Latino healthcare in San Francisco

Samuel Garzon is a mental health reporter for El Tecolote, covering stories about mental health and social justice in the Bay area. With a major in journalism from UNC Chapel Hill and experience as an editor and production manager for The Daily Tar Heel student paper, Garzon is dedicated to using his skills and passion for journalism to promote empathy, understanding and awareness for those with mental illness. Originally from Colombia, Garzon discovered his love for storytelling through after-school journalism classes, ultimately leading him to pursue a career in journalism. As a bilingual journalist fluent in English and Spanish, he is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities and ensuring that diverse perspectives are represented in mental health reporting. In addition to his work as a mental health reporter, Garzon is an avid reader of science fiction. With a deep commitment to advocacy and using his platform to create positive change, he seeks to deepen his understanding of mental health issues and the people affected by them.

Mara Cavallaro reports on health in the Latino community in San Francisco for El Tecolote, a bilingual community newspaper. A recent graduate of Brown University, she holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in ethnic studies and international and public affairs. Cavallaro was the managing editor of The College Hill Independent, southern New England's largest alt-weekly paper, run by students from Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design. She was also an editor for Somos Latinx Literary Magazine, a biannual student publication. Cavallaro has performed with the Mezcla Latin Dance Troupe, and also speaks Spanish and Portuguese.