My Work

Borderzine •

After election day in El Paso, here’s a look at mayoral candidates views on immigration, taxes and quality of life

Update: Businessman Renard Johnson has been elected El Paso’s next mayor, defeating city Rep. Brian Kennedy in a runoff election Saturday. Johnson won 56% of the total votes, while Kennedy took about 44% of the votes.

During a heated runoff for El Paso mayor, candidates Renard Johnson and Brian Kennedy met in November for a live-streamed forum co-hosted by El Paso Matters and FitFam El Paso. The candidates addressed top community issues like economic development, taxes and immigration.
The Prospector •

“Día De Los Doggies” celebrating Día De Los Muertos in the Sun City

Día de los Muertos is a time to celebrate our loved ones who have passed away. From creating ofrendas to visiting them where they lay, these traditions help to build a connection with those who have passed on. In the fields where poppies bloom and outside the Museum of Archeology are pups from different families across El Paso.
From different vendors, dog clinics, and the El Paso Animal Shelter, dog parents were provided with a variety of opportunities for their dogs to enjoy at the “Día de los...
The Prospector •

UTEP Zeta Tau Alpha helps community ‘Think Pink’ with 5K Breast Cancer Awareness run

As Breast Cancer Awareness month unfolds throughout October, sorority Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) hosted a 5K event that people across the borderland attended and showed support for survivors and patients alike.  
ZTA President Daniela Samaniego is a student at UTEP majoring in organization and corporate communications. Samaniego spoke about the event and its importance.  
“We are hosting a 5K for breast cancer education and awareness,” Samaniego said. “One in eight women are diagnosed with breast canc...
The Prospector •

Revival of “Dream Monster” in the Sun City

The friendly Dream Monster is making its appearance once again, being spray painted across multiple areas of El Paso. The creative consultant and director of Cool Things Creative and creator of Dream Monster, Matthew Martinez, has brought back his beloved mural of Dream Monster after a six-year hiatus from art.
As a child, Martinez found his passion for art. Since then, his art developed in the streets of Los Angeles, California and El Paso.
“I had a lot of allergies growing up, so when everyone...
The Prospector •

‘Follow it and defend it’ The career choices for Hispanic students at UTEP

From arts to STEM, there are many decisions when choosing a major. However, Hispanic students say they experience the pressure from their families to pursue a major with money.   
84% of UTEP’s population is Hispanic according to the university. Pursuing a major for the end goal of a successful career that earns high income can become complicated in retrospect.   
Andrea Castañeda, a 2019 graduate from UTEP, studied biological sciences. Castañeda has always been passionate about science, but als...
The Prospector •

UTEP Food Pantry gives back to students and faculty to combat food scarcity on campus

From the choices of living on campus to living at home, food scarcity is still a common issue for UTEP students.
The Food Pantry at UTEP advocates for students and faculty that are facing food scarcity by providing nonperishable food items, toiletries or even a snack throughout the day.
Assistant Dean of Students Jaime Mendez Ph.D. and Assistant Vice President for Student Support Charlie Gibbons Ph.D., oversee the UTEP Food Pantry.
“A lot of our basic needs are for students, faculty, or staff,”...
The Prospector •

Crossings across U.S.-Mexico border and El Paso declines following Biden executive order, decrease felt at Annunciation House

Migrant crossings across the U.S.-Mexico border have declined over the past five months. The Biden Administration signed an executive order in June to limit migrant crossings and moderated the eligibility for migrants seeking asylum.
Biden issued the executive order after a bipartisan immigration bill failed in following pressure from former President Donald Trump not to pass the bill.
According to the Texas Tribune, during the month of June, migrants apprehended by federal authorities have decr...
The Prospector •

Calling all Miners: UTEP kicks off back to school events with ‘Late Night at the Rec’

Ever since most school districts in El Paso adopted a year-round schedule, university students felt like they had an extra special summer, one where they don’t have to worry about packed pools or arcades.
But at last, those extra weeks in August have come to an end.
To boost morale, universities have begun holding social events such as fairs, hangouts, and concerts for students attending said institution.
UTEP has followed suit, but where the Miners separate themselves from the pact is when reac...
The Prospector •

“Cancer Can’t Stop Me Roar” highlights beauty of staying positive

Living beyond the troubles of life can be difficult, but never impossible. Carlos Alejandro Lujan, author of “El Cancer No Detiene Mi Rugir: Cancer Can’t Stop Me Roar”, is one of 18.1 million who have survived their fight against cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Lujan moved to El Paso from Chihuahua, Mexico at 19–years–old to attend UTEP, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in marketing and business administration. While handling personal hardships with relationships and cont...
The Prospector •

