Introducing myself and my journal: Latina International Journalist

About Me:
I graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Dec. 2008. I am currently in Sao Paulo, Brazil interning for the Associated Press. I have always been interested in the empowerment of oppressed communities. I had originally come to Brazil to study abroad in 2007 and completed a journalism research project where I sought to see how journalism would empower forty you living in a favela (slum). I taught journalism for a month and let the students produce their own newspaper. I wanted them to choose their own story ideas, to write their own articles, take their own pictures and design their own pages. The result was an 8-page newspaper sized newspaper that was distributed out to the community. The result was amazing, students thought their words could really make a difference in their community.

This is the reason that I want to do journalism, is because I want to make a difference in the community and the world.
While I was also in Brazil, I worked closely with a woman's organization that started during Brazil's dictatorship, I also learned about land reform, human rights issues and poverty. All which affect women in a very strong manner.

While in Missouri I started a Spanish-language radio news program after the bilingual newspaper I was a reporter for shut down.

I want to be a journalist because I have a small flame inside of me that feels that through journalism I can ignite a wildfire of thought and discussion.

My Passions:
Journalism, Dancing Salsa, Feminism, Baking, Reading, Writing, International Public Policy

My Challenges:
Graduating from college in a bad economy, finding myself in a huge world,

My Vision for the Future:
Becoming an international journalist that writes long features that really make a difference

My Areas of Expertise:
Writing, Blogging, Podcasting, International News, Dancing Salsa