A dream deferred
The military offers a solid alternative for the unemployed in hard economic times, but with rough challenges. William Melendez helps visualize what being in the military is like in times of war.
Clowning around
Guilford "Gilly" Adams makes balloon animals, face paints, juggles bowling pins and performs magic tricks for a birthday party in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Oct. 26, 2019. Photos by Cecilia Parada and Maja Losinska
Today’s clowns aren’t as scary as you might think
A group of children sat together...
Meet the New iSitter
Story By: Alvaro Gomez
The catchy cartoon jingle of “Little Einsteins” is drowned out by the even louder sound of an iPad. Inches away from the SmartGlass screen, fixated on the device held to his face, a toddler perches on his elbows and ignores the world around him while his mother picks up after him.
Gabriela Lopez, the boy’s mother, walks...
Little Ethiopia
The LA neighborhood expands its flavorful landscape
A plate filled with cabbage, tomato salad, lentils, pumpkins, green beans and other vegetables are served on injera, a pancake-like bread, from Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine, in Little Ethiopia in Los Angeles on May 1, 2021. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Gamer dream team
After hours of work, the birth of a video game comes to reality for 18-year-old Leilani Toone. Face etched in deep concentration and buried in drawings, moving objects appearing on two computer screens, a short-haired blonde head bobs up from a desk smiling at her partner in crime, her dad.
The game started for Toone, a student at Pierce...
Luge Your Mind
Tom Mason has spent most of his life on his back, and he has made a living doing it.
Mason is the Guinness World Records holder as the fastest street luger in the world.
Lying on metal supported by wheels—and no brakes—Mason set his record of 81.28 mph on a downhill road in Lone Pine, California, one inch off the ground.
“It’s...
Rock N’ Rage
Disrupted Euphoria performs at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, Nov. 1, 2019. Photos by Nicole Benda
The art of extreme vocals in heavy metal culture
Ventura metal band Disrupted Euphoria waited patiently in the wings of the small bar, Whisky a Go-Go, on Los Angeles’ famed...
Fugitive finders
A variety of tattoos cover his arms. His salt and pepper hair is accompanied by honey brown aviator sunglasses. This 6’5” military veteran quietly sits underneath the bright sun, remembering a time when he never imagined he would become a professional bounty hunter. A raspy voice shares his experience working alongside his wife traveling the United States.
When someone fails to...
Louder than Words
Two women, two artists, from two different countries share one common voice.
A voice against injustice and inequality, a voice against sexual assault and domestic violence, a voice, “Louder Than Words.”
Sexual assault is rooted in history. When a land army was victorious, the women were captured and raped. This problem has never disappeared, however, in times of peace, they were...
Brewing Unity
Ethiopian Coffee ceremony honors family and health
A clay coffee pot rests on a tray made from aluminum foil as incense burns near it. Coffee ceremonies are an important part of Ethiopian culture. Photo by Katya Castillo.
Coffee is an essential drink in Ethiopian culture. It’s a community experience and...