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L.A. TACO

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.”

Janette Villafana

Los Angeles

A Police-Assisted Raid of Taco Truck Raises Questions in El Monte 

L.A. TACO STAFF

Featured

Arcadia: 11 Things About The Neighborhood’s History You May Not Know

Headlines: A Man Threatened to Jump Off 110 Freeway Overpass Yesterday, Causing Hours-Long Standstill

L.A. TACO’s Staff Investigative Reporter Wins Second Place Anthem Award In Health Innovation Category

News

Headlines: Bad Bunny Films New Music Video at Leo’s Tacos

Kat Thompson is a Bangkok-born, Los Angeles-raised writer. Her work has appeared in Food &amp; Wine, Thrillist, Vice, and more.

Kat Thompson

Arcadia

The 11 Best Restaurants—and Tacos—in Arcadia, a Neighborhood Food Guide

Elena de la Cruz is a Southern California native who grew up in a traditional Mexican household in which her father got upset when she decided to go to college. But she rebelled, now holds various college degrees, and uses her writing to amplify the voices of the outliers, the cultural pioneers, and the rebels who challenge outdated societal boundaries.

Elena De La Cruz

Culture

How Did This $1000 Bouquet Trend Spread to SoCal Flower Shops?

Lexis-Olivier Ray is an award-winning staff investigative reporter for L.A. TACO known for holding powerful people in Los Angeles accountable and his reporting on Los Angeles culture. As well as an artist and filmmaker. In 2022, the Society of Professional Journalists&#8217; Los Angeles chapter named Ray one of their &#8220;distinguished journalists.&#8221; In 2023, Ray won a second place Anthem Award in their Health Innovation category for a texting service geared towards the unhoused community and service providers that he launched in 2021 with L.A. TACO and Subtext. Ray was a 2020 USC Center For Health Journalism (CHJ) Data Fellow. As well as a 2022 CHJ Impact Fellow. As a freelancer, Ray has contributed to the L.A. Times, Men&#8217;s Health Magazine, KCET and SFGATE.

Lexis-Olivier Ray

Fencing materials lay on the grass after in front of Echo Park Lake sign on the northwest side of the park.

Activist Anger and New Councilmember’s Promises Return Echo Park’s ‘Anti-Homeless’ Fence to the Spotlight

Taco Madness

Meet Your Vegan Taco Madness 2023 Champions!

Headlines: Fearless Cashier at a Westlake Mini Market Fights Back; Get Educated on Japanese Fermented Seasonings