Marina Peña

What it takes to feel at home again after the Eaton Fire Eaton Fire-impacted residents share their stories about seeking safe water, stability and peace of mind in the first year after the disaster.

Recovery from the Eaton fire looks different for everyone. Every family has its own pressing question that can stand in the way of #Altadena feeling like home again.

Reported in partnership with the LA Reporting Collective
afrolanews.org/2026/02/what...

Self-storage developer La Tierra Consulting uses Papa Cristo’s logo in renderings presented to the Neighborhood Council, but has not actually asked Chrys Chrys if he wants to reopen his displaced family business. Neighbors say they want housing. Sigh... thelalocal.org/neighborhood...

LA wants to fence MacArthur Park. Locals don't think it will fix anything. | LA Local A fence around MacArthur Park could make it easier to maintain, officials say. Some locals are on the fence about the whole plan.

The proposal to fence MacArthur Park could make the space easier to maintain, according to city officials. But residents worry this would drastically change the fabric of the neighborhood. From @bymarinagiselle.bsky.social and Hanna Kang for @thelalocalorg.bsky.social

Papa Cristo’s former home could be replaced by storage facility | LA Local Greek marketplace Papa Cristo’s former home in Pico Union could be demolished to make way for a storage facility.

A Redondo Beach developer plans to turn Papa Cristo’s longtime home in Pico Union into a storage facility — but says that he still wants to honor the restaurant’s more than 70 year legacy in some way. @bymarinagiselle.bsky.social @thelalocalorg.bsky.social

Bad Bunny Super Bowl Casita: Meet the South LA Designers Meet Federico Laboreau and Maximiliano Pizzi, the Argentine owners of South LA’s Fuegos who went from serving empanadas to designing the interior of Bad Bunny’s iconic Super Bowl halftime casita.

From Buenos Aires to the Super Bowl stage, Argentine designers Federico Laboreau and Maximiliano Pizzi helped bring Bad Bunny’s iconic casita to life — and this is how they did it. Story from @bymarinagiselle.bsky.social for @thelalocalorg.bsky.social

¡Viva la diferencia, viva las travas, viva Perón! - Flor de la V

YouTube video by Futurock FM ¡VIVA LA DIFERENCIA, VIVA LAS TRAVAS, VIVA PERÓN! | FLOR DE LA V con JULIA MENGOLINI

One of the best interviewers I feel like I know and truly admire. @juliamengo.bsky.social doesn’t just interview people—she has genuine, beautiful conversations with them. She’s fully present and gives herself completely to the person she’s speaking with. 🇦🇷https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGw0Lq2kVcs

Some detainees were arrested at routine immigration appointments, Padilla and Schiff say after oversight tour | LA Local The California Democratic senators carried out the congressional oversight tour amid the onslaught of immigration raids across the region.

Some of the detainees at the California City detention facility were detained at immigration hearings.

Many did not have prior criminal records, according to Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff. They conducted an oversight tour at the facility on Tuesday.

Story by @bymarinagiselle.bsky.social

$18 million and a decade later, Koreatown is still waiting for its mini park | LA Local When Los Angeles opens a pocket park in Koreatown in 2027, it will be the first park opened since the 1920s.

The pocket park, set to slot right next to the Pío Pico–Koreatown Branch Library, was formally approved in August 2017. Nearly a decade later — and after $22 million in public funding was committed — the park remains unfinished. Story from @bymarinagiselle.bsky.social

Watching ICE can turn deadly. These volunteers aren’t backing down. | LA Local Volunteers with Union Del Barrio are part of a growing network of people searching and reporting on ICE raids in their communities.

Masked agents continue to detain people across LA. And these volunteers with @uniondelbarrio.bsky.social continue to head out to document the raids and inform their communities.

Here's the latest on the ground from reporters
@bymarinagiselle.bsky.social @isaiahembee.bsky.social for The LA Local.

Man detained at CA’s largest ICE facility alleges ‘horrible negligence’ after injury The man claims his glasses were returned to him after a month at the ICE facility

The man claims his glasses were returned to him after a month at the ICE facility

What’s at stake for Fresno County in Prop. 50 vote? Here are the changes Fresno County would be split into six congressional districts instead of the current four.

Fresno County would be split into six congressional districts instead of the current four.

