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Observer News Group •

Black Angelenos Disproportionately Unhoused in 2026 Greater LA Homeless Count - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowBlack residents continue to bear a disproportionate burden in Los Angeles County’s housing crisis, according to new data from the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.Figures released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority show 21,822 Black, African American, or African individuals are unhoused within the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, representing 31.8% of the unhoused population.Black residents make up less than 10%...
Observer News Group •

African Soul International Summer Arts Program Connects Children With African Heritage - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowAt African Soul International, a 36-foot stage sits in the heart of Black Central Los Angeles on Crenshaw Boulevard. Here, local youth spend their summer mornings beating rhythmic patterns on dundun drums, writing in daily journals, and stepping through traditional African choreography.For seven-year-old Kaylani Moore, who was visiting her grandmother in Los Angeles from Richmond, Virginia for the summer, the experience was an an...
Observer News Group •

Extreme Heat Bakes L.A. County as 29,000 Unsheltered Angelenos Are Directly Impacted - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowOfficials are urging thousands of unhoused Angelenos to seek refuge in cooling centers and to take advantage of other outreach services amid an extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service.For unhoused Angeleno Tef Ejigu, 47, following such suggestions remains an ongoing challenge.“It’s been very difficult,” Ejigu said. “I try to make sure I hydrate a lot and stay out of direct sun as much as I can. But you know, t...
Observer News Group •

Sixth Annual Afro Mujeres Fest Reclaims Heritage, Healing, and Culture in South Central LA - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowAmid stage smoke and West African rhythms, the piece explored memory and sacred dreams while honoring maternal ancestors. During the performance, artists paused to address systemic injustice, honoring Black children who have died without receiving justice and calling on the audience to speak their names aloud into the space.The all-women Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble Bloco Obini—composed of local educators, nurses, activists...
Observer News Group •

104-Year-Old Mary Louise Reeves and the Fight for Black Education in Los Angeles - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowBy the time Mary Louise Reeves stepped off the train into Los Angeles in 1942, she had already accomplished what society told Black girls from Marshall, Texas, was impossible.  She was just 20 years old, possessed a college degree from Bishop College that she earned at 19, and carried the quiet, unshakeable confidence of someone who had already managed classrooms of students in the Jim Crow South—some of whom were older than she...
Observer News Group •

'The Wood Cup' Unites Inglewood Residents Priced Out of the World Cup at SoFi Stadium - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowNearly a mile of historic Market Street in Inglewood closed to motor traffic Friday as hundreds gathered for “The Wood Cup,” a free city-backed street festival for a local community priced out of the global tournament happening in its own backyard.With World Cup ticket prices soaring between $300 and $1,600, and stadium parking climbing past $100, the vast majority of Inglewood residents are locked out of matches hosted just a mi...
Observer News Group •

Small Group Discussion on the State of Black LA Warns of Federal Fears, Structural Disparities and Linguistic Gaps Impacting Black Immigrants - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

Participants at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science: PC Marion Apio By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowBlack immigrants in Los Angeles County confront racism and the fear of being deported as they struggle with the economic reality of living in the high-cost region, according to participants in a community forum.The forum, convened for the upcoming third iteration of the State of Black Los Angeles County report, revealed the unique realities of anti...
Observer News Group •

Inglewood City Council Urged to Protect Immigrant Residents From ICE Raids - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowImmigrant rights advocates are urging the Inglewood City Council to pass a local sanctuary ordinance aimed at blocking cooperation with federal agents ahead of international sporting events in the Los Angeles area.Roughly 20 speakers addressed city officials at the June 9 city council meeting regarding the proposed “_,” a local ordinance backed by grassroots organizers such as Healing LA Together, the ING Fellowship and Democrati...
Observer News Group •

Are We Giving Enough Attention to the People Around Us Who Quietly Influence Lives Every Day? - Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, inc.

By Marion Apio | Contributing Writer | California Local News FellowRecently I felt a strong urge to reconnect with a close friend, Owekitinisa Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki, a passionate Ugandan leader whose life touched hundreds of people through leadership, mentorship, and community service. We had not spoken frequently since I moved to the United States to pursue my dream of becoming a journalist.I sent a text to Sylas on March 21 checking in. The following day, I found out from a friend that my 32-y...
City Pride Magazine •

2,000-Year-Old Mummies Are Revealing to Researchers Ancient Medical Practices that Could Save Lives Today - City Pride Magazine

By Marion Apio


Walking into the “Mummies of the World” exhibition at the California Science Center, the shift in atmosphere is immediate. 


The bright, high-energy halls of the main museum give way to a somber, cinematic stillness, where low-light displays and a hauntingly quiet soundscape pull visitors out of 2026 and into a deep, historical silence. 


A distinct, faintly earthy aroma hangs in the air—the scent of centuries-old organic preservation—serving as a sensory reminder that thes...
City Pride Magazine •

Compton Dedicates Square to Civil Rights Leader Maxcy D. Filer - City Pride Magazine

By Marion Apio


For 24 years, Maxcy Dean Filer didn’t quit. He took the California bar exam 48 times, finally passing in 1991 to become a lawyer at age 61. But long before he succeeded at that, he was already fighting for civil rights from his own front porch in Compton. 


As the city of Compton gathered to name a square in his honor, his family, colleagues, and friends made it clear that his life was defined not by the 47 failures but by the thousands of times he stood up for his community....
Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley •

Abuse of Journalists in Uganda: A Documentary by Marion Apio

In this powerful documentary, investigative journalist and former HRC student fellow Marion Apio explores the harsh realities faced by journalists in Uganda, shedding light on the systemic abuse, censorship, and dangers that threaten the lives of journalists and press freedom in the country.