UTEP team leads groundbreaking research in ‘forever chemicals’ found in breast milk formula

A group of UTEP researchers have discovered nano plastics and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, in breast milk and formula.
This research study started when professor and chief of the Division of Biochemistry in UTEP’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mahesh Narayan, Ph.D., presented projects to two students back when they were studying at UTEP.
The first project focused on nano plastics was led by Afroz Karim, while the second PFAS project was led by A...
The Prospector •

‘Mining’ towards a golden future

From playing hide and seek during recess to walking across stage to graduate, 12 years of education ends for some, while others may choose to continue to earn a higher education. The dream of wanting to become a doctor, astronaut, scientist, or artist, finally becomes a reality once students start their college careers. From elementary to middle school then high school, the choices are endless when it comes to thinking about the future of higher education.  
As graduation is on the horizon for m...
The Prospector •

Mean Girls the Musical in the Sun City

Grab your pink apparel as Mean Girls the Broadway Musical is performing for its North America tour. On April 5-7, Mean Girls hit the Plaza Theater stage with a packed house of El Pasoans of all ages.
The musical retelling of the original 2004 Mean Girls is made up of two acts, and the performance started with “A Cautionary Tale” by characters Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard. This song tells the tale of what is bound to happen in this story of betrayal. This then leads to “It Roars” by charact...
The Prospector •

Behind ‘Bella Luna’ Photo Studio’s mission toward empowering women

A photo lens can capture the beauty of anything that is in sight. At Bella Luna Photo Studio, the creative bounds of beauty, light and creativity are captured with a simple shutter. Bella Luna Photo Studio is located on El Paso St. and is open to all who reserve. The studio creates a way for El Pasoans to be creative with their work and overall appearance.

Judy Villa, a native El Pasoan owns and runs the photo studio and has rooted her creativity within the studio.
The Prospector •

BACK TO BLACK: The gothic resurrection

Black lace traces down as large silver jewelry with spikes and stones glimmers, gothic fashion is back in style. Dating back to the Victorian era, gothic fashion, and its aesthetics have been seen as bad to some people as it has been associated with evil. From romantic goth, and cyber goth to Victorian goth there are many elements of goth styles that go unheard.

Goth is influenced by art, music, literature and style that comes from the Victorian era.

According to Goth Style Guide: Evolution of
The Prospector •

The sweet sound of Nana Bersa

Editor’s Note: This is the third part in a three-part series.

With the groovy mixed style inspired by Clairo and Lana Del Rey, artist Natalia Bermudez or Nana Bersa, shares her sound throughout La Frontera. Over 10 singles and one latest EP “Cariño” sets the stage for Bersa, as she recently signed with Universal Music Publishing Mexico. The soft vocals of Bersa bring a light breath of air to music today.

Bersa, a 22-year-old majoring in media advertising along with a minor in commercial music
The Prospector •

Dream Machine: Psychedelic healing from sounds

Heal the soul with the psychedelic sounds of Dream Machine. Traveling from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the band started their North American tour in March. “Fine Me Again” tour introduced the heavy psychedelic progressive pop band’s music to El Paso at Mona Bar on March 9.

“We started back in 2016 and Matt and I really wanted to play together, and we were living in Austin, TX at the time,” Doris Melton said,” It was a really good psych scene there and it just kind of grew naturally out of our d
The Prospector •

Music has no limit with Texas Hart

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a three-part series.

The sound of rock, pop and blues is shown through the works of many musicians across El Paso. Musician Texas Hart is one of many solo artists who has been creating music for years.

Hart, 26, was born and raised in Honolulu and later moved to El Paso, Texas at 13-years-old. Hart found his interest in performing by being a hula dance performer in his mother’s hula group, Leilani and The Royal Islanders, at three-years-old.

“At recess dur
The Prospector •

La Frontera presents Aquiles Moon

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series.

Across the Frontera, the chords, rhythms and voices echo throughout the wind over the beautiful mountains of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The music scene in the borderland is expanding as more artists are coming out of the dark to share their music.

Former bands known as Juice and Suds, Melancholy 10, and others, are some of the bands that have released music out of El Paso. Now musicians are expanding as solo artists share
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