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Alisa Barba

Senior Editor

Alisa Joyce Barba is an award-winning journalist, producer, writer and editor with 25 years experience in both network and public broadcasting. For 12 years, she served as the Western Bureau Chief for National Public Radio. She was responsible for the editorial content and production of member station reporter and staff pieces for air on NPR's All Things Considered and Morning Edition. While monitoring news in the western US, she specialized in covering border and immigration issues and won numerous awards for editing series and stories on a issues ranging from the failed "war on drugs," western water policies, and border corruption. Independent of NPR, she won the coveted Dupont Award for her work as Executive Producer of the 2001-2002 Documentary "Culture of Hate: Who Are We?". In 1997 she won the Jerry Schumacher Award for Best Program about Health Care Issues: Under the Knife: San Diego Medicine Confronts the Bottom Line. Prior to her work with NPR, Alisa was a Producer for ABC News in Beijing, covering, among other stories, the Tiananmen Square uprising. From 1989-1995 Alisa was a Producer/Reporter for MacNeil-Lehrer Newshour in New York and Washington DC. Based in San Diego, her journalism work has focused heavily on immigration, military and health care concerns. She holds a Masters Degree in Chinese History from UCSD and a BA from Middlebury College.

MORE STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR
  • Hola Friends!We are almost done showcasing LGBTQ+ stories of the region. In this edition, we talk to Andres Hernandez, a Non-Binary Writer and visual artist from Tijuana. She retells the story of how art helped her cope with the difficult realities of being queer in Tijuana and shares part of her struggles of coming out to her family and figuring out who she is.You won't want to miss this uplifting story of resilience!Nos vemos pronto!If you or anyone you know is a rape survivor please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. If you are in Tijuana, contact Red Iberoamericana Pro derechos humanos at +52 1 664 374 7223If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts please dial 988 for help.@portofentrypodFollow Andres and her work https://pics.ci.cultura.gob.mx/perfil/andres-hernandez/If you would like to support Andres consider buying some of her work.**************Port of Entry has a whole new set of stories for you, this time centered around LGBTQ+ issues.This season we dive with our guests on what it means to be queer in the borderlands, finding yourself and fighting for your rights.Follow hosts Natali Gonzalez and Alan Lilienthal as they sit down with these fascinating people who share their stories. Listen in and join us!If you like this episode, show us some love @portofentrypod**************From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFind us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcastFind us on Instagramor at www.instagram.com/portofentrypodSupport our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.“Port of Entry'' is written, produced and directed by Julio C. Ortiz Franco.Adrian Villalobos is our Technical Producer and Sound Designer.Alisa Barba is our editor.Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is Director of Audio Programming and Operations and John Decker is the Director of Content Development.This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
  • Hola Friends!Port of Entry is in full swing showcasing LGBTQ+ stories of the region. In this edition, Natalie and our producer Julio sit down for a video conversation with the features of our first two episodes, Alejandro Sánchez and Meritxell Calderon. They discussed a wide range of issues facing the queer community in Baja that didn't make it into the final cut. From current events to the new frontier of queer and human rights in Baja. (little spoiler: they never met each other!)You won't want to miss this enlightening and thought-provoking conversation.Tune in wherever you get your podcasts!Nos vemos pronto!@portofentrypod**************Port of Entry has whole new set of stories for you, this time centered around LGBTQ+ issues.This season we dive with our guests on what it means to be queer in the borderlands, finding yourself and fighting for your rights.Follow hosts Natali Gonzalez and Alan Lilienthal as they sit down with these fascinating people who share their stories. Listen in and join us!If you like this episode, show us some love @portofentrypod.**************From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFind us on Facebook.Find us on Instagram.Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.Port of Entry'' is written, produced and directed by Julio C. Ortiz Franco.Adrian Villalobos is our technical producer and sound designer.Alisa Barba is our editor.Episodes are translated by Julio C. Ortiz Franco and Natali Gonzales.Elma Gonzalez is our Spanish editor.Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is director of audio programming and operations and John Decker is the director of content development.This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
  • Hola Friends!Port of Entry is showcasing LGBTQ+ stories of the region. In this edition, we sit down with Xaime Aceves Equihua, a therapist, and Drag Artist from the San Diego Tijuana region. Due to rejection he faced early in his life, Xaime found it challenging to allow himself to be who he was until he found an outlet: Drag. He now leads a series of Drag Story Time in the region with his duo, Francisco, to promote visibility and acceptance of queer youth in the region.You won't want to miss this inspiring story!@portofentrypodXaime is an associate clinical counselor who is providing in-person and telehealth sessions in San Diego, California. Xaime specializes in gender-affirming and bilingual therapy. For more information you can contact by email: xaecounseling@gmail.comSpecial thanks to Paul Detwiler, Director of the short film “La Reina de los Cuentos” and Fernando Garcia, Editor for allowing us to feature parts of the documentary.