Above: Students and staff hand out free produce at University of California, Merced. Recent studies have shown the campus deals with high rates of food insecurity among its student population, echoing a larger hunger trend within Merced County.Read More
Above: Snelling’s Ranch of Horrors was almost too spooky for our youth reporters. (Photo by Aaliyah Jensen)
By Cassandra Avitia and Aaliyah Jensen
SNELLING, Calif.–Snelling’s Read More
We wake up really early — 5 a.m. — which is hard for me since I’m used to sleeping in. I put on lots of layers — a long-sleeved sweater, a hat, boots, and a handkerchief. It gets hot, but we need to wear it all in order to protect ourselves from sunburn later in the day. We have to bring our own food and water. In the mornings, mom packs lunch for both us (usually sandwiches and beans) and then we head out together.
Advocates pointed out Merced County’s undocumented population is estimated to pay nearly $9 million in local taxes this year alone. Additionally, the community plays a major role in the local economy as the undocumented labor force supports much of Merced’s agricultural industry--valued at $3.5 billion in 2015.
Above: Tonya Mendoza shares her story of struggling to pay for medical care without insurance; at times she had to decide between paying her utility bills and rent or buying medicine.Read More
Statewide social justice campaign #SchoolsNotPrisons held its first event in Merced, Calif. on July 8, bringing nearly 300 people out in support of dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline.
Above: Alex Carrillo may be a recent transplant to Merced but he’s already leaving his mark on the city–making the most vulnerable communities feel seen and heard.Read More
Translate
