chicano Studies. I plan on attending law school in order to pursue my dreams of becoming an immigration/criminal defense attorney.
Growing up in a Mexican community made moving to UCLA a difficult experience as I felt like a fish out of water. My culture is something very near and dear to my heart which is why I chose to join La Gente. La Gente is a space where I can bond over similar experiences while advocating for Latino voices in media.
Fun Fact: Cranberry Beatbox
Darlene Sanzon
Visual Team Member
La Gente Newsmagazine - University of California, Los AngelesJacqueline Jacobo
Staff Writer
La Gente Newsmagazine - University of California, Los Angeles
Brettany Valenzuela
Staff Writer
Hi, I’m Brettany. I was born and raised in South Central LA. For the last three years at UCLA I have commuted from South Central and will continue to do so during my last year. I am proud to be the child of Mexican migrant parents. Most of all, I am grateful to have experienced such strong incredible women growing up. It’s really because of my mother, sisters, and tias that I am here. I also have five siblings who I love dearly.
Anyways, I’m a Sociology major with a double minor in Gender Studies and International Migration Studies. I am in my last year. It’s a bittersweet feeling. As a first gen I dealt with a lot of insecurities so I’m really proud of myself. I really just hope I make community as I heal.
It’s honestly the reason I joined La Gente. Community is really important to me and La Gente is a safe space that allows me to feel connected to others. As the year goes on I hope to write pieces that reimagine us and informative pieces that are digestible. I want our community to extend outside UCLA.
She/They/Ella/Elle
Jessica Reyes Segura
Social Media Team Member
La Gente Newsmagazine - University of California, Los Angeles
Genesis Munoz
Marketing Staff
I’m a second-year student majoring in Pre-Human Biology and Society and minoring in Musicology. I love exploring the intersections between science and society, and I think La Gente offers a unique space to share important perspectives that reflect that.
I joined La Gente because I wanted to be part of a community that tells the stories often overlooked by mainstream media. Growing up in Highland Park, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to give a voice to underrepresented communities such as my own, and I knew La Gente was the perfect space to do that. I have been a part of the La Gente Marketing Team since my freshman year, and I’m excited to be a part of this amazing community!
A fun fact about me is that I LOVE trying new things, even without any previous experience. Meeting new people and hearing everyone’s stories have always been fun, it is the reason I love UCLA. Whether it’s trying a new hobby or getting involved in different organizations, I’m always open to new experiences.
My favorite type of writing is definitely argumentative – there’s something powerful about building a case and debating it. And although I’m not a writer, I enjoy finding ways to use writing to support causes I care about, whether that’s through marketing, advocacy, or even just conversations.
While I’ve been part of La Gente for a little while, I feel like there’s still so much more I want to accomplish. I’m excited to push myself further this year, contribute more meaningfully to our team, and take on new challenges.
she/her/ella
Yulissa Brianna Gonzalez
Visuals Intern
Hi, my name is Yulissa, and I am a second-year Design Media Arts major. I am a digital artist and photographer from Koreatown. I joined La Gente to contribute to a meaningful and impactful media space for Latinx and bipoc communities on campus. As a desma major, my practice is centered around how we can see the world through an artistic and visually driven lens. As a graphics intern for La Gente, I hope to contribute to the visual and design-related entities and contribute to the design decisions for the newsmag!
She/Her/Ella
Valeria Muñoz
Visuals/Marketing Intern
Hi! My name is Valeria and I‘m a 3rd year pre-psych major with a minor in Chicano Studies and Digital Humanities. I’m from Hesperia, CA (in San Bernardino County) and I joined La Gente this following year because I want to express my creativity while representing La Raza. During my free time I love to bake and LOVE going to concerts. My top 5 have been Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, Big Time Rush, Rauw Alejandro, and Grupo Frontera and the most recent artist I saw was Ivan Cornejo. I’m also a cat mom so please show me pictures of your cat! 🙂
She/her/ella
Marissa Bermudez
Visuals Intern
Hiii my name is Marissa!💗 I joined La Gente because I wanted a creative outlet and to create a community with other Latine student creators on campus. I’m a 3rd year transfer from the IE majoring in Chicana/o Studies with a minor in Public Affairs. I love creative writing, art, photography, and design & i can’t wait to join the team!
She/her/hers/ella
Karime Paredes
Marketing Intern
Hi everyone! I’m Karime, a first year transfer from the Bay Area. I’m majoring in Psychology and am hoping to pick up a Social Data Science minor. This is my first quarter with La Gente and I joined because I wanted to be part of an organization on campus that benefits and uplifts the Latine community. Being in a PWI I wanted to be able to find a space with like minded individuals as well as a safe space to explore my creative side. While working within the marketing sector I hope to contribute to the spread of Latine stories and amplify our voices around campus. Within La Gente I hope to play a role in bringing forward thought provoking issues and creating impactful content that benefits marginalized communities. Some fun facts about me are that I love reading and house music. My family roots come from Jalisco and Michoacán, some of my favorite memories are the summers I’ve spent in Mexico!
She/Her/Ella
Jacqueline Aguirre
Copy Intern
Hello everyone! I’m a first-year pre-psychology major! I come from Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles and am a proud Chicana! A little about me, I love watching movies! I’m a proud AMC stubs member, catch me at the AMC at Century City every weekend. I love music and listen to all genres from indie to reggaeton! This year I’ve only been to two concerts, Mon Laferte and Matt Malteste, but I have tickets for Camp Flog Gnaw in November!! This is my first year with La Gente. and I’m really excited for all the articles I’ll assist with. I decided to join La Gente because, in a predominantly white institute like UCLA, I think newsletters like this one are very important for uplifting the voices of communities that are often ignored and underrepresented. I also wanted to find a community of Latinos that shared my love for our culture. I enjoy writing opinion and creative pieces because I feel that they leave a lot of room for creativity and personality to shine which I think is important for newsletters. I hope to assist in achieving La Gente’s mission to create an all-inclusive Latine platform for the underrepresented. I’m excited about all the experiences and opportunities I’ll have with La Gente!
She/Her/Ella
Andrew Leonel Campuzano
Writing Intern
Saludos everyone, my name is Andrew Campuzano. I joined La Gente Fall of 2024. I am from Anaheim, California and the proudest son of Mexican immigrant parents. I am a first-year political science major and hope to minor in public affairs. A fun fact about me is I have four younger brothers, the youngest being a year old. I hope to discuss various topics that many students aren’t aware of, including political systems and institutions across Latin America, Los Angeles Latinx and Chicanx culture, and also discuss culture here on campus.
He/him/él
Lucia Valadez
Writing Intern
Que tal! My name is Lucia Valadez and I am a first-year Psychobiology major, originally from San Bernardino, California. My family is from Sinaloa, Mexico, but I was raised in the United States. Regardless of this I have so much pride for my Mexican roots. As a first-generation student, my identity is, and always has been, a huge influence on who I am today. Thus, I am so grateful and more than excited to be a part of La Gente’s writers this year. I was a part of my high school’s M.E.Ch.A for 3 years (2 years as President) and I decided to join La Gente because I adored having involvement in bringing attention, education, and pride to the Latinx community. This is my first year as a writer for La Gente and I hope to represent the wishes, issues, and ideas of la raza in the best way possible through my writing. I don’t have many hobbies, but I love, love, love to read absolutely anything to do with historical fiction or classical novels. Some of my favorite novels include: The Secret History, Mornings in Jenin, and The Silent Patient. I am also matcha and chai’s #1 fan, so if you have any book or cafe recommendations please let me know! 🤍
She/her/ella