Healing California Newsletter: Awards and new stories from the Ethnic Media Collaborative

Accolades

The Univision Sacramento story El Precio del Campo received the Gracie Award for Best Non-English Language Local Program, a prestigious recognition from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation that celebrates excellence in media created by, for, and about women. The story was written and anchored by Andrea Igliozzi and Rashel Cedeno de Abreu along with photographer Christian Vazquez, news director Vladimir Araya and the USC Center for Health Journalism team.

Univision Sacramento

The Ethnic Media Collaborative earned 13 awards for its inaugural year including four Northern California Emmys for the Univision 19 Sacramento team (KUVS) of Andrea Igliozzi and Rashel Cedeno de Abreu , who also received national honors including the Gracie and the Elaine Rivera Civil Rights and Social Justice Award (NAHJ Ñ Awards) for their stories on farmworkers in California. Yarel Ramos and colleagues from Univision 34 Los Angeles (KMEX) team won a Southern California Emmy for El Valle De La Soledad on the mental health struggles of day laborers in the Coachella Valley. And Saddam Aguayo won a Northern California Emmy for his reporting for Univision 14 (KDTV) on loneliness for aging Latino immigrants. Earlier we shared word on the four California Journalism honors for Sacramento Observer senior reporter Genoa Barrow, including first place for Audience/Community Engagement on their community event It’s OK Brotha highlighting her Head Space series of 33 stories on Black men’s mental health, which also won a health reporting award, and a Food Reporting award for the Hunger Pains series on food insecurity in the Black community in Sacramento.

See a short video at the Northern California Emmy celebration featuring Andrea Igliozzi and the Univision 19 team for El Camino Tras su Ausencia, which explores the harrowing consequences of a lack of interpretation for a Zapotec woman undergoing a stillbirth.

Collaborative members are reporting on the health of California immigrants as the Trump administration continues an unprecedented and militarized enforcement campaign. And news outlets in the collaborative also are exploring other health themes such as longstanding issues related to the well-being of Black students disproportionately affected by school discipline. Here is a sampling of our coverage. You will find all the recent stories here.

 Health of Latino Community Imperiled with Policy Changes on Undocumented Immigrant Access to Community Clinics

By Enrique Chiabra, Telemundo 52 Los Angeles

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With the spending bill signed into law on July 4,2025, the mental health and substance abuse programs that Bienestar Human Services, non-profit community clinics in Los Angeles, offer are on the list of impacted services. Telemundo 52

Telemundo’s Enrique Chiabra describes the chilling health care climate for undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles who have just begun to make strides with their mental health at the Bienestar program. Medical practitioners are reporting a “pandemic of fear” during an aggressive immigration crackdown that has resulted in a drop of patients coming to their appointments. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued the Trump Administration over its abrupt decision to require public benefit programs to verify immigration status.

With Trump’s Spending Bill, California Immigrants Fear More Healthcare Rollbacks

By Mariana Duran, El Tecolote

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G.H., 51, a Salvadoran woman says her Medi-Cal is essential for her health, and fears for her physical and emotional well-being with looming cuts. Photo: Pablo Unzueta for El Tecolote/CatchLight Local

El Tecolote’s Mariana Duran won the trust of a Salvadorean immigrant who barely survived injuries from domestic violence. G.H,51, is applying for legal status but in today’s climate she fears that healthcare policy changes might impact her ability to afford the medical care she needs. California, facing its own budget crisis, has already scaled back parts of its once signature Medi-Cal expansion program for undocumented immigrants. With these state and federal policy changes, people like G.H. might soon find themselves excluded from meeting basic healthcare needs.

"Willful Defiance" Suspensions Persist Despite Years-Old Ban

By Robert Hansen, Sacramento Observer

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Jayshawn Yancey, front, almost didn’t finish school because of disciplinary practices that put him out of the classroom and into the streets. He now mentors other Black students struggling with mental health. Courtesy Jayshawn Yancey

Although California has banned suspensions for “willful defiance” in grades K-12, both Elk Grove Unified and Sacramento City Unified school districts in Sacramento county continued to suspend students for defiance during the 2023-24 school year. Both these school districts had some of the highest suspension rates for Black students in California. Research has found that school suspensions can lead to higher rates of depression through adolescence and into early adulthood. The issue has gained new relevance as federal policies under the Trump administration threaten funding for schools that implement equity-based discipline practices.

A Chinese Immigrant Mother with Two Queer Children Now Embraces Life as a Grandmother

By Jian Zhao, World Journal

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When both her children came out as queer, Janice Lee initially struggled to accept her children's revelations, but it didn’t take her long to come to terms with it. She quickly embraced their identities, educating herself about sexuality and gender identity to become a fierce advocate for her children. World Journal reporter Jian Zhao featured Janice Lee’s story to highlight how attitudes are evolving in Asian households, as parents challenge long-standing patterns of shame and silence around LGBTQ+ identity.