Julia Barajas
What I cover
My reporting encompasses everything from research universities to community colleges, with an emphasis on students who’ve been historically excluded from higher education. I focus on issues that could affect students’ learning conditions and post-grad opportunities. This includes new programs and teaching methods; the spread of generative AI; labor disputes; disciplinary proceedings; and access to financial aid. I also highlight campus resources and events that are open to the broader community.
My background
Up until 12th grade, I was never assigned anything written by a person of Mexican descent, despite growing up in L.A. County, where Latinos make up nearly half of the population. So when a brochure for East Los Angeles College appeared in the mailbox, I tried out dual enrollment and took an introductory Chicano Literature course. Our class read everything from Tomás Rivera’s “... And the Earth Did Not Devour Him” to Bernice Zamora’s “Notes from a Chicana ‘COED.’” And what I learned there — about writing, about history and about myself — stayed with me. It informed my decision to major in literature and Latin American studies when I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, and it continues to shape the work I do now.
My goals
I aim to help all college students chart a course of success for themselves, guided by their own curiosities and ambitions.
Best way to reach me
If you’re worried or excited about something related to SoCal higher ed, I’d love to hear about it. You can reach out by email at jbarajas@laist.com. If you have a tip you'd like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is jbarajas.68. You can follow this link to reach me there or type my username in the search bar after starting a new chat.
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Students who started high school wearing face masks and testing for COVID-19 graduate in the midst of widespread immigration raids. -
"We’re going to be imprisoned." One family’s experience in the Los Angeles ICE field office. -
Undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families are learning how to assert themselves — and prepare for worst-case scenarios. -
A two-week ban put Brook Haley's job in jeopardy. -
Officials want to give local flora and fauna a chance to bounce back after the Eaton Fire. They also want to protect hikers from danger. -
Borrowers who need to certify their employment have options. -
Students on at least six of the Cal State system’s 23 campuses have joined the growing hunger strike movement. -
Candidates will get free tuition, a mentor and a stipend. -
The relief is meant to help homes and businesses rebuild after the January fires. -
The Department of Cannabis Control has until this summer to establish new rules.
