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Janette Villafana

Janette Villafana is an award-winning bilingual multimedia journalist. Her heart lies in community-based reporting, and her work is highly centered on showcasing and uplifting community voices, with a significant focus on the Latino community. She developed her beat at L.A. TACO, covering street vending communities in Los Angeles. Past work has been featured on NBC, LAist, Latino Rebels, and more. She is currently featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington in an exhibit titled “¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News.”

This Punk-Goth Chicana From Southeast L.A. Celebrates Mexico’s Indigenous Art Through Her Bead Work

Initially inspired by L.A.'s punk and goth scenes, Angie Zuzeth Rojas now uses her craft to help people connect with their culture, while also teaching them the healing powers of beading.

October 27, 2023

Your Dog Will Eat Better Than You At This Food Truck Selling Healthy Snacks To Pets in Long Beach

Ray Anderson's healthy pet food trailer has all kinds of goodies, like doggie beers in flavors such as Beef Brown Ale, Cock-o-Doodle Brew, and Porky Pug Porter. They're free of alcohol, but contain a savory broth that includes glucosamine to support dogs' joint health.

October 13, 2023

This Latino-Owned Pizzeria in Santa Ana is Home to The TikTok Famous Pizza Skull

It’s the time of the season, the season for all things ghosts, brujas, and skulls. And this pizzeria in Santa Ana is sure to satisfy Halloween enthusiasts and foodies alike. 

October 4, 2023

Meet ‘Carnitas Rogelio,’ The Family-Run Stand With The Best Michoacán-Style Carnitas O.C. Has to Offer

Michoacán-raised Rogelio Gonzalez slices the cuerito (the pig skin) in a checkered pattern to ensure a light crunch in each bite and utilizes every part of the pig, from the feet to the liver and intestines, which he binds together in a braid. 

September 20, 2023

SoCal Street Vendors Demand Money Back After Paying Thousands For A Festival That Was Shut Down Before It Started

"Some artisanal vendors that came from Puebla and Veracruz were even crying and were so stressed out because they had purchased a giant booth filled with artisanal items that didn't sell,” says one vendor who feels scammed.

August 31, 2023

This Latina From South Gate Created a “Pawnaderia” That Bakes Mexican Pan Dulce Treats For Dogs

Meet Adriana Montoya, the founder of La Pawnaderia, a bakery that allows you to share your favorite Mexican treats and culture with a four-legged friend through pup-friendly pan dulce and “candy.”

August 17, 2023

Meet the Long Beach Paletero Selling Ice Cream To Both Dogs and Their Owners

Inside this paletero's ice cream cart, modified with four 14-inch balloon wheels to help push its weight across the sand, one will find a selection of ice cream for dogs, or “Frosty Paws” to be exact.

August 14, 2023

Like Bath Bombs For Your Food: Introducing Birria and Tinga “Bombs”

Inventor Shaylin Davis will soon be creating butter chicken and seafood-centric flavors of her food bombs, meant to bolster flavor and take pressure off home cooks.

August 3, 2023

It Took LAPD Two Hours To Show Up After a South L.A. Taco Stand Was Robbed At Gun Point

"As I kept writing down their order, the one in the grey sweater took out the gun. That’s when he said give me the money," said the owner of Tacos Deliciosos.

July 26, 2023

The Six Best Cemitas Poblanas and Where to Find Them In Los Angeles

Named after the type of bread they are made from—an oversized sesame bun—a cemita is like the torta's cousin. It comes stacked high with milanesa, pápalo, quesillo, avocado, chipotle, and pickled jalapeño. Here's where to find the best from East L.A. to The Valley.

July 7, 2023