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The Los Angeles Local News Initiative, a new nonprofit supporting local and independent press, has tapped Michele Siqueiros ’95 as the founding chief executive officer. A lifelong Angeleno, Siqueiros brings her experience as a changemaker in education and advocacy to revitalize community newsrooms in L.A.

“Los Angeles is a world-class city that deserves a strong, independent, and world-class local press that serves every neighborhood and community member,” said Siqueiros. “The recent wildfire disaster underscored how access to real-time, accurate, and comprehensive local news can be literally lifesaving for Angelenos.”

A coalition of L.A. media and philanthropy leaders collectively raised over $17 million to enhance the regional news landscape. Siqueiros brings robust coalition building experience to helm this initiative. As president of the Campaign for College Opportunity from 2008 to 2024, Siqueiros oversaw the organization becoming an influential voice in higher education advocacy. Her leadership led to historic education policy reforms and $6.5 billion in state investments for college students.

Siqueiros also became a prominent thought leader and spokesperson for education in various news outlets. Now she will be working on the other side to support unbiased, independent journalism in her hometown.

“At the core, my work has always been focused on expanding opportunity to those who are often left behind,” said Siqueiros. “The future of our state depends on our ability to live the promise of the American experiment for all Americans—especially for Black, Latinx, low-income, and other underrepresented communities. That future isn’t possible if we don’t have access to reliable local news, if civic engagement and community trust is not at the center of all we do when we share information.”

Telling the diverse stories of L.A.

Siqueiros said she is “ready to launch my next adventure in partnership with over 20 local media partners to ensure the city and people I love have access to the information they need, are able to tell their own stories, and can hold power accountable.”

The L.A. Local News Initiative will invest in reporting teams at LAist, which is part of Southern California Public Radio, and CalMatters, a nonpartisan newsroom that covers California politics and policy.

The L.A. Local News Initiative is also taking cues from the bilingual community newsroom Boyle Heights Beat, whose motto is “noticias por y para la comunidad,” or “news by and for the community.” Siqueiros hopes for this approach to strengthen hyper-local journalism that reflects the diverse neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

A first-generation college graduate and the daughter of immigrants, Siqueiros knows firsthand how marginalized communities are often left out of the media and cultural narrative. She is meeting with various California-based media partners and student journalists to address this gap.

“The foundation of our democracy and the opportunities that are possible for our diverse communities depend on a strong and independent news ecosystem,” said Siqueiros. “I can’t imagine working on something more important than this, at this moment, and for the city and region that I love deeply.”

Siqueiros becoming CEO of the L.A. Local News Initiative is just the latest of her many accomplishments. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and the City of Los Angeles’ Commission on the Status of Women recently honored Siqueiros as a 2025 recipient of the Women of Impact Award. Siqueiros has also received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s Excellence in Community Service Award. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors named her Woman of the Year in 2019. She serves on the boards of highly regarded organizations including The California Endowment, ɬ�﷬����, and others. Siqueiros also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from ɬ�﷬���� in 2018.