Santa Cruz Local

Santa Cruz has one of the state’s longest-running Juneteenth celebrations, with events across the county spanning over two weekends. This year marked the city’s 35th anniversary of celebrating this historic holiday for the Black community.

Santa Cruz Local visual journalist Amaya Edwards photographed 8 important Black community leaders. Amaya asked them questions like, “Why do you choose to celebrate Juneteenth?” and “What is something you wish more people knew about Santa Cruz’s Black community?”

To hear the sources in their own voices, Amaya captured audio interviews of: Ana Elizabeth, David Claytor, Cheryl Williams, Reggie Stephens, Esabella Bonner, Justin Cummings, Chelsea Woody and Kelvin Nivens. Swipe for more photos, and make sure to have your volume turned up to hear their responses.

Find the photos with full captions at santacruzlocal.org and at the link in our bio.

Photos/Story by Amaya Edwards

⚽️ 4 DATOS QUE DEBES SABER SOBRE EL MUNDIAL ESTE AÑO
El torneo de este año viene con grandes cambios, incluyendo 16 selecciones más, tres países sede y precios nunca antes vistos.
👉 Cuéntanos, ¿cómo vas a celebrar el Mundial? Y síguenos para ver más noticias locales.

Renaissance High School in La Selva Beach is a continuation school for students who need to make up credits to graduate or were expelled from other schools. Due to budget problems in Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the school faces the threat of potential closure. Amid all the news coverage, we wanted to give students the opportunity to visually express and speak about how they feel about their school and the people and places that make it special.

Santa Cruz Local teamed up with biology teacher Ariel Stonebloom during two classes on May 21 on a photojournalism project. About two dozen students took 162 photos on six disposable film cameras. Then on June 2, students reviewed the photos and wrote reflections.

To see the whole photo essay, find the link in bio or go to santacruzlocal.org
Photos by students. Words by

Every school day since January, volunteers with Your Allied Rapid Response, or YARR, have stood watch outside Live Oak schools watching closely for signs of immigration agents, to help immigrant parents feel a little safer. Now, they’re hoping to get more residents to train as legal observers and sign up as volunteer school patrollers for the upcoming school year.

Training opportunities will be posted on their website at santacruzrapidresponse.org and on their Facebook and Instagram pages .scc

Read the story at the link in bio and at santacruzlocal.org

Photos by
Words by

Early vote counts are rolling in as of Tuesday night. In the race for Santa Cruz Mayor, longtime local politico Ryan Coonerty is leading with more than 53% of the vote. He needs to secure at least 50% to avoid a November runoff.

In the race for Santa Cruz City Council districts 4 and 6, incumbents Renee Golder and Scott Newsome were well in the lead.

For Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 4, challenger Tony Nuñez had secured 50% of the vote, as incumbent Felipe Hernandez and candidate Elias Gonzales trailed.

In Monterey County, incumbent District 3 Supervisor Glenn Church led.

These are early vote counts. More updates are planned in the days ahead and final results will be certified by July 2. Follow along at santacruzlocal.org/resources/election or find the link in bio.