Stella M. Chávez

Reporter

The World

Stella M. Chávez is a reporter at KERA, the NPR member station in Dallas. She covers education, immigration and, occasionally, breaking news, such as the large-scale immigration raid on a technology repair company in Allen, Texas, and the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart.

Stella M. Chávez is a reporter at KERA, the NPR member station in Dallas. She covers education, immigration and, occasionally, breaking news, such as the large-scale immigration raid on a technology repair company in Allen, Texas, and the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart.

At KERA, she’s written and produced several multi-part projects, including Generation One about immigrant students in North Texas and The Race to Save Failing Schools about schools trying to meet state academic standards. 

Prior to joining public radio, Stella spent nearly 13 years as a daily newspaper reporter for The Dallas Morning News, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel and The Ledger in Lakeland, Florida.

She’s won several state and national awards, including the 2007 Livingston Award for Young Journalists in National Reporting, which honors outstanding reporting by journalists under the age of 35. The award-winning entry was “Yolanda’s Crossing,” a seven-part series she co-authored that reconstructs the 5,000-mile journey of a young Mexican sexual-abuse victim from a small Oaxacan village to Dallas.

 In 2012, Stella’s essay, “Growing up with Silvia,” was published in the literary journal Ten Spurs. In her spare time, Stella enjoys running and writing about her experience as a caregiver. You can find her personal essays on her blog, “My Parents’ Keeper.”

Carlota Balbuena and her daughter, Alejandra Balbuena, of North Texas, are enthusiastic about Turkish shows called dizis.

Move over, telenovelas. The latest binge-watching craze? Turkish dizis.

During the past few years, Spanish-language networks in the US have been airing these high-production shows dubbed in Spanish. 

Move over, telenovelas. The latest binge-watching craze? Turkish dizis.
Izcan Ordaz says Texas conservatism has influenced his politics.

After 2020 election, first-time Latino voter worries about a divided US

After 2020 election, first-time Latino voter worries about a divided US
Izcan Ordaz, center, has been spending more time with his parents Simon Ordaz, left, and Xochitl Ortiz during the pandemic.

For this young Latino, spending more time with family is an upside to the pandemic

For this young Latino, spending more time with family is an upside to the pandemic
Izcan Ordaz, an 18-year-old high school graduate in Fort Worth, Texas, will vote in his first US presidential election this November.

Black Lives Matter protests are shaking up how this young Latino voter views US politics

Black Lives Matter protests are shaking up how this young Latino voter views US politics
Izcan Ordaz, an 18-year-old high school senior in Fort Worth, Texas, poses for a photo while walking down steps wearing a navy blue Ralph Lauren polo.

This Latino teen voter worries about prom, graduation — and the economy

This Latino teen voter worries about prom, graduation — and the economy