![Cook Martha Garcia preps food in the kitchen at Verde Mexican Rotisserie in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 6, 2021. Domi Chavarria, the owner of Verde Mexican Rotisserie, lost about $10K worth of inventory when they shut down for two weeks due to the Caldor Fire evacuation. Salgu Wissmath for CalMatters](https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/100821-Tahoe-Fire-Economy-SW-24.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
![Avatar photo](https://calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cropped-Alejandra-Reyes-Velarde-300x300.jpg)
Alejandra Reyes-Velarde is an environmental equity reporter from Los Angeles.
Previously, Reyes-Velarde was a California Divide reporter for CalMatters specializing in social mobility, labor issues, immigration and more. Reyes-Velarde has written accountability stories about state and local governments’ response to increases of asylum seekers in California and access challenges for internet and phone service for the poorest Californians, as well as residents’ difficulty staying housed as the cost of living rises.
She began her career at the Los Angeles Times, where she produced award-winning work on major news events and marginalized communities.
She was part of an award-winning team covering Southern California fires and the Borderline bar shooting in 2018. She also was the CCNMA Ruben Salazar Award recipient for a series about the pandemic’s impact on Latino communities. Additionally she contributed to the LA Times’ education, business and entertainment coverage.
Reyes-Velarde is a Los Angeles native born to Mexican immigrant parents. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s in legal studies from UCLA School of Law. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
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![Cook Martha Garcia preps food in the kitchen at Verde Mexican Rotisserie in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 6, 2021. Domi Chavarria, the owner of Verde Mexican Rotisserie, lost about $10K worth of inventory when they shut down for two weeks due to the Caldor Fire evacuation. Salgu Wissmath for CalMatters](https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/100821-Tahoe-Fire-Economy-SW-24.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
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![High school senior Catalina Govea, 17, helps a fourth-grade student at Linden Elementary School in San Joaquin County as part of a youth apprenticeship program on March 5, 2024. Photo by Manuel Orbegozo for CalMatters](https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/030524_Apprenticeship_MO_CM_013.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
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![An interactive segment with crowd participation at the California Fast Food Workers Union SEIU Membership Launch Event in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2024. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters](https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/020924_FAST_FOOD_UNION_JAH_CM_00278.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
![An interactive segment with crowd participation at the California Fast Food Workers Union SEIU Membership Launch Event in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2024. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters](https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/020924_FAST_FOOD_UNION_JAH_CM_00278.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
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![María Vela assembles a cardboard box as her family gets ready to move out of their home of nearly 30 years in East Los Angeles on Dec. 17, 2023. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters](https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/121723_Vela-Family-Eviction_AH_CM_11.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
![María Vela assembles a cardboard box as her family gets ready to move out of their home of nearly 30 years in East Los Angeles on Dec. 17, 2023. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters](https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/121723_Vela-Family-Eviction_AH_CM_11.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)