2023 NAHJ CHAPTER ELECTIONS: BAY AREA

The Bay Area Chapter elections committee is pleased to open the ballot to vote on this year's board election. Polls will close on July 7, at 5 p.m. ET and results will be announced soon after. You can find the list of candidates who appear on the ballot below.

Only current eligible Bay Area Chapter members voters are able to access the ballot. If you're having trouble with the ballot, please contact us at [email protected].

 Candidates' Statements

President:
Alicia Gonzáles

Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado
Vice President:
Michelle Iracheta

Tamara Mino
Financial Officer (uncontested):
Raquel Maria Dillon
Secretary (uncontested):
Michelle Morgante
At-Large Officer (uncontested):
Victoria Sánchez De Alba

NAHJ professional chapter officers’ general guidelines to keep in mind:

Officers of Professional Chapters 
(a)  Officers. Each professional chapter (i) is required to have a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and a Secretary and (ii) at the discretion of the Chapter Board also may have a single at-large officer with such responsibilities as the Chapter Board shall determine.
(b)  Qualifications. The offices of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary may be held only by Regular Members in good standing. Any Regular Member, Academic Member or Associate Member, in good standing, may serve as the at-large officer. 
(c)  Holding Multiple Offices. Any elected officer may concurrently hold two or more offices, except that in no event shall the President serve simultaneously as the Treasurer or the Secretary.

(d)  Election. Chapter officers shall be elected annually. The President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected by the Regular Members and the Academics Members of the chapter. The at-large officer, if any, shall be elected by the Regular Members, the Academic Members and the Associate Members of the chapter.

2023 ELECTIONS TIMELINE

• May 12th:  Call for Nominations
• May 26thDeadline to submit 5 unique signatures before 11:59 p.m. Deadline to become a member in good standing and be eligible to vote
• May 29th – 31stVetting process. The Elections Committee will screen candidates. 
• June 1st: Online voting begins (Polls open two weeks before the polls close)
• July 7th: Polls close at 5 p.m. ET and results are announced.

 


Candidates Statements:

Alicia González

 

I am the current VP of the SF Bay Area Chapter and am honored to be considered in this election to serve as the next President. With deep roots in the Bay Area and a passion for journalism, I bring to the table a wealth of experience and a commitment to representing our vibrant community of Hispanic journalists.

For over two decades, I have called the Bay Area my home, and during this time, I have witnessed the power of storytelling firsthand. As an experienced journalist, I have dedicated my career to unearthing untold stories and giving voice to those who are often marginalized. Through my work in various publications such as INSIDER, BUSINESS INSIDER, and CEOWORLD, I have delved into topics ranging from business and entrepreneurship to leadership, education, and lifestyle. By exploring these diverse beats, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities that our community faces.

As your current Vice President, I have had the privilege of working closely with our board and engaging with our members. This experience has given me valuable insights into the needs and aspirations of our community. I believe in fostering an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration and empowers each member to reach their full potential. If elected as President, I will work tirelessly to create networking opportunities, professional development programs, and mentorship initiatives that amplify our voices and promote our collective success.

I recognize the power of representation in the media and its ability to shape perceptions, challenge stereotypes, and inspire future generations. I am committed to championing diversity and inclusion within our industry, ensuring that our stories are told with authenticity and cultural sensitivity. Together, we can make a lasting impact by advocating for fair representation, fighting against bias, and promoting diversity in newsrooms across the Bay Area.

Furthermore, I will leverage my extensive network and partnerships to provide resources and opportunities for our members to flourish. By collaborating with local organizations and educational institutions, we can create internships, scholarships, and training programs that nurture the next generation of Hispanic journalists and equip them with the skills they need to succeed.

I humbly ask for your support and vote in this election. With your trust, I will dedicate myself to advancing the interests and aspirations of our members, while fostering an environment that celebrates our rich heritage and diverse perspectives. Together, let us continue to tell the stories that need to be heard, shaping a brighter future for Hispanic journalists in the SF Bay Area.

 

 

Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado

Growing up in a small town of roughly 1,000 people in the heart of California’s farmland, my neighbors, my classmates, the friendly store owners and the members of our church are who shaped my world. I grew up learning about the outside world through the TV screen. I always wondered whether the things that happened in my own community would ever make it there. Nearly two decades later, I am a journalist telling the world about the things that go on in the place where I live. Except, my world has grown beyond the small town. And just as my world has expanded, so has my appreciation for journalism and the power of storytelling and storytellers.

I never knew that a boy like me -- who came to this country from Mexico at age 5, who had parents who worked in the fields from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., whose first language was not English, and who lived in a town that felt remote and out of touch -- could ever say he works as a journalist. But something has always pushed me to never fear trying. I have had the privilege of having so many great mentors and a support system that never let me think twice about my path into journalism.

This is why I am eager to serve as president of this chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. I know I have so much to give back and still learn and I would like to accomplish this by leading this chapter into its next great phase of connecting, promoting and inspiring Hispanic journalists in Northern California. I would like to see the doors into journalism be kept wide open and for the many talents and skills to be utilized in order to tell the stories of our community. I believe scaling up representation in journalism to reflect and respect those we cover is a key way to create inspiration for and within our craft. Thank you.
 

