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Gabriela Martínez, Latino Communities Reporter / WITF

Gabriela Martínez
I cover Latino communities in central Pennsylvania with a special focus on Reading and other cities where Spanish-speaking communities are growing rapidly. My stories explore the impact of language barriers, labor issues, the growth of Latino political power through grassroots efforts and many other things.

I’m a native Spanish speaker myself. I grew up in the San Juan area of Puerto Rico. The English I know now, I learned mostly thanks to watching a lot of TV growing up, mostly Nickelodeon shows. I also learned Russian in college, which I perfected during my time teaching English in southern Siberia through the Fulbright Program.

In my free time I like to hike, hang out with my two cats, Yanka and Ruben Blades, and watch every awful horror movie I can find.

Latest by Gabriela Martínez


Conversatorio: Un grupo de madres Latinas en Reading comparten sus experiencias navegando el sistema de escuela pública.

El distrito escolar de Reading es uno de los muchos distritos en Pensilvania, cuya población estudiantil es predominantemente Latina. Gabriela Martínez, una reportera de la emisora WITF, se sentó con un grupo de madres Latinas  para aprender más sobre sus experiencias navegando el sistema de educación pública en la ciudad.

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

Listening session: Parents in Reading share their experiences navigating the public school system

WITF’s Gabriela Martinez sat down with 4 parents in Reading to learn about their experiences navigating the public school system.

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

Park Service taps Pennsylvania woman to head Gettysburg historic sites

Kristina Heister, a lifelong Pennsylvanian, has been named superintendent for Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site in Adams County. 

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

Report shows great need for children in care of counties

Hundreds of children in county custody – many with severe mental illness and other disabilities – are unable to access the care they need.

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

Planned Parenthood Keystone says it is open to recognizing union for non-medical staff

The Planned Parenthood chapter that runs eight nonprofit health care centers in central and eastern Pennsylvania says it will recognize union representation for its non-managerial staff members. 

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

With hundreds of students homeless in Reading, the Knight’s Keep is riding to the rescue

Reading School District is opening a dedicated lounge and study space for unhoused students.

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

To ensure continued support of immigrants, Lancaster passes Trust Act

Lancaster City Council voted unanimously to pass the Trust Act, an ordinance that requires the city to maintain welcoming policies for immigrants. 

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

Hundreds buried in unmarked graves in York County potter’s field to be honored in monument

The unveiling for York City Cemetery’s permanent monument will be held March 9 at the site along Schley Alley in North York. 

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

Hazleton school district defends record with Latinos in wake of voting rights lawsuit

In the wake of a lawsuit alleging discrimination, the Hazleton Area School District says it has been doing the best it can to serve the area’s growing Latino student population.

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF

Lawsuit seeks to overturn at-large voting system in Hazleton majority-Latino district

According to the complaint, nearly 66% of Hazleton Area School District’s student population in the 2022- 2023 school year were Hispanic.

By Gabriela Martínez/WITF
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