Stefanie Ritoper
As producer on LAist’s early childhood coverage, I work to bring voices from parents, caregivers, and educators into our newsroom. On some days this means sharing resources with families by mail and on others it means answering questions by text about pregnancy and early parenthood. My work leading the multimedia reporting project “Child Care, Unfiltered” won multiple awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow award for Excellence in Innovation and the Gather Award in Community-Centered Journalism from the Online News Association.
For close to 20 years, I’ve explored the intersection of media and civic engagement. I started my career in documentary filmmaking and then moved into long-form podcast audio and multimedia storytelling. I also have worked in mission-driven organizations, including the UCLA Labor Center and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy. One thing I have learned through this work is that you have to work hard to make democracy accessible for everyone.
Culver City is my hometown and one of the best things about L.A. is a backyard BBQ on a warm summer night. Also, L.A. is many cities and many countries sandwiched together. Even having grown up here, I still constantly discover new things.
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Families in crisis have to knock on multiple doors to find services, often getting turned away before they can find help. In South L.A., 42 organizations are working together to make sure families are taken care of. -
It’s a hard world out there to raise kids. Trying to get the care and support you need can feel complicated or just plain unfair. Here’s what you can do as a parent to make things better.
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Obon is a joyous Japanese American summer holiday dedicated to remembering and honoring ancestors.
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Every summer, Japanese Americans in Southern California gather at temples and community centers to celebrate Obon, a joyous festival dedicated to remembering and honoring ancestors.
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For our second annual Super-Fun Saturday, we partnered with more than two dozen community partners, along with local Los Angeles authors and performers.
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Parents and maternal health advocates share advice for expecting parents, from listening to grandmas to making your voice heard.
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Every year we look back on the important stories of the past 12 months — and look ahead to the stories in the new year.
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We take this question to the best experts in SoCal on this topic — parents — who give their tips for facing the unknown during pregnancy.
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Parenthood means big transitions — huge changes for your body, your perspective, and your identity. Your questions, answered.
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You asked us questions about baby development. Occupational therapist Dairian Roberts joined LAist’s text service Hey bb to give some answers.