Michelle Iracheta

My name is Michelle Iracheta, and I am honored to run for the position of Vice President for the NAHJ Bay Area chapter. My professional journey spans a decade and has been a testament to my dedication to community journalism and my belief in its essential role in shaping what we, as Latino journalists, play in our democracy.

As Vice President, I commit to leveraging my experience and insight to amplify the importance of diversity and community journalism among Hispanic journalists. I bring versatility, independence, and a meticulous approach to my work, with the ability to thrive in diverse settings and cultures. I'm comfortable setting goals and deadlines and testing my limits while understanding my boundaries.

In 2021, I co-founded the Redwood City Pulse, aiming to bring hyper-local community news to Redwood City. This venture reaffirmed my conviction in the power of local reporting. I have explored numerous sectors, from mental health and public safety to disability rights, education, and city government. These diverse experiences have fueled my commitment to highlight the issues that truly matter to our communities.

Our role as Hispanic journalists goes beyond reporting news. We are the link between our communities and the wider public, and it's our responsibility to ensure our stories and those of our communities are told.

I am seeking your vote because I bring a unique blend of experience, passion, and vision. I am committed to a strong, united NAHJ that supports its members in the Bay Area, celebrates diversity, champions community journalism, and advocates for the representation of Latinos in the media.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. Let's continue illuminating our stories, empowering our communities, and fortifying our democracy.
 

Tamara Mino

I'm running for the VP position because I've been committed and would love to keep serving this board and chapter, there's a lot more to do! I am living proof that NAHJ truly cares and helps journalists and I do believe my mission is to keep paying it forward to help the next generation of journalist.

Tamara Mino is an award-winning bilingual journalist and progressive storyteller at Univision Bay Area, since January 2021.

With a passion for investigative reporting, Mino has covered major stories from immigration, presidential campaigns, politics, COVID-19 crisis in California, mass shootings and breaking news.

Mino started her journalism career as a Florida news correspondent for digital newspaper MundoHispánico from 2016 to 2018, and transitioned to TV in 2018 at Univision Orlando. Mino graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2016.

Born in New York to immigrant parents from Argentina and Colombia, Mino is a member of the Investigative Reporters and Editors Organization, Society of Professional Journalists, and serves as a board member for the Bay Area chapter of the National Association of Hispanics Journalists.

 

 Raquel Maria Dillon

Queridas colegas de NAHJ: 

Thank you for considering my candidacy for Treasurer of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter. I'm excited to serve and eager to collaborate to make our chapter a vibrant community resource.

At this point in my career, I'm eager to give back by dedicating time and organizational skills to NAHJ. We can build a lively chapter that connects journalists with mentors, community and career development, that embraces and empowers Latinx journalists and represents our diverse communities.

As treasurer, I'd take on managing the chapter's finances and be held accountable for the balance. I'm meticulous and diligent with paperwork and budgets. But I also want to grow the chapter with fun mixers. I still remember being welcomed into John Diaz's backyard (former SF Chronicle editorial page editor) for a potluck as a new member when I moved back to the Bay Area a few years ago. We should measure our events and programs by that spirit of warmth and collegiality. But there's also potential to go bigger, recruit new members, and become a force in the Bay Area journalism community through formal mentorship programs and topic-oriented events that represent our interests as Latinx journalists. I'm committed to listening and collaborating with all members to chart the chapter's path going forward.

I'm a field reporter at KCBS now, but over 20 years, my career path has zigzagged a bit. I think that's an asset in an organization that represents all kinds of journalists. I've worked in Santa Rosa and San Jose, wrote for newspapers and shot video for local TV news stations, covered local news and national stories for NPR and the AP in the LA bureau. Throughout my career, I've been drawn to covering stories about Latino communities.

¡Gracias por su voto! I look forward to working with you all.

 

Michelle Morgante

I believe our NAHJ chapter has the potential to strengthen the skills and positions of Latinos in journalism across our region. I am running to be chapter secretary in order to contribute to the growth of our chapter and to help build up its operations across Northern California.

I'm a native of the San Joaquin Valley. I have more than 30 years of experience in professional newsrooms and owe my start to the California Chicano News Media Association, whose members encouraged me in the 1980s to pursue this career. In the 2000s, I was a founding member of the NAHJ chapters in both San Diego and Miami. I'm a past officer of the CCNMA and a past chapter officer of the Society of Professional Journalists. I'm also a current member of SPJ, ONA, IRE, ACES and NAJA.

Northern California deserves to have a vibrant and impactful NAHJ chapter. It's up to us to support one another, encourage our fellow members to seek job opportunities that allow them to grow, build outreach to help bring the next generation of Latino journalists into newsrooms and spread the word among la comunidad about the importance of Latino voices in media.

As secretary, I will commit to being active in building up our operations, our membership and our programs and to developing a robust and multilayered system of keeping everyone informed.

Thank you y gracias.
 

Victoria Sánchez de Alba

As a proud one of the founding members of NAHJ Bay Area Chapter, I am running for the At-Large position because I am committed to keeping our chapter moving forward and to be a bridge between the community and Latina/o journalists, as well as advancing more Latinos in the news.  I am also a proud Lifetime member of NAHJ!

 

If you have any questions regarding this chapter's election contact Maria Peña, Bay Area Chapter Elections Chair. You can also email us at [email protected] with any additional questions.


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