Culturas contributions: Meet our staff

Culturas prides itself on offering a wide selection of multicultural and intersection news coverage. Here are a few of the writers who have written for us.

This week Culturas is featuring nine of their superb contributors. The following article contains the second five. 

TaRessa Stovall – she/her – Sagittarius – Authorpreneur

Cultural Identity: 

Black & Blewish (mixed-Black Black-identified)

Hometown:

Seattle, WA

Favorite Food:

Greek salad

Favorite Movie/TV show:

Queen Sugar & The Color Purple

Why did you begin writing? 

I began writing at age 7 inspired by a large colorful moon hanging in the sky. I kept writing to make sense of my world, my life, and my identity.

Beats – 

Mixed-Black identity and fighting racism in all its forms, including colorism. 

A book to read by TaRessa

SWIRL GIRL: Coming of Race in the USA

Patricia Pan Connor – she/her – Virgo – Writer, Investor, Mom

Cultural Identity: 

Chinese American

Hometown:

New Jersey

Favorite Food:

An artisan salad

Favorite Movie/TV show:

Forrest Gump

Why did you begin writing? 

My kids got older and I needed an outlet.

Beats – 

Politics, Identity, Social Trends, Health 

A story to read by Patricia

How am I Supposed to Explain to My Children Asians Are Being Attacked?

Corli Jay – she/her – Pisces – Part-Time Journalist

Cultural Identity: 

Black

Hometown:

South Side Chicago, IL

Favorite Food:

Pizza

Favorite Movie/TV show:

Grease

Why did you begin writing? 

I began writing to tell my story, which morphed into me telling the stories of others and I’ve been in love ever since. 

Beats – 

My favorite topics to write about are Black people doing amazing things in my community. I love to write about my people and the resilience they show against an oppressive and unfair system. I also like to write about the local music scene and learn about up-and-coming artists who are making waves in the city. 

A story to read by Corli

Black Artists on the South and West Sides Show Resilience in Battle with Challenges Created by the Pandemic 

Sonia Smith Kang – she/her – Aquarius – Co-founder Culturas; founder Mixed Up Clothing

Cultural Identity: 

AfroLatina

Hometown:

Los Angeles, CA

Favorite Food:

Burritos

Favorite Movie/TV show:

I Love Lucy

Beats – 

Multicultural identity, diversity, inclusion, culture, tradition, language, raising children. 

A story to read by Sonia

How to talk to your mixed-race kids about race

Bulbul Rajagogopal – she/her – Gemini – Managing Editor at Culturas and Data Journalist

Cultural Identity: 

I’m Indian, specifically Malayali, which means I’m ethnically from a southern Indian state called Kerala. I grew up in Kolkata, West Bengal, and it made my cultural outlook very colorful. Having a foot in both these regions made me fluent in four languages and I’m glad I have my roots there.

Hometown:

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Favorite Food:

Chicken biryani

Favorite Movie/TV show:

I can’t pick one but anything Nic Cage to destress and laugh, and I can watch Clueless every day if I have to.

Why did you begin writing? 

I began writing when I was five and fell in love with it immediately. I kept journals and notebooks throughout my life to document whatever I saw and experienced. I was always drawn to journalistic writing and I believe writing is a skill that you never stop learning. I credit my parents for turning me into a bookworm and for supporting me while I explored my passion for English Literature. I had great teachers, professors, and editors who always encouraged out-of-the-box thinking. I knew I picked the right major in college because I genuinely looked forward to writing essays for tests. I liked bridging creativity and logic. This is one of the many reasons I chose journalism as a career too, other than to avoid math, so it makes perfect sense why I’m also a data reporter. Go figure.

Beats – 

Crime, police work, local politics, and food.

A story to read by Bulbul

Breaking the Blue Ceiling