Dear NAHJ Bay Area members,

Our recent in-person membership meeting at ABC7 was nothing short of inspiring, and we’re still buzzing from the experience.

A huge thank you to ABC7 News for welcoming our chapter into your newsroom and giving members a behind-the-scenes look at where impactful stories come to life.

We’re also deeply grateful to reporter Luz Peña for sharing her honesty, wisdom and encouragement, especially with our student members. Hearing about her professional journey and touring the newsroom and studio made for an unforgettable evening.

One moment that resonated with many attendees came when Luz shared: “Don’t go into a story thinking you have all the answers. You allow for more humanity and surprises. Use who you are to bring light to a place.”

Special thanks as well to Lilian López-Peña for helping coordinate the visit and making the evening possible. And thank you to everyone who attended and brought such great energy to the room. We can’t wait to connect again at upcoming events and trainings.

P.S. If your newsroom would be a great place for a future NAHJ Bay Area membership meeting, we’d love to hear from you!

— Maria Peña, NAHJ Board President