Marina Peña

Los Angeles

Podcast Producer at LAist Studios

Writer at Freelance

🇦🇷🇺🇸 Journalist. @USC alumna. Opinions are my own. 📧:[email protected]

Articles

Hollywood career pivot

4 weeks ago | laist.com | Marina Peña

When the 2023 Hollywood strikes finally came to an end, many in the industry figured work would quickly restart. Some even organized their schedules around it. “We took a trip to Japan for my birthday, expecting Hollywood to be back in full swing by the time we returned," said production designer and art director Federico Laboreau, who's married to fellow production designer Maximilian Pizzi. But in the weeks after they came home, they realized things were not going back to normal.
Black History Month Forever and Always

1 month ago | afrolanews.beehiiv.com | Aaricka Washington |Carolyn Jones |Marina Peña

“But it would be historically inaccurate to reduce the contributions of Black people to the vast material wealth created by our bondage. Black Americans have also been, and continue to be, foundational to the idea of American freedom.
LA suffered its worst fires ever. Latinos are among those hit the hardest

2 months ago | buenosairesherald.com | Marina Peña

The wildfires that spread across Los Angeles in January 2025 wreaked havoc on large parts of the city. The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, the two largest, burned 9,593 and 5,674 hectares, respectively. The fires also claimed the lives of at least 29 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, including many homes. Economic losses are estimated at as much as $164 billion in total property and capital losses.
The kids are alright? How kids are coping with the loss of homes and schools to Eaton Fire

2 months ago | afrolanews.org | Marina Peña

“The first time he saw our home, he just broke down crying, and after some time, he pretended he was OK. I asked him, ‘Are you really okay?’ and he looked at me and said, ‘Mom, this is horrible,’” recalled Eshele Williams. She said her 11-year-old son’s reaction to returning to their burned Altadena home was heart-wrenching.
The Debate Around Emilia Pérez

2 months ago | latinousa.org | Marina Peña |Luis Eduardo Luna

The Oscar-nominated film Emilia Pérez has sparked considerable controversy, both for its divisive storytelling and remarks made by its director and lead actress. Directed by Jacques Audiard, this film follows Emilia Pérez, a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes gender affirmation surgery and grapples with the challenges of societal expectations, power, and identity. The film combines elements of musicals, crime thrillers, and social commentary.
Meet the authors creating more Afro Latine voices in children's literature

2 months ago | afrolanews.org | Marina Peña |Jasminne Méndez |Alyssa Reynoso-Morris |Mariyah Rahman

DONATE A school book fair hosted by MiJa Books. (Courtesy MiJa Books) If you’re a parent searching for children’s books that celebrate diverse voices, consider stories that feature Afro Latine characters. There are now far more options than in past years, with many new titles released in recent years, including If Dominican Were A Color, Plátanos Are Love, Counting With Ché, One Whole Me, Aniana del Mar Jumps In, and Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music.
A former teacher is rebuilding Altadena one book at a time

2 months ago | afrolanews.org | Marina Peña

After being forced to evacuate her Altadena home last week due to the Eaton Fire, 27-year-old former preschool teacher Carmela Beyer decided to support her community by launching a fundraiser for children’s books. A lifelong Pasadena resident, Beyer’s GoFundMe campaign, has already raised nearly $40,000. “I don’t want to make a disaster relief fund.
'One Hundred Years of Solitude' on Screen

Jan 10, 2025 | latinousa.org | Marina Peña |Luis Eduardo Luna

Netflix has brought Gabriel García Márquez’s iconic novel One Hundred Years of Solitude to life with a two-part limited series spanning over 16 hours of television. The Colombian masterpiece, originally published in 1967, is considered one of the most significant works in the Spanish language. It tells the multi-generational saga of the Buendía family, who establish the utopian town of Macondo.
Your guide to L.A.’s growing Afro Latine food scene, and the families behind it

Nov 12, 2024 | afrolanews.org | Marina Peña

If you walk up to the floral-themed food truck Tamales Elena y Antojitos on Wilmington Avenue between 110th and 111th Street in Watts, the first thing you might notice is the earthy smell of steamed corn masa. Teresa Irra, who runs the truck with her family, is usually there with a warm smile, ready to take your order. Irra and her family are Afro Mexicans from Chilpancingo and La Costa Chica in Guerrero. Yet like many Afro Latines, they’ve built deep roots in Los Angeles.
The Taco Index: Inflation and the Latino Vote

Sep 14, 2024 | latinousa.org | Marina Peña |Luis Luna

Soaring grocery prices have been at the forefront of the 2024 presidential campaign. Surveys show that inflation is a top concern for Latino voters heading into the election. But the issue isn’t necessarily inflation as economists measure it: a rate of increase over a set period of time. Instead, it’s a deeper and broader feeling that life overall has gotten really expensive.