Life & Work with Amairani of Bakersfield

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amairani.

Hi Amairani, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am from the zero generation, who immigrated from Sinaloa Mexico when I was about a year old. I am the oldest of three. As a kid I lived in Boyle Heights but most of my childhood was in Montebello. In 10th grade I moved to Pico Rivera and graduated from El Rancho High School in 2014.

I worked for most of my childhood and teen age years. I first started in the 4th grade selling Rebelde gum stickers.
In 6th grade I started to work at a shoe bodega en El Monte, with my mom and siblings and I would also sale shoes at school during lunch time. We then started selling bolis (ice cream) with my mom after school and during the weekends and we would sale them at neighborhoods/laundry places/car washes. We would always walk everywhere and we would sale them in a cooler and carry them in a stroller.

My mom eventually moved on to sale Mexican household food at a car wash and at a bodega across from ELAC, this was during my first two years of high school, I was the cashier and we would have the food set up in the back of our car. She eventually got tired of cooking and started selling at the Swap meet and till this day she still works there

As being the oldest and the first to graduate high school and go to college school has always been hard for me I had to navigate language barriers and figure everything out by myself. In 2024 I went to Cal State LA and I was a full time student and I was also working at the school and outside the school. I graduated in 2020 with a Bachelors in Television Film and Media Studies with an option in Broadcast Journalism. Unfortunately, the pandemic happen and my graduation got cancelled. By the time the school decided to give us a ceremony in person, I was 7 months pregnant already and decided not to attend.

After college I was working for a Non-profit called My Safe:LA, a fire safety nonprofit as a social media manager/photographer and had moved to Bakersfield as with my partner at the time. The pandemic got worse and I was let go from the fire safety job and started to work as Covid-19 screener. Being pregnant and navigating the pandemic was scary i felt like a lab rat when vaccinations became mandatory in health clinics. I also started freelancing for Calo News. As a first-time mother I did not want to be away from my baby and wanted to really enjoy motherhood I decided to leave my screener position and just work from home as a freelancer.

I been with Calo News since almost the start of the organization, its been about 4 years or a little more. I started with just freelancing and eventually got hired as part time reporter for Calo. I also became a columnist and I write about my first time experiences as a Latina mother. I cover a little bit of everything from community, immigration, health, entertainment.

One of the reasons that I love my job is that I get to highlight people from my community. Growing up I didn’t really see that representation and I’m glad that I’m able to do that at CALO. Lately I have been covering a lot of immigration stories in LA/Bakersfield when I write these stories I understand with it feels like, it feels personal to me. I was undocumented up until the 6th grade and became a U.S. Citizen by 2014.

After being in a relationship with m sons dad for 9 years, we decided to go our separate ways last year and became a single parent. Now I’m learning how to navigate that as well. My parents and siblings have been my biggest support system. My parents hard work is truly appreciated because without them I would not be the person I am today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
-language barriers
-Undocumented/mixed status household
-eldest sibling
-working as a kid
-First to go to college
-Mental health
-found out my father who raised me wasn’t my biological father
-Single parent

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m writer for CALÓ News and I focus on stories about Latinos, including social justice, art, health, entertainment and culture. Also a columnist that writes about her first time mom experiences. I also became their social media manager and did that for 3 years.

I am most proud of actually doing something I love, I went to school for this and now I’m doing it and real life. Not only do I get to highlight my community but I also get to be represent Latinas in media and be a role model for my son too.

What sets me apart from others is my lived experiences and how I can connect with many who have or currently are living through some of those same journeys.

What matters most to you?
Family, health and community. I grew up very family oriented and I’m very close to my family. Now that I have my son teaching the same values I was raised with is very important.

Health also matters to me weather its physically or mentally. And honestly Now that I’m getting older I feel the need to be Ok with both to be the best version of myself for my son.

Community is also a big one for me and that’s something that you build over time with friends, workers, neighbors.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Calonews.com
• Instagram: @amairani_broadcast
• Other: @calonewsla