ICE raids targeting street vendors in L.A. spark fear and solidarity in immigrant communities As the Trump Administration ramps up its immigration crackdown, Los Angeles has emerged as a flashpoint, with ICE arrests surging to record highs and sparking widespread outrage, solidarity, and…

Read Marina Peña's @bymarinagiselle.bsky.social story about what advocates are doing to protect immigrant communities while the federal government ramps up efforts to deport undocumented Angelenos. afrolanews.org/2025/07/ice-...

Crazy how Argentina’s president Javier Milei was involved in a crypto scandal that swindled thousands but this interview between pop singer Lali and her boyfriend Pedro Rosemblat is more relevant for many young Argentines

LA suffered its worst fires ever. Latinos are among those hit the hardest - Buenos Aires Herald The catastrophe has left struggling families in a state of uncertainty as they face a long road back to recovery

I wrote about the experiences of Latinos in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades during the recent fires in LA for the
@baheraldcom.bsky.social check out their stories here👇
buenosairesherald.com/world/la-suf...

Black doctor with a stethoscope examining a Black pregnant woman.

Black woman in an N95 mask sitting in front of a sunny window.

Infographic showing relative particle sizes, from fine beach sand to microparticles that can be found in wildfire smoke.

Black pregnant women of all socioeconomic statuses already have an increased risk of preterm births and pregnancy complications.

In Los Angeles County from 2021 to 2023, about 1 in 10 babies from a single-child pregnancy was preterm (versus multiples like twins, triplets). (1/5)

A former teacher is rebuilding Altadena one book at a time Former preschool teacher Carmela Beyer launched a fundraiser to provide children's books for schools affected by the Eaton Fire, and has raised more than $40,000 to support her community.

Beyer is also accepting donations of new or gently used books that are suitable for children in grades K-12 and considered classic library staples.

Read Marina's story to learn more: https://buff.ly/40UprHK

A young woman stand in front of stacked boxes

A room stacked with boxes of books

Former preschool teacher Carmela Beyer knew she had to do something for the five school communities that lost their campuses in the Eaton Fire. She launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to buy new books for the impacted children, give back to local businesses and rebuild libraries.

In the spirit of love Romance is in the air. (A welcome reprieve from wildfire smoke.)

Did you know that every other week, AfroLA publishes a fresh newsletter called The Breakdown? AfroLA's Aaricka Washington breaks down the articles our journalists have written as well as the work from other talented reporters from various news organizations. https://buff.ly/3EIityl

“Studies show that children connect to stories on a much deeper level when it’s actual human beings + not animals or inanimate objects,” she said. “But then, taking that further, if they themselves are Black + Brown kids and they see themselves in the pages of the book, it builds their self esteem.”

Meet the authors creating more Afro Latine voices in children's literature Diverse children's books with Afro Latine protagonists empower young readers through relatable stories that reflect their identities.

Marina Peña interviewed seven authors who have written recent children books that center Afro Latine characters in their books. Learn more about them here: https://buff.ly/4hWy8YS

Are you a parent who is searching for books that represent your multiracial kids?

Well, AfroLA has your back.

The scene for Afro Latine representation in literature has grown tremendously over the past few years.

AfroLA reporter Marina Peña spoke with three families about how the Eaton Fire has impacted children's sense of normalcy in a time of crucial social, intellectual and emotional development.

Read their stories: https://buff.ly/3QxbIC1

📸 : Photos courtesy the families (10/10)

Triptych of family photos.

While many 11-year-olds are making stronger friends, facing peer pressure and becoming more independent, some young people are navigating insurmountable circumstances:

The traumatic loss of their home, neighborhood and school. (1/10)
https://buff.ly/3QxbIC1

Hi Alonso, I'm a producer for the show Latino USA and would love to have you on to talk about the film Emilia Pérez. What's the best way to reach out to you?

Hi Monica! Would love to talk you about having you join us on Latino USA. What’s the best way to reach you?

'One Hundred Years of Solitude' on Screen - Latino USA Netflix has brought Gabriel García Márquez’s iconic novel One Hundred Years of Solitude to life with a two-part limited series...

Latino USA's first new podcast of 2025 is an interview with Alex García López, co-director of the adaptation of 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' for @netflix.com.

Did you watch the series yet? How do you like it—or not?

Listen to our show @bymarinagiselle.bsky.social now playing! bit.ly/lusayears