Letter from the Editor

by Ricardo Lara Nava

Dear

Readers,

This is the final issue that I am working on El Leñador as I will be graduating this Spring. I have called the newsroom my second apartment because ever since I was given a key I have never left. “It looks like Sanford and Son in here,” said Advisor Andrea Juarez one time when she saw the big Kodak 35 mm projector I found in the middle of the newsroom.

Many memories were made here and it will be all that I will remember during my time at Cal Poly Humboldt and Humboldt County. Last semester me and two other staff members stayed in the newsroom for 24-hours after returning from a meeting where we could not record and hand-write what was said word for word.

When I first got to Arcata in 2021, Centro del Pueblo had started the community garden on F street. Seeing it now in 2023 and how much that space has progressed and meeting those that had made it into what it is now gave me a sense of home.

The experience that I have had here and the uniqueness of this publication is something that I will have with me when I leave. Having held this leadership position has given me the inspiration of what more I could do in other communities outside of Humboldt County.

I just graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both journalism and Critical, Race, Gender and Sexuality (CRGS). That’s crazy to say; it feels like just yesterday I was eagerly leaving the life I only ever knew in East Oakland to embark on a new adventure of education and life in Arcata. Four years later here I am making the transition from burnt-out college student to anxiously-anticipated “real world” post-graduate.

I’ve learned so much during the past four years, but the most important theme of it all has been the power of creating and nurturing community. For me, success has been rooted and empowered by the people I meet and connect with. Personally, I found that community across campus through friends, cultural-affirming spaces, professors, departments and clubs. There’s no way I could have done four years without the support of these people. Together we have cried, laughed, and worked late through the toughest and happiest times of our lives.

I know you might be wondering, “Well cool but how do I find that for myself?” My response to that would be to ask yourself what you value and what contributions you are willing to make.

I asked myself that same question about three years ago. It was the middle of the pandemic and I was isolated in my room looking for a sense of com- munity. I joined El Leñador after my friend Karina encouraged me to join. Through joining El Leñ I have not only found my passion for public relations and developed journalism skills, I also enjoyed creating lifelong friendships in my newsroom.

Understanding your values helps establish an understanding for what spaces you want to enter and the type of community that you would like to establish. Look for clubs and centers that have similar goals to yours or values you’d like to obtain for yourself. Talk to your professors during their office hours about your interests. Tell your classmates about your aspirations and goals you’d like to achieve. Shoot, you can even create your own club to establish the community you’d like to see.

The point is that college is whatever you want it to be. So don’t be afraid to go out and talk to people, use the resources available to you and establish the connections with the people around you. I was lucky enough to find community through my campus newspaper, academic cultural center, both the journalism and CRGS departments and the countless friendships and connections with professional staff.

Thank you and good luck you’ve got this, Steffezey

It was a privilege to meet the many amazing community members and leaders that have supported us and recognized the work that we are doing.

Next semester Peyton Leone and Victoria Olsen will be co-EIC and I have full confidence in them. I have seen their growth within the publication since they started. It’s funny because I have pictures of Peyton in the background from events before he joined.

Thank you for reading. Peace y'all , Ricardo Lara Nava