Sarai Ariana Vega

10/31/2020

Voting has become a difficult task for transgender and non-binary people due to identification information needed to be presented at the polls. Both Kansas and Missouri only have male and female options on voter registration forms. This is an important perspective on the discussion surrounding voting participation in our elections.

In Kansas and Missouri, legal name changes and gender marker alterations can be long, tedious and costly processes, discouraging many trans and nonbinary voters from casting a ballot and barring the most financially disadvantaged from participating in elections altogether.

10/31/2020

John Salazar celebrated his 99th birthday on Thursday, April 23, in Kansas City, Kansas. Cars filled with friends and family lined up in front of his house filled with happy birthday signs and gifts to congratulate him. His youngest daughter, Monica Burns, organized the celebration for her father. She said his birthday was on Wednesday, April 22 but due to the weather, they had to postpone it until Thursday.

Me and my sister came across this lovely event during the beginning phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. I'm glad she pushed for us to shoot this event of celebration!

10/31/2020

Revisiting this on this sweet story I did while I was a video producer at the Columbia Missourian earlier this year. (Wow that feels like a lifetime ago). Dining with Dotty is about a beloved woman in the Hartsburg community. With her cheerful presence and the home-like feel of her restaurant, she brings comfort, family and community together all in one place. As she grapples with the decision of keeping her restaurant open for the community she also takes into account her age and health issues. Manns knows it's time to let go of her restaurant but with the low probability of the next generation of her family members taking over Dotty's Cafe, it's only a matter of time before Dotty finally says goodbye permanently.

Manns has said goodbye to Dotty’s Cafe twice in 20 years, but the love for her community is what keeps her coming back.

10/31/2020

Finding more interesting things about Kansas City was my favorite thing about working at the Kauffman Foundation. I and my co-worker, Luis, worked on this story about the Crossroads Art District to show the strong entrepreneurial community that has formed throughout two decades which promotes inclusivity and creativity ✨

When I found out we were going to work on a piece about a local fashion runway show, I was ecstatic. If anyone knows me, you know that I love fashion and expression through style. I hope you enjoy it!

Kansas City’s West 18th Street Fashion Show is the culmination of two decades of development that puts the inclusive, creative, and entrepreneurial community now known as the Crossroads Arts District on full display.

10/31/2020

I wanted to share a story that I'm really proud of working on I was a media fellow at the Kauffman Foundation in the summer of 2019. It's about Central Avenue and the success of the Hispanic business community. I was so happy to be able to speak to business owners on the street and learn about their success. There's a lot more to the street and the community there. The stories about the street don't stop here but I'm so thankful to be able to bring some coverage to the area that I grew up in!

The growing entrepreneurial economy on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, is supported by a strong Latinx community and support from an organization that grew out of the neighborhood.

10/29/2020

Hello everyone! I want to give you a quick introduction to my page to give you an idea about the work I do. My name Sarai Vega and I am a journalism student at the University of Missouri, Columbia but a native to Kansas City, Kansas.

I use my curiosity and open-mindedness to push me to connect with individuals across the world for the creation of human-centered content. Known for my good-sense of creativity and passion for social justice, I provide a blend of artistic and journalistic visual-driven content to recount the stories of people’s personal lived experiences. Using my visual literacy knowledge and my compassion, I can tell personal stories of communities of color by providing a space of comfort and openness for my subjects while also encouraging discussions about social justice to my audiences. Through my passion for storytelling and social equity, I am committed to allowing people to be the authors of their own narratives when I serve my community.

As a first-generation Mexican-American raised in the Midwest, I quickly learned that my identity could help share stories that are unheard of. Kansas City is rich in stories of culture, perseverance and community. I am here to listen to them, stick around to capture them, and to share them with the world.

Check out my website to see some of my work!

A Mexican-American visual journalist in the greater Kansas City area seeking to tell stories through photo and video about culture, perseverance and community.