Local journalism uncovering the best of LA and Long Beach

My neighborhood, our LA.

As the Founding CEO of The LA Local, I’m reminded every day that journalism is powered by people. Our reporters, editors, youth journalists, Documenters and contributors do more than report what happened. They meet residents in their neighborhoods, listen to their concerns and hopes, connect people with useful information, celebrate community joy, and help hold those in power accountable.

We see that every day across The LA Local.

That’s also why I’m encouraged by some good news from Sacramento. This week, Governor Newsom signed AB 2222, the Community NEWS Act, which The LA Local joined news organizations across California in supporting. The new law will invest in local journalism jobs, helping more journalists show up, listen to residents, and provide the information that keeps communities informed and connected. I share more about what this could mean for LA and Long Beach here.

And we see what that investment in the people driving this connection work can mean every day at The LA Local.

In Boyle Heights, our team continues to follow residents in neighborhoods left behind in the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire while also celebrating community traditions, including the 80th annual East LA’s annual Mexican Independence Day parade. Our Long Beach team's coverage helped reverse library cuts after community outcry and empowered parents to uncover alleged abuse at a local kindergarten. In Inglewood and South LA, our newsroom is fostering community engagement and dialogue through voter guides ahead of local elections and as a new ruling impacts SoFi Stadium. And across Koreatown, Pico Union, and Westlake, our reporters continue finding stories of belonging, including how LA’s Indonesian Muslim community found a home in Pico Union and how Lafayette Park is recording the stories of indigenous communities with a mural.

Every time our reporters, contributors, youth journalists, and Documenters connect with residents, they see the very best of LA and Long Beach. Sometimes the impact is civic. Sometimes it’s deeply personal. Both matter.

“I just wanted to say thank you for being interested in connecting throughout the budget process. I appreciate your thoughtful reporting and I believe it really was key in the advocacy the libraries received, ultimately preventing library layoffs and closures.” - Reader, Long Beach Post

“I went to the Korean Resource Center to check out their community marketplace for my story looking into SNAP benefit changes... they wouldn’t let me leave without a container of kimchi! This is possibly my biggest personal win because in our community, being given kimchi is such a warm gesture.” - Hanna Kang, Reporter, Koreatown, Pico Union, Westlake

This issue of LA Connected is a celebration of those connections. The big ones and the small ones, and the people who make them possible. Later this month, The LA Local will join our friends at Somos Accelerator for Economic Resilience (SAFER) at the 2026 State of the Worker Summit, where we'll be connecting with residents and civic leaders from across Los Angeles County. Come say hi to our team who will have a table there and join a larger conversation about the people and work that help communities thrive.

Ahead of the Summit, Alfred Fraijo Jr. of Somos shares why arts, culture and local media should be seen as essential parts of the infrastructure that connects and strengthens our communities. Read more here.

Thank you for believing in our vision of expanding community-centered coverage across L.A. County. I hope these updates make you proud of what we are building together. Drop me a note and let me know what stands out most to you.

Michele Siqueiros

Chief Executive Officer

The LA Local

New at The LA Local

Welcoming New Team Members

Say hi to our newest team members: Shefali Kulkarni, Justin Agrelo, Isaac Ceja, and Nick Ducassi!

Shefali is a California Local News Fellow covering food, arts and culture in the Long Beach Post’s Eat. See. Do. Her career spans 19 years of experience at outlets like The New York Times and BBC News.

Justin is also a California Local News Fellow and joins our Inglewood and South LA team as a Reporter. He was previously at Chicago based outlets The Trace and City Bureau.

Isaac joins us as a Reporter for our Koreatown, Pico Union and Westlake newsroom. Previously a California Local News Fellow at La Opinión covering immigration and small businesses, Isaac has also contributed to The LA Local and Boyle Heights Beat.

Nick joins our Koreatown, Pico Union, Westlake team as Social Media Producer. Nick's work has been featured across The L.A. Times, Netflix, The Hollywood Reporter, HBO, and more, additionally contributing coverage to The LA Local.

We’re grateful they’ll share their talents with us to strengthen news for our neighbors in LA and Long Beach.

LA Documenters Turn Civic Engagement into Public Service Journalism

We often think of democracy happening in city halls and council meetings, far and away from ordinary people. But The LA Local sees first hand how democracy lives in how neighbors keep each other informed and show up for one another.

Our LA Documenters program is the clearest example of that. We train and pay residents to attend public government meetings, take notes, and report their findings, ultimately helping communities understand and participate in local decision making. They also distribute vital information to community members in challenging moments, like sharing 400 flyers with residents impacted by the Lineage warehouse fire across Boyle Heights and East LA. We’re heartened to report that 108 donors joined us last week to support our LA Documenters program, raising over $10,500. This investment ensures that important conversations happen with community input, a commitment we’re looking forward to expanding in Long Beach in the future.

Want to be the first to hear of special campaigns like this that grow people-powered journalism? Consider becoming a member.

Become a member

Youth Journalism on the Rise

We welcomed 46 new youth journalists representing 27 high schools across Boyle Heights, Inglewood, South LA, Koreatown, Pico Union and Westlake this month. They’ve been building skills in interviewing, storytelling and research — and they’re already putting them to work. This past week, they interviewed LA Mayor Karen Bass, asking questions about the issues they see affecting their communities, from the continued impacts of the Lineage warehouse fire to plans for more green space and making LA more affordable.

