Iris Kim

1 week ago | nbcuacademy.com | Iris Kim

Before her ancestry test, all Jessica Ewing knew about her father’s lineage was that she came from a family of Mexican migrant workers who moved wherever there was crop-picking work. “It’s hard to pinpoint where your family members come from if you’re poor, moving around a lot and lack education,” Ewing said. “It makes record-keeping impossible.” She had wanted to do DNA testing for years, but kits like 23andMe, with their $100 price tag, were out of her already-stretched budget.

3 weeks ago | nbcnews.com | Iris Kim

DELANO, Calif. — Carolina Sanchez joined the United Farm Workers union in 2016 after the blueberry farm where she worked changed the daily rate for each pound she picked. “They said if you don’t like what you’re paid, you can go home,” Sanchez said. She organized the 500 workers at the Delano farm to strike with the UFW’s support. Eventually, they won a union contract, and Sanchez was elected as the union representative at her workplace.

1 month ago | nbcnews.com | Iris Kim |Alicia Lozano

ALTADENA, Calif. — Smoke from the ravenous Eaton Fire had barely cleared when signs began popping up on the charred remains of destroyed homes declaring Altadena was not for sale. But one month after the wildfire consumed more than 9,400 residences and 14,000 acres in the foothill community north of downtown Los Angeles, the first vacant lot sold for $550,000 cash, $100,000 above the asking price.

1 month ago | nbcuacademy.com | Iris Kim

Peter Mui, founder of Fixit Clinic, describes his repair work as a hobby that’s gotten out of control. What started as a tool share in Berkeley, California, has turned into a volunteer-run group that has organized more than 1,300 repair events around the country. At Fixit Clinics, people can bring any broken household item — from worn socks to broken toasters — and learn how to make them functional again. “During the last few years, interest in repair has exploded,” Mui said.

1 month ago | nbcnews.com | Iris Kim

Peter Mui, founder of Fixit Clinic, describes his repair work as a hobby that’s gotten out of control. What started as a tool share in Berkeley, California, has turned into a volunteer-run group that has organized more than 1,300 repair events around the country. At Fixit Clinics, people can bring any broken household item — from worn socks to broken toasters — and learn how to make them functional again. “During the last few years, interest in repair has exploded,” Mui said.