Season 1 CORE TEAM
Juleyka Lantigua (she/her) is the creator and executive producer of 100 Latina Birthdays. She is the founder/CEO of LWC Studios, which received a Peabody Award nomination and won “The Director's Prize” at Third Coast award, also known as “The Oscars of Audio.” A Fulbright Scholar and Tory Burch Fellow, Juleyka holds a Master's in Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing.
Paulina Velasco (she/her) is the editor of 100 Latina Birthdays. She is the managing producer at LWC Studios, where she oversees the daily operations for the independent audio production house. A seasoned audio reporter and producer, Paulina manages teams that produce 10-15 original and client shows each year, including podcasts for OWN, Penn State University, the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and Ascend at the Aspen Institute.
Michelle Baker (she/her) is the photo editor for 100 Latina Birthdays. She is an associate producer at LWC Studios. Contributes to audio & video production, marketing, ad ops, platform management. Produces virtual-studio sessions, handles ad placements & leads video-related matters. Also involved in education & community-building efforts.
Samia Bouzid (she/her) is the mixing engineer for 100 Latina Birthdays. She is a freelance audio storyteller, writer, and editor based in Philadelphia. She produces and sound design narrative audio stories in English, Spanish, and French, and writes scripts and articles about science for online outlets.
Reyna Noriega designed the cover art for 100 Latina Birthdays. She is a Visual Artist and Author, born, raised and working in Miami, Florida. Having seen the power of introspection, self-reflection, and healing, Reyna’s work centers that aspect of our journeys as we seek to rise and be our best, most authentic selves so that people may experience sustainable peace and happiness.
Amanda DeJesus is the marketing assistant for 100 Latina Birthdays. As the marketing assistant for LWC Studios, she operates every aspect of our social media and writes the bi-weekly Podcasting, Seriously newsletter. She is also a freelance journalist based in Philadelphia.
Kojin Tashiro (he/him) is the lead producer for 100 Latina Birthdays. He is the lead producer and sound designer at LWC Studios, where he is responsible for the music, scores, and overall quality of over a dozen client and original shows.
Anne Lim (she/her) is the associate producer for 100 Latina Birthdays. She is an audio producer currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She loves nonfiction and narrative audio and has worked on reported podcasts with LWC Studios, Neon Hum Media, and Prologue Projects.
REPORTERS
Andrea Flores (she/her) is a freelance multimedia journalist based in the Chicago area, where she was born and raised. She began her journalism career with WTTW Chicago Tonight as a McCarter Fellow where she was producing nightly news segments. Andrea hopes to continue telling stories that dive deeper into questioning the systems that bind, inspire and liberate viewers, listeners and readers.
Leslie Hurtado (she/her) is an award-winning journalist recognized for her reporting on various multimedia platforms. She has collaborated with several newsrooms, including Cicero Independiente, Telemundo Chicago, WGN-TV, Spanish Public Radio, WBEZ Chicago, City Bureau, and WTTW Chicago. She reports on stories that bring healing to those affected by the injustices created by political and governmental systems, with particular interest in stories related to race, class, and immigration
Francesca Mathewes is an independent journalist and just returned from a Fulbright fellowship in Colombia. She now covers development, culture and social movements in Chicago.
Brenda Ordoñez (she/her) is a bilingual reporter based in Chicago, Illinois. She's had experience producing podcasts, news packages and short documentaries for CAN-TV Chicago, Latino News Network and Medill Reports. Her reports center around immigration and immigrant communities highlighting the various journeys to the United States, and the issues in immigration law and policy.
Samantha Friend Cabrera is the photojournalist for 100 Latina Birthdays. She’s a photographer, writer, and performer in Chicago.
Wendy Wei is an independent print journalist and audio producer based in Chicago, where she focuses on migration, communities of color, and social movements. She is a section editor at South Side Weekly and was an inaugural fellow of the Chicago Reader's Racial Justice Writers' Room.
Gina Castro (she/her) is a fictional writer turned investigative journalist. She was raised by Nuyoricans (mostly) on the Southern coast of the U.S. She earned her MSJ from Medill School of Journalism last summer. Her reporting often features stories of resilience and joy.
Julia Binswanger is a freelance producer and reporter based in Chicago. She has a master's degree from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. Her work has been featured in WBEZ, Chicago Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, Rebellious Magazine, and PC Magazine.
Grace Del Vecchio (she/they) is an award-winning journalist from Philadelphia, based in Chicago. With a background in organizing and grassroots campaigns, her work as a reporter, producer and fact-checker centers community voices, with focuses on health, housing, policing, movements and identity. Along with working as a producer and fact-checker on 100 Latina Birthdays, they are currently the editorial program coordinator for City Bureau’s Chicago Documenters Program.
FACT CHECKERS
Savannah Hugueley is a fact-checker and copy editor who has worked for the Invisible Institute, Marshall Project, School of Humans, and other local and national publications. She currently works at the Chicago Reader and as the director of fact-checking for the South Side Weekly. Outside of work, she runs a queer soccer pick-up and loves to bike around the city and play cards with friends.
Fendall Fulton (they/them) is a fact-checker and avid lover of all things audio, narrative, and factual. With a Master of Science degree in information science, Fendall is dedicated to supporting access to accurate, useful, and verifiable information. They work closely with creative teams to craft meaningful stories taking on research, writing, and development for a variety of projects for Wondery, Audible, Novel, Neon Hum, LWC, NHPR, Hyperobject Industries, and the BBC.
Kate Gallagher (she/her) is a freelance fact-checker and researcher based in mid-Michigan who's worked with South Side Weekly, Invisible Institute, Crime Show, Pretend, The Wall Street Journal, and more. When away from her desk, she can be found riding horses, milking goats, or trying to grow crops.