Aaricka Washington
As the associate editor for How To LA, I not only write daily news stories in collaboration with the podcast, I lead strategy conversations with my team in order to create captivating, impactful stories for the podcast, digital site, radio and social media that capture the life, news, and culture of Los Angeles. In this role, I also report on original, L.A.-centric, in-depth stories monthly for the How To LA podcast. My stories largely focus on marginalized communities, youth and education. Lastly, I plan, coordinate and host community events with the aim of broadening and expanding audience reach within LAist and How To LA.
A community-driven local news reporter at heart, I've spent countless hours talking to parents, teachers, students, community members and school board trustees about the most crucial issues in education. I’ve covered breaking news, enterprise and investigative education stories for Chalkbeat Indiana and the Austin American-Statesman, focusing on the experiences of people from historically under-resourced communities that were similar to my childhood working class neighborhoods. I’ve also written for The New York Times, PBS NewsHour, Time Magazine and several other news publications.
Before becoming a professional journalist, I was a Teach for America corps member in Houston, Texas teaching Black, Latino and Southeast Asian kids in low-income schools.
I earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-Bloomington.
My dad’s parents met in South L.A. after moving from Arkansas and Louisiana during The Great Migration in the late 1940s. They settled in Watts and started a large family of Washingtons. My family is currently all over South L.A. They are indeed witnesses of the most infamous, transformative parts of modern Black L.A. history. I was born in L.A. on the exact day my grandparents were married 40 years earlier. While I’m from L.A, I grew up mostly in Indianapolis, Indiana with my mom and visited nearly every summer. After living in Indianapolis, Houston, Austin and New York, it was time to return to my roots. I’m so happy to be back.
I’m an avid roller skater, long-distance runner, (soon-to-be) swimmer, and one helluva dope Auntie.
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How To LA podcast host Brian De Los Santos gives us his personal story with DACA and advance parole. -
After the push for L.A. City Hall reform, people are calling for more changes in local government. Here’s what could happen with our county governing body. -
They offer a quicker, cheaper learning alternative to college but don’t always deliver on the promise. -
April Valentine’s family says she planned for a healthy pregnancy, but she died giving birth -
It’s rare we have snow in lower levels in Southern California. Here’s a history lesson on snow in our area. -
Mid-City is food, fun and history. Let’s explore. -
L.A. eateries could face a fee hike. How restaurants in other cities are fighting back against expensive ordinances for outdoor dining. -
It may be cold now but spring is near. Here’s some guides for living with LA wildlife. -
The soul food scene is robust in LA but we’ll explain why it’s unique to this place -
You might be wondering how — or why — LA named certain streets. Well, look no further. Let’s explain.
