Despite state protections enacted in 2018, vendors in Lancaster and Palmdale say they still face harassment, fines and equipment confiscations. Their community is pushing back. By Jorge Huerta Flores | April 7, 2026 | El Popo, California State University, Northridge On any given afternoon in Lancaster, bright umbrellas line the sidewalks near schools, parks and busy intersections. The aroma of...
The cost of living: food insecurity tightens its grip on Latino families in the San Fernando Valley
Working 50 to 60 hours a week, Elena Zurita still earns too much to qualify for food assistance — and too little to feel secure. Her story is one of hundreds of thousands. By Gizelle Macias | April 7, 2026 | El Popo, California State University, Northridge Elena Zurita wakes up early, works two jobs, and comes home late. At...
Crisis at the crossroads: Southern California’s Latino communities navigate compounding emergencies
Immigration enforcement, economic instability and environmental harm have converged in 2026, creating a crisis researchers say demands urgent institutional response. By Alden Pico | April 7, 2026 | El Popo, California State University, Northridge For many Chicano and Latino families across Southern California, the start of 2026 has felt less like a new beginning than a compounding emergency — one defined...
Founding Faculty of Chicana and Chicano Studies Rudy Acuña Passes Away
El Popo Staff, Spring 2026 Rodolfo “Rudy” Acuña, beloved educator, groundbreaking historian, and tireless advocate for justice, passed away on March 23, 2026, at the age of 93. For those who knew him—as students, colleagues, and community members—he was more than a scholar. He was a force: principled, fearless, and deeply committed to telling the truth about history and to...
The Challenge of Picking a Major
by Beatriz Garces, El Popo Staff Writer The podcast explores the challenges and decisions that college students face. The episode focuses on choosing a major and finding meaning amid academic pressures. The host shares their personal journey of choosing physics as a major, driven by curiosity, passion for math, and the desire to become the first engineer in their family....
The Growing Influence and Ongoing Challenges of Latino Communities in the U.S.
By Beatriz Garces, El Popo Staff Writer Latino communities in the United States are experiencing unprecedented growth in population, economic influence, and political power. As of 2024, Latinos make up nearly 19.5% of the U.S. population, with projections indicating they will represent one in four Americans by 2060, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Their impact extends beyond cultural contributions...
White House Posts Deportation “ASMR” Video, Sparking Widespread Criticism
By Viviana Duran, El Popo Staff Writer On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the official White House Instagram account published a forty-second video titled “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight,” accompanied by a speaker icon indicating viewers should turn their sound on. The post has generated significant backlash across political lines. ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) content typically features soothing sounds like...