Produced in partnership with the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, Media Challenge Initiative, and Berkeley Journalism, the film highlights the resilience of new and veteran journalists and the urgent need for reforms to protect the future of journalism in Apio’s home country.

Through compelling interviews, on-the-ground footage, and in-depth analysis, the film calls for global attention to the growing challenges faced by media professionals in one of Africa’s most subtly repressive environments. Watch to understand the personal and professional cost of speaking truth to power in Uganda today.
Solutions Now Africa •

Climate Class Model Improves Farm Yields, Livelihoods in Rural Uganda

Regenerate Africa was convinced that for the program to grow beyond its pioneers, it should establish a peer mentorship and learning structure.“We teach the concept to host communities through quarterly trainings in the first year. We then pick a select group of farmers who have masterfully and successfully replicated the model home concept. These farmers undertake additional training before graduating as trainers of trainers.” explains Regenerate Africa Programs Lead Niona Nakuya Kasekende.Rona...
Oakland North •

‘Customers aren’t taking the risk’: growing retail crime upends Oakland business community

By Marion Apio

Sarpreet Oberoi has been to various In-N-Out Burger locations in the Bay Area over the past eight years and found news that the Oakport outlet was closing because of crime “saddening.” 


He believes it’s a good spot for a fast food company, with plentiful parking, lots of customers, and a vibrant retail corridor. But it’s law and order that matters, he said. 


Major chain businesses are leaving or reducing operations in Oakland due to crime. However, small business owners are trying to face...
Richmond Confidential •

Council to consider permitting twice as many cannabis businesses in Richmond

By Marion Apio

Richmond wants to add cannabis retail permits, doubling the number of permitted dispensaries from three to six.


On Tuesday, the City Council will hold a public hearing on making the change possible, by amending the Richmond Municipal Code. The city staff says existing retailers are making significant revenue, even in the face of increased competition. But those in the business say sales have been declining post-pandemic. And some advocacy groups feel there is a health risk in increasing the n...
Richmond Confidential •

What is going on with Hilltop Mall?

By Marion Apio

Twenty years ago, the Hilltop Mall was the place to be in Richmond. It was a bustling shopping area full of life, and around this time of the year, it would have been extra busy with holiday shoppers. Today, the mall is vacant and isolated, stores are empty and dark, with only Walmart open. 


But Hilltop’s owner says the site has a promising future providing three things Richmond needs: employment opportunities, retail space and mixed-use housing. 


Prologis, an industrial real estate compan...
Richmond Confidential •

Reserving some profits for the community makes good business sense for Richmond printer

By Marion Apio

Leftside Printing survived COVID-19, the Great Recession and the decline of print, and yet it is still here. A colorful shop on 15th Street and MacDonald Avenue, it has an unfamiliar smell of ink and a humming noise coming from the printing machines. 


“I started Leftside to change my life and my community,” Diego Garcia, Leftside CEO, said. “Things have been difficult, but here we are.”


While the general consensus might be that screen printing is dead, Leftside has not only survived, but t...
Richmond Confidential •

Richmond Kaiser staff join 'biggest' health care worker strike in U.S. history

By Marion Apio

More than 400 Kaiser Permanente health care workers at Richmond Medical Center are on Day 2 of the strike that is expected to end at 6 a.m. Saturday. 


Holding signs that said “Respect and value healthcare workers” and “Our patients need more staff,” they marched in a circle around the building in 90-degree heat, chanting “We are union, health care union.” Car horns honked and passersby cheered for the workers, who went on strike Wednesday demanding that Kaiser hire more union workers to addre...
The Debunk Factchecking Show - Facts •

The Power of Good Journalism: Global Media Forum 2023 Ignites Change for Next-Gen African Journalists - The Debunk Factchecking Show

“Good journalism goes beyond simply reporting facts; it encapsulates the power of storytelling and social transformation. Next-gen African journalists like myself need to utilize this power to uncover stories that resonate deeply with communities. By highlighting issues of social injustice, corruption, environmental degradation, and economic inequality, we journalists can shed light on the challenges faced by our fellow citizens, bringing these issues to the forefront of public consciousness.” M...
The Observer •

Let us fight online violence against women in politics - The Observer

By Marion Apio

According to Pollicy’s ‘Amplified Abuse’ report, violence against women is a tool used to intimidate and exclude women from political participation and decision-making. This research revealed that during the 2021 general elections in Uganda, women candidates compared to their male counterparts were trolled, received sexualized violence and body shaming.There is an urgent need to end online abuse and also fight Online violence against women politicians (OVAW-P) in Uganda. There is a need to ideat...
Medium •

Here’s how to break into Data Journalism — A journalist’s perspective

By Marion Apio


Four years ago, If you had asked me to participate in a discussion about data, I would have shied away from it. Like many, we grow up believing that topics such as data, Artificial Intelligence, and machine learning are as foreign as anything else within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).Working with data, however, is like stepping into vast, unknown territory. At first, as was the case with me four years ago, raw data is puzzling to the eyes and to the mind. Such data is...
Makerere University News •

Prof. Kagonyera urges students to fight ignorance - Makerere University News

By Marion Apio

The former Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Mondo Kagonyera has challenged University students to take on the mantle of leadership in the fight against ignorance in various communities.

“For development to surface on the African continent, leaders have to resolve ignorance first since it is the sole cause of all African problems,” Prof. Kagonyera said...