**************Port of Entry has whole new set of stories for you, this time centered around LGBTQ+ issues.This season we dive with our guests on what it means to be queer in the borderlands, finding yourself and fighting for your rights.Follow hosts Natali Gonzalez and Alan Lilienthal as they sit down with these fascinating people who share their stories. Listen in and join us!If you like this episode, show us some love @portofentrypod.**************From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFind us on Facebook.Find us on Instagram.Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.Port of Entry'' is written, produced and directed by Julio C. Ortiz Franco.Adrian Villalobos is our technical producer and sound designer.Alisa Barba is our editor.Episodes are translated by Julio C. Ortiz Franco and Natali Gonzales.Elma Gonzalez is our Spanish editor.Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is director of audio programming and operations and John Decker is the director of content development.This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
  • Hola Friends!We continue our season kick-off with the second part of our two-part series: The fight for marriage equality in Baja. In this second part, we join Alejandro, a policy analyst and queer rights activist from Mexicali. Through the power of social media, Alejandro was able to mobilize the masses in favor of an initiative that successfully repealed the same-sex marriage ban in the state of Baja. You don't want to miss the conclusion of this historic achievement!Join us as he shares his story.Tune in to listen!@portofentrypod**************Port of Entry has whole new set of stories for you, this time centered around LGBTQ+ issues.This season we dive with our guests on what it means to be queer in the borderlands, finding yourself and fighting for your rights.Follow hosts Natali Gonzalez and Alan Lilienthal as they sit down with these fascinating people who share their stories. Listen in and join us!If you like this episode, show us some love @portofentrypod.**************From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFind us on Facebook.Find us on Instagram.Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.“Port of Entry'' is written, produced and directed by Julio C. Ortiz Franco.Adrian Villalobos is our technical producer and sound designer.Alisa Barba is our editor.Episodes are translated by Julio C. Ortiz Franco and Natali Gonzales.Elma Gonzalez is our Spanish editor.Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is director of audio programming and operations and John Decker is the director of content development.This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
  • Hola Friends!We kick off our new season highlighting LGBTQ+ stories with a two-part series: The Fight for Marriage Equality in Baja. In this first part, we sit down with Meritxell and Nancy, a queer couple from Tijuana who have fought for LGBTQ+ rights in the state of Baja and Mexico. They share their story of how they fought to have marriage equality in the State of Baja. Don't miss this amazing story!Tune in to listen!@portofentrypod**************Port of Entry has a whole new set of stories for you, this time centered around LGBTQ+ issues.This season we dive with our guests into what it means to be queer in the borderlands, finding yourself, and fighting for your rights.Follow hosts Natali Gonzalez and Alan Lilienthal as they sit down with these fascinating people who share their stories. Listen in and join us!If you like this episode, show us some love @portofentrypod**************From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFind us on Facebook Find us on InstagramSupport our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.“Port of Entry'' is written, produced and directed by Julio C. Ortiz Franco. Adrian Villalobos is our Technical Producer and Sound Designer.Alisa Barba is our editor.Episodes are translated by Julio C. Ortiz Franco and Natali Gonzales.Elma Gonzalez is our Spanish Editor.Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is Director of Audio Programming and Operations and John Decker is the Director of Content Development.This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
  • Ruby and Javier are two Central American migrants that own and operate Pura Vida a food truck in Playas de Tijuana that offers a wide selection Salvadorian and Costa Rican dishes. After an opportunity saw them to uproot and make it to Tijuana, they reexamine the pull of the American Dream and consider a new option; The TIjuana Dream.Tune in!@portofentrypodBig thanks to Rito Zazueta for letting us include bits and pieces of her monumental short in this episode. Here's the Link to her documentary.Tijuana Dream (2016)https://vimeo.com/165060260Dir. Rito ZazuetaProd. Rick Zazueta🎶 “Flotando” Rommel Duran / Entre Desiertos🎥 Josh Olivera**************Port of Entry has whole new set of stories with you, this time centered around food and migration.This season we share several stories about how food has changed cities in the borderlands, including episodes on folks who have made Valle de Guadalupe, the famous wine region of northern Baja, their home.Follow hosts Natali Gonzalez and Alan Lilienthal as they sit down with these fascinating people who share their personal and family stories. Listen in and join us!If you like this episode, show us some love @portofentrypod**************From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFind us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcastFind us on Instagramor at www.instagram.com/portofentrypodSupport our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.“Port of Entry'' is written, produced and directed by Julio C. Ortiz Franco. Luca Vega is our Technical Producer and Sound Designer.Alisa Barba is our editor.Episodes are translated by Julio C. Ortiz Franco and Natali Gonzales.Elma Gonzalez and M.G. Perez are our Spanish Editors.Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is Director of Audio Programming and Operations and John Decker is the Director of Content Development.This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.