About us
Enlace Latino NC is North Carolina's first digital, nonprofit, Spanish-language news outlet, led by immigrant journalists, dedicated to serving the state's Latino and Hispanic communities.
With a statewide and community-based focus, our independent, nonpartisan, and community-centered journalism responds to the urgent need for access to democratic information in Spanish, especially on topics such as politics, government, immigration, health, education, and other public issues that directly affect our communities.
Our mission
Founded in 2018 by journalists Paola Jaramillo and Walter Gómez, our mission is to empower the diverse Latino immigrant community in North Carolina to actively participate in the social, political, and economic changes that affect them.
Through our journalism and civic engagement efforts, we seek to close critical information gaps, promote equity, and encourage the full participation of Latino communities in the democratic life of the state.
Closing the Information Gap in North Carolina
North Carolina's Latino communities face a persistent and dangerous information gap. As the local media crisis spreads across the state—with more than 50% of counties classified as information deserts—, the consequences are especially serious for Spanish-speaking and immigrant communities. The chronic lack of investment in Spanish-language news has led to a near-total absence of original and local coverage in this language, leaving entire communities without access to the information they need to navigate public life.
This gap is not just about language, but also about power and access. Without centralized, accurate, and contextualized information, Latino communities in North Carolina face barriers to civic participation, accessing economic opportunities, and exercising their right to self-determination. Enlace Latino NC exists to break down those barriers.
Who do we serve?
Our audience is comprised of the Latino immigrant community in North Carolina, with a special focus on those living in rural and underserved areas.
What We Do
In 2024, we will reach more than 500,000 people a year Through our website, newsletters, podcasts, social platforms, WhatsApp community, and community listening sessions. We publish our journalism on the following platforms:
- EnlaceLatinoNC.org : Our free and accessible platform publishes daily coverage of immigration, health, politics, and public programs.
- The tortilla : Our flagship newsletter with six specialized editions offering information ranging from politics to health
- El Jornalero : The first Spanish-language newsletter in North Carolina created specifically for farmworkers, published weekly during the agricultural season
- Enlace Latino NC Podcast : Features original narrative reports and community conversations
- Community on WhatsApp : Weekly news summaries, live discussions with experts, and direct reader engagement
- Social Media : We reach our audience through various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and BlueSky. Live broadcasts have become a central part of our engagement strategy.
We also develop resource guides that ensure that our coverage is immediately useful to our community :
- 2024 General Election Voter Guide y North Carolina 2024 Primary Guide
- Hurricane Helene Resource Guide y Get Ready NC: Hurricane Preparedness Guide
- Digital Resource Guide for Farmworkers in North Carolina
- Immigration Guide
Community participation
Since our founding, community engagement has been central to how we inform, connect, and serve. We held both in-person and virtual listening sessions, hosted interactive community forums, and tested new communication channels such as WhatsApp updates, conversations, and forums. Through these efforts, we reached Spanish-speaking residents across the state—especially in rural and underserved areas—and gave them the opportunity to voice their concerns, ask questions, and help shape our newsroom's priorities.
This engagement shapes our journalism. We produce stories in direct response to questions and needs that arise during these conversations, ensuring our coverage remains rooted in the real experiences of our audiences. Whether clarifying changes in state policies, highlighting community solutions, or explaining rights and resources, First we listen and then we report .
Our Allies
Enlace Latino NC is supported by local foundations such as the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Cone Health Fund and BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation.
We also receive support from national partners such as the American Journalism Project, Skyline Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Report for America, Democracy Fund, Ford Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Borealis Philanthropy, and the Walton Family Foundation.
Strategic alliances are essential to the mission of Enlace Latino NC They expand our coverage, strengthen our editorial work, and keep us connected to community solutions across the state. These include: NC Local, Blue Ridge Public Radio, Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), Charlotte Observer, El Centro Hispano INC, WUNC Radio, Mia 93.4 FM, and Univision 40.