When the California Humanities Emerging Journalist Fellowship team at Sierra College started researching the role of water in the community and the American River, one group they came across was the Save the American River Association (SARA). Through SARA, journalist fellow, Madalyn Wright discovered local water caretakers, Bob and Mary Beth Metcalf, who spend their Saturday mornings testing the river water for E. coli bacteria. To learn just how accessible this citizen science is, Wright, their 5-year old daughter, Thea, and their partner Ryan Moskun joined the Metcalfs on May 7, 2022, for a morning of pipettes and learning in a parking lot science lab.
Local Food Trucks of the Sacramento Area
Sacramento is known as the City of Trees, but it should also be noted as one of the top culinary hot-spots in the United States. From dine-in establishments to vendors, Sacramento has it all. COVID-19 changed the way we eat out and took a toll on dine-in establishments due to social distancing along with forced shutdowns.
This knowledge brings one question to mind: What about food trucks? They have the ability to keep customers outside, safely distanced from each other, along with being on the move constantly so they reach an even broader community. According to the United States Census Bureau, food trucks have been on the rise for quite some time now and even more so because of social distancing (Hait).
Sacramento offers food trucks with various international cuisines. From Mexico to the Philippines, these food truck owners give you a taste of home. As you read this article, you’ll see the various options our local areas have available!
Written and photographed by Jessica Shona-Stewart

Adrenaline Addiction
Rock climbing, snow sports, and anything semi-dangerous was what fueled my childhood. Living in Sacramento allowed my family and I to be just an hour and a half away from some of the coolest places, such as Lake Tahoe and John Muir Woods. Choosing to study at Sierra College allowed me to stay close to amazing places like these, with the opportunity to take classes even closer to the mountains at the Nevada County Campus.
The Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS) is a club at Sierra College that I was lucky to join. It helps educate students on the importance of sustainability and the principles of Leave No Trace. Thanks to ECOS, I was able to participate in outdoor activities and meet people who feel just as passionately about the earth as I do.

Written by Alexis Young
Peruvian, Moroccan, and Ethiopian Cuisines in the Sacramento Area
Reported and photographed by Jessica Shona-Stewart | Photo captions by Katelyn Vengersammy


Bike Messenger: Tasha Rose
Growing up around San Francisco, you see messenger bikers constantly. The speed, style, and rebellious nature was always fascinating to me. There are messenger bikers in almost every major city in the world, but none work harder than San Francisco’s. Brutal weather conditions, constant rolling hills, and some of the most hectic traffic on the planet, create a perfect ecosystem for talented cyclists to prove their skills.
I was lucky enough to photograph and speak with some of these messengers for this story, and interview Tasha Rose. Rose is a sponsored cyclist riding for All-City Cycles and King Kog Shop, and a full-time messenger with the Candlestick Courier collective. If there is a single person in the industry that people are inspired by, it is absolutely, Tasha Rose.
I decided to interview Rose due to her local recognition, her amazing attitude, and because she is very well-spoken. She provided me with a lot of information about being a bike messenger, and explained some struggles they face on a day to day basis.
Rose is a strong and inspiring woman on and off the bike, and continues to drive for added support for WTFs; women, transgender, and femme cyclists. She set aside some time to chat with me at her apartment on November 11th. In our conversation, we focus on her work in 2020.

Written and photographed by Thomas Edgington | Audio edited by Leonor Bright