Karina Gutierrez of TecoGuide introduces writer and former union organizer Filiberto Nolasco Gomez for an honest conversation about his academic and career path.

Filiberto's story is one of counter-storytelling, driven by his working-class, first-generation roots in Montebello. Growing up with scarcity and unsupportive parents, his need for accountability led him to organize. After attending Pitzer College and building community with dining hall workers, he realized that "family is who shows up and struggles with you."

His travels, particularly to Guatemala (where he documented a 2004 massacre), forced a deeper reckoning with race and power, ultimately shattering his sense of the "American Dream." This experience fueled his graduate work in history (M.A. and ABD) and transitioned him into investigative journalism.

As editor of Workday Minnesota, he prioritized stories others ignored, focusing on immigrant and prison labor—a topic he had personal experience with, having been formerly incarcerated. He developed a trauma-informed reporting model, stressing that care and believing sources comes before publishing.

Today, Filiberto is a Communications Specialist with the California Faculty Association (CFA), using his skills to support the union's fight for justice. He stresses that his ability to speak his truth comes from years of therapy and personal healing, which taught him to love himself and become more effective in his activism. His final advice: stop the negative self-talk and stay close to people who make you feel strong.

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