Freelance Writing Overview

2024-Santa Ana Move to Erase Chicano Gothic Mural Triggers Debate

Emigdio Vasquez’s work in Santa Ana has been destroyed throughout time; some residents are asking why there isn’t a protocol for aging historic murals in Santa Ana.

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An ‘Original Chicano Barrio’ in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and Pocket Park

The $2 million dollar, not-yet-named pocket park in Artesia Pilar also doubles as a stormwater capture system.

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2024-The Making of a Mural That ‘Means Something’ to Santa Ana’s Sullivan Neighborhood

Muralists, art teachers, residents, and community leaders are all brainstorming ideas for a potential community mural in the Sullivan community.

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Item description
The public art project is spearheaded by local senior activists.
Photography and writing By Julie Leopo
Santa Ana’s Willard Neighborhood has rolled out the city’s first mural crosswalk, something locals say is the result of a burgeoning culture of speaking out and organizing.
While most Americans celebrate the New Year on Jan. 1, many Asian cultures, including Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities, celebrate their start of the year following the Lunar calendar.
Written by Julie Leopo
With different council members introducing different resolutions, there wasn’t enough support to bring back a single one for a formal vote at a future meeting.
Written by: Brandon Pho, Julie Leopo. Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC
The horses become a biofeedback machine, say organizers at The Shea Center in San Juan Capistrano.
Written and photographed by Julie Leopo
This Labor Day, Voice of OC recognizes laborers on the picket lines demanding change.
With summer only a memory to students, they are coming back to new classrooms, new teachers and new friends.
Written + Photographs by Julie Leopo
Orange County leads the nation in celebrating Chicano culture in August. This year, local leaders also question themselves on whether it’s time to make the term more inclusive.
Written and photographed by Julie Leopo
The countless sacrifices that many employed mothers make can, at times, go untold.
Maria Perez is one of the many vendors in downtown Santa Ana fighting to survive the construction effort putting modern streetcars back onto one of Orange County’s oldest business districts.
2023- Latino Health Access’ Weekly Distribution Feels the Squeeze Ahead of California’s Food Cliff
Photography Julie Leopo
Writing/reporting: Hosam Elattar, Julie Leopo
2022-Chicano Power Stands Proud at Santa Ana’s El Salvador Park
Downtown Santa Ana Merchants Demand OC Transit Agency Cushion OC Streetcar Impacts
Local Activists Put Lydia Back at Romero Cruz Academy
Orange County Goes Global; Praying for Ukraine and Uniting for Climate Action
https://voiceofoc.org/2022/02/downtown-santa-ana-small-business-owners-block-oc-streetcar-construction-over-lost-profits/Downtown Santa Ana Small Business Owners Block OC Streetcar Construction Over Lost Profits
County of Orange Workers Protest ‘Petri Dish’ Covid Workplace, Call For Better Protections
Demand for OC Senior Programs Surges During COVID-19, Pointing to A Bigger Problem Ahead
The Holidays Look Different for Families of the Incarcerated in Orange County
Orange County Remembers the Dead
Santa Ana Murals Slated For a Comeback
Orange County Residents Enjoy Reopening Day, Largely Marking an End to Masks
People Came to Santa Ana From All Over to Support Street Vendors. Will City Officials Support Them Too?
Orange County’s Asian American Community Stands Up to Hate and Honors People Killed in Recent Mass Shootings
Leopo: Are Santa Ana’s Historic Murals Doomed to Fade Into History?
Community Members Call on Orange County to ‘Stop Asian Hate’ and Remember The Dead
Dia de los Muertos Altar Tour in Santa Ana, Anaheim Honors the Dead in Midst of Coronavirus Pandemic

Freelance Writing Overview

2024-Santa Ana Move to Erase Chicano Gothic Mural Triggers Debate

An ‘Original Chicano Barrio’ in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and Pocket Park

2024-The Making of a Mural That ‘Means Something’ to Santa Ana’s Sullivan Neighborhood

2024- An ‘Original Chicano Barrio’ in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and Pocket Park

2024- Santa Ana’s Sullivan Neighborhood Wants Your Take on a Mural For This Wall

2024- Willard Neighborhood Wants to Be Seen

2024- Lunar New Year Kicks off In OC

2023- Santa Ana Council Deadlocks on Israel & Palestine Statement

2023-‘Becoming a Civilian Again,’ Veterans Use Equine Training to Combat Mental Stress

2023- The Summer of Strikes

2023-Orange County Goes Back to School

2023- A Time For Chicanos and Chicanas

2023- Working Through Motherhood

2023- Battling to Survive Santa Ana’s Street Car

2023-Latino Health Access’ Weekly Distribution Feels the Squeeze Ahead of California’s Food Cliff

2022-Chicano Power Stands Proud at Santa Ana’s El Salvador Park

2022-Downtown Santa Ana Merchants Demand OC Transit Agency Cushion OC Streetcar Impacts

2022-Local Activists Put Lydia Back at Romero Cruz Academy

2022-Orange County Goes Global; Praying for Ukraine and Uniting for Climate Action

2022-Downtown Santa Ana Small Business Owners Block OC Streetcar Construction Over Lost Profits

2022- County of Orange Workers Protest ‘Petri Dish’ Covid Workplace, Call For Better Protections

2022-Demand for OC Senior Programs Surges During COVID-19, Pointing to A Bigger Problem Ahead

2021-The Holidays Look Different for Families of the Incarcerated in Orange County

2021-Orange County Remembers the Dead

2021-Santa Ana Murals Slated For a Comeback

2021-Orange County Residents Enjoy Reopening Day, Largely Marking an End to Masks

2021-People Came to Santa Ana From All Over to Support Street Vendors. Will City Officials Support Them Too?

2021-Orange County’s Asian American Community Stands Up to Hate and Honors People Killed in Recent Mass Shootings

2021-Leopo: Are Santa Ana’s Historic Murals Doomed to Fade Into History?

2021-Community Members Call on Orange County to ‘Stop Asian Hate’ and Remember The Dead

Dia de los Muertos Altar Tour in Santa Ana, Anaheim Honors the Dead in Midst of Coronavirus Pandemic