My name is Iliana Pineda. I am a Multimedia Producer, working in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. I have a passion for storytelling and bringing out the voices of my community. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio, Television, and Film from Rowan University. For the past three years, I have worked with various non-profit organizations like PhillyCam and Big Picture Alliance working as a videographer, editor, and writer. From short documentary-style videos, short news pieces, and narrative films, there is no limit to what I can create. 

Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ashley Ortega is a storyteller and photographer. As a future public relations professional she hopes to help non-profit organizations develop educational programs centered around supporting art and culture and improving the lives of the minority-majority people of Philadelphia. As a writer, her focus is on her own personal experiences, the stories of immigrant families, environmental injustice, modern colonization, and public policy.

Right now Ashley produces content for ¡Presente!’s social media accounts, as well as a few other research projects to publish in the future.

Two books she would read again are “My Wicked Ways” by Sandra Cisneros and “Bless Me Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya.

Steffany was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia and moved to Philadelphia in 2004. She is a creative bilingual professional with an exceptional gift of storytelling, social media and marketing. She was one of the first producers of Atrevete, a bilingual TV Show that was launched in 2016 by local community leaders. She most recently served as the Director Producer of ExpoFE USA- Generaciones 2022, in which she also assisted as co-producer of the Latino Diamond Awards. For the past 10 years she has use photography and video production to connect communities, cultures and languages. She is passionate about people, the gospel and inspiring young generations through mentorship and servant leadership. In her spare time she loves to read and go to the park with her son Samuel.

Némesis Mora is a journalist and cultural editor with a decade of experience. She completed a master's degree in journalism from the University of Puerto Rico and holds certifications in creative writing and literary journalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and New York University (NYU).

Daisy Murguia (she/her/ella) is a University of California, Irvine alumni and Mexican-American writer based in Southern California. Previously, she worked as a Content Writing Editor for InSight Magazine, covering issues related to poverty in Southern California. Daisy is passionate about storytelling and giving a voice to marginalized communities. When Daisy isn’t reading a book, she can be found at a coffee shop or cooking.

Nigel Thompson is a Philadelphia-based freelance reporter and editor. His work has appeared in Billy Penn, AL DÍA News, and Merion West, among other publications. He is also a correspondent for The Philadelphia Hall Monitor. 

Alex is a filmmaker, producer, videographer, FAA certified drone pilot, and editor. He is the founder of AP Films which is a full service production company. They can do any and every phase of production from research, scripting, producing, directing, shooting, and editing. They travel all around the United States and do broadcast work for commercials, weddings, promos, documentaries, and corporate videos.

Since receiving a BFA degree from Penn State University, Scott Burkett has established Burkett Photography, a business that specializes in portraits, corporate and wedding photography. As a ¡Presente! Media collaborator, Burkett Photography has captured candids, portraits, events, and cityscapes

Valerie Dowret (they/she/he) is a journalist based in Philadelphia. Valerie works as an Editorial Associate at Resolve Philly, where they bridge gaps between newsrooms and Philadelphia communities through programming and reporting. They prioritize writing stories from a solutions lens. Valerie also freelances for local publications like Germantown Info Hub, Kensington Voice, WHYY’s PlanPhilly, and Techinical.ly Media. They found their love for journalism at an early age from the studios of New York’s WBAI Pacifica and has since graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s in journalism. In their free time, they enjoy finding Philly’s best hiking spots and teaching themself to skateboard

Carlos José Pérez Sámano is a writer and poet from Mexico. He has 4 published books in Mexico and two anthologies in United States, Italy and India. He has an MFA in Creative Writing and MA in Publishing by Rosemont College. He is the first Artist in Residence at the Penn Museum. Currently he is writing an opera for the National Opera Orchestra in Montpellier, France.

Becca Haydu is a photographer and videographer based in Philadelphia. She is a graduate of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at Maine College of Art, where she earned a graduate certificate in Visual Storytelling. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic. As an independent visual storyteller, Becca has worked with WHYY Philadelphia, Sundance Film Festival, ITV News (UK), National Public Radio, and more.

Michelle Myers is an Ecuadorian bilingual journalist who moved to Philadelphia in 2017. She is currently a freelancer and Co-hosts the show “El Café de la Tarde,” on Philatinos Radio. Before Philatinos, she worked at AL DÍA News as a political reporter, covering the 2019 city elections and City Hall, among other topics like labor and the LGBTQ+ community. Prior to moving to the U.S., she worked for a tv station, a magazine and a native digital outlet in Ecuador covering the General Assembly and doing data journalism for the national elections.