Youth reporters are integral to delivering the stories communities need to thrive, a tradition that started in Boyle Heights Beat that we’re excited to expand into Long Beach. We’re proud of their rising leadership and encourage you to read more of their coverage below.

Koreatown’s About Time Cafe makes good coffee and greater impact for the community

Protesting immigration raids is a choice. He gives his students the tools to decide

Follow our youth coverage

The LA Local on the Move

Celebrating Latine Heritage Month at Fullerton College

CEO Michele Siqueiros & L.A. TACO’s Memo Torres spoke to students at Fullerton College in Orange County about how both outlets are empowering Latino communities with trusted immigration coverage. We were encouraged to witness the next generation of journalists interested in strengthening community-centered news.

Community Pop Up in Boyle Heights

Boyle Heights Beat held a Connect with the Beat day to survey residents and distribute informational resources regarding the Lineage warehouse fire. We appreciated that many neighbors trusted us to share their fears and unanswered questions, which our team is continually working to find answers to.

The LA Local x LA Podcast

Documenters Assignment Editor Matthew Reagan joined the LA Podcast to share about the public service work our Documenters do and how they integrate with our neighborhood newsrooms to provide residents important, timely information. Thank you to co-hosts Alissa Walker of Torched LA and Mike Bonin of the Pat Brown Institute for inviting us. Journalism is stronger when we collaborate together to serve communities. Listen to the full episode here

LA Documenters Drive Voter Registration at Cal State LA

Our Documenters continue to fuel civic engagement: They spent National Voter Registration Day at Cal State LA, asking students and staff on campus about what they’d like to see in our election reporting.

A VIP Experience at Holbox

As the FIFA World Cup took over LA, The LA Local held its own tournament to crown the best Latino dish in Mesoamerica Madness. Aguachile won in the end, but so did a few of our readers who participated in the tournament. What resulted was a lovely private dinner at the iconic Holbox with Chef Gilberto Cetina.

Attending Inglewood’s First Night Market

Inglewood celebrated its very first night market at Hollywood Park, and we were grateful to enjoy a vibrant evening in conversation with several community members. From increasing transparency in local politics to the rising cost of housing, thank you for sharing your priorities for local news.

Listening to Long Beach Community Members

In partnership with ÓRALE, a Long Beach-based organization focused on immigrant rights, we convened a listening session with community members who highlighted several concerns, like the impacts of AI and the need for greater community resources. As the Long Beach Post continues to grow with The LA Local, we’re making sure we do so with people at the heart of our work.

Connect With Us!

The LA Local wants to hear from you! Find us across L.A. County this month to engage in local decision making, share story ideas, and more.

🌊 First Fridays in Long Beach

If you're in Long Beach today, October 2, from 6:30-9:30pm, stop by to share your story tips with our team at First Fridays in Bixby Knolls. We'll be set up inside of KUBO LB, so we hope to see you there and enjoy an evening of live music and artistry.

Learn more

📢 October 7: Inglewood Mayoral Candidate Forum

On October 7, The LA Local is hosting a public forum moderated by our reporters and youth journalists at Inglewood High School for the community to hear from mayoral candidates. This is an opportunity to learn about each candidate’s vision for Inglewood, proposed solutions to pressing issues, ask questions, and weigh in on our reporting. The event runs from 6-7:30pm, with doors opening at 5. Check out our PSA with KJLH Radio who is cohosting this event. Register and invite your neighbors below!

📅 Forum with Los Angeles CD 9 and Mayoral Candidates

Tomorrow from 9am to 1pm, we’re moderating a forum in partnership with the CD9 Coalition featuring candidates running for LA City Councilmember in Council District 9, which covers portions of Downtown and South LA. This event will also feature conversations with LA Mayoral Candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman led by the CD9 Coalition. We hope to see you there for a morning of shaping LA’s future!

🚴🏽‍♀️ Meet us in the heart of LA for CicLAvia

CicLAvia is returning on October 11 for another day of open streets across LA’s core neighborhoods. Take a bike ride and stop by our booth at the Mariachi Plaza Hub to share what matters to you.

Learn more

🎉 Join us at Inglewood's Taste of Soul

Inglewood's annual Taste of Soul family festival is back on October 17 from 10am to 7pm. Come out for a day of celebrating Black culture, food, and art on historic Crenshaw Boulevard. Find our booth on Crenshaw Blvd. between MLK Blvd. and 39th Street, where our team will be ready to hear your thoughts about creating news together that uplifts LA's Black community.

Learn more

👋 Say hi to our team at the 2026 State of the Worker Summit

Somos Accelerator for Economic Resilience—SAFER— will convene a residents and leaders from labor, business, government and community groups at the State of the Worker Summit on October 29 from 10am to 2pm at the ASU California Center in Downtown LA. Our team will be there connecting with residents and joining the conversation around the people who power the work that connects our communities.

Learn more

Making Room for Hope

LONG BEACH POST

Restaurant owners fed first responders as waves swamped the Peninsula

INGLEWOOD & SOUTH LA

Inglewood Chess Club brings people face-to-face across the board

KOREATOWN, PICO UNION, WESTLAKE

(Photo by Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP)

You better Beliebe it. Justin Bieber played a set at MacArthur Park

BOYLE HEIGHTS BEAT

I captured a scary moment from the Lineage fire. He turned it into art.

Help Us Go Farther

The LA Local is here to build with communities, celebrate what’s working, and hold power accountable when it’s not. This kind of journalism takes resources, patience, and partnership. Help power The LA Local by sharing this newsletter, becoming a member, and following our work.

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