Cassandra Garibay
Cassandra traveled to the Mexican-American border to interview asylum seekers and research how asylum facilities are combating mental health issues.
When I first met journalism junior Cassandra Garibay in 2017, I found her a quiet, contemplative young woman. I rarely heard her voice for the first few months of knowing her, a stark contrast to my loud, outspoken nature. Her articles for Mustang News and The SLO Tribune were powerful, inclusive and answered the most important questions — a type of journalism that required a much deeper understanding of the world. It wasn’t until a lecture from our advisor Pat Howe, where he told us the quietest journalists are usually the best interviewers, that I understood her knack for storytelling and shining a light on underrepresented communities.
Cassie is from Madera Ranchos and comes from one of the only Spanish-speaking families in her neighborhood. She became a journalist so she could tell the stories of people like her family. She started as a news reporter for Mustang News, worked her way up to news editor and will serve as managing editor starting in the fall. Over spring break, she visited the U.S.-Mexico border to tell the story of those at the border helping asylum seekers. She is currently working on a story for The Tribune on the air quality risks associated with the Oceano Dunes ATV park. Written by: Quinn Fish |