Peter Schurmann

Peter Schurmann is Managing Editor for American Community Media. He previously worked as communications coordinator for the conservation non-profit Earth Innovation Institute. Peter’s reporting has covered a wide variety of topics, from international affairs to education, health and the environment. His work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Nation and National Catholic Reporter, among other outlets.

Change Is Coming to Iran ‘No Matter What’

Journalist Alireza Hekmatshoar of KIRN Radio Iran in Los Angeles, home to the world’s largest Iranian diaspora community, believes change is coming to Iran.

For Somali Americans, Trump’s Attacks Stir Memories of Violence, Genocide

For Mohamud Yussuf, founder of Runta News, Trump's verbal attacks on the Somali American community recall the language of violence in his home country.

El nuevo presidente de Chile promete mano dura contra los inmigrantes

Las propuestas del presidente electo son una mezcla de amenazas, que incluyen deportaciones y encarcelamientos masivos. Los expertos afirman que estos últimos son más probables.

Chile’s New President Promises ‘Iron Fist’ for Immigrants

The president-elect's proposals are a mix of threats, including expulsions and mass incarceration. Experts say the latter is the more likely.

La victoria de la extrema derecha en Chile resucita los fantasmas de un pasado que muchos querían dejar atrás

En una antigua prisión convertida en centro cultural, activistas chilenos reflexionan sobre lo que presagia para el país el regreso de la extrema derecha al poder.

Far Right Win in Chile Resurrects Ghosts of a Past Many Sought to Leave Behind

At a former prison turned cultural center, Chilean activists reflect on what a return to power by the country's far right portends for the country.

‘Bridging Cultures Through Storytelling’

The 2025 American Community Media Expo & Awards event on Nov. 7 in downtown Oakland shined a light on California's vast ethnic media landscape.

Nuevo estudio sobre cómo los latinos interactúan en línea:

Un nuevo estudio explora cómo interactúan los latinos con el contenido digital. ¿Qué les interesa, qué mensajes les llegan, cuáles no y por qué?

New Study on How Latinos Engage Online — ‘People Are Tired of Fighting’

A recent study examines how Latinos engage with online content. What sticks, which messages get through, which don’t, and why.

Jefe de policía de Albuquerque teme que los anuncios de reclutamiento de ICE socaven la seguridad pública

Los anuncios de reclutamiento de ICE dirigidos a agentes de policía en ciudades santuario rompen la confianza entre las agencias y el público, dice el jefe Medina.

Albuquerque Police Chief Fears ICE Recruitment Ads Undermine Public Safety

ICE recruitment ads targeting police officers in sanctuary cities like Albuquerque breaks trust between the agencies and the public, says Chief Medina.

From FEMA to Law Enforcement, Mass Deportations Erode Public Safety

At a virtual press briefing, experts in disaster relief and law enforcement discussed threats to public safety stemming from President Trump's mass deportation agenda.

‘Education Chaos and Psychological Scarring’ — The Hidden Cost of Trump’s Deportation Agenda

“This back-to-school season, children face the terror of wondering if their parents will be there to pick them up,” said America’s Voice ED Vanessa Cardenas.

Invisible Until You Aren’t

Long invisible, the Latino community in West Marin is gaining visibility and voice, though it may come too late for the area's farmworking families.

Discovering Democracy on a Summer Road Trip Across the American West

Driving the American West reveals an immense diversity, both geographic and cultural, that is a deeply enmeshed part of the nation's democratic spirit.

Once Victims of Gangs, Impoverished Salvadorans Now Say They Are Victims of the State

In El Salvador, conditions for the nation’s poorest have grown more dire as mass arrests continue and people struggle to meet their most basic needs.

‘A Disaster Waiting to Happen’ — Trump and the Insurrection Act

Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell immigration protests in LA, giving him "unlimited discretion to use the military as a domestic police force."

Rights Groups Sue Florida Over Law Banning Immigrants from Civic Participation

Supporters of Medicaid expansion in Florida are gathering signatures for the 2026 ballot. A new law makes it illegal for non-citizens to participate in that process.

Of Aunts and Empresses

A new book by San Francisco based author Karen Wang Diggs highlights the stories and triumphs of Asian women across history and in our own time.

Richard Rodriguez on Pope Francis, the Church and the ‘Moral Laziness’ of America

Author and essayist Richard Rodriguez reflects on the emergence of a “Church Universal” and what it means for an America enthralled to Trump.

Amid Deportations, Immigrant Journalists Face Heightened Risks for Their Reporting

Journalists in the U.S. with temporary visas, green cards or DACA are fearful their reporting may compromise their status amid ongoing deportations.

In North Carolina, a ‘Test Case’ for Overturning Election Results

Election results for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court have yet to be confirmed, nearly five months and two recounts after ballots were cast.

Amid Aid Efforts, California Burmese Worry Where Quake Funds Will Go

As they work to raise aid, Burmese communities in the state say they fear the money could end up in the military government's pockets.

We’re All Californian Now

One outgrowth of climate change is that it narrows the distance, connecting otherwise disparate regions and peoples through a sense of shared vulnerability.

Tribal Leaders Press Cal State Long Beach Over Future of Sacred Site

A 22-acre parcel of land sacred to Native tribes is at the center of a legal battle between the University and tribal leaders.

If These Walls Could Talk

Oakland Ballet's Graham Lustig discusses an upcoming performance inspired by Chinese poetry carved by immigrants into the walls of Angel Island.

Farmworker Advocates Push for Greater Protection Against Bird Flu

Employers in California’s multi-billion-dollar dairy industry are accused of flouting existing regulations, jeopardizing farmworker and public health.

Huge Spike in Consumer Fraud Losses, New FTC Data Show

US consumers lost $12.5 billion to scammers in 2024, according to new data from the Federal Trade Commission, a 25% increase year-on-year.

Oakland Chinatown Looks for New Leaders to Survive — Fear of Crime a Top Priority

Fighting persistent crime and a struggling economy, Oakland's Chinatown is looking to new leadership with a vacant seat on the City Council.

Non-Citizens ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’ as Trump Pushes for National Registry

The Trump administration is proposing to create a national registry requiring undocumented immigrants to register or face criminal prosecution.

Legal Experts Urge Farm Workers Along California’s Central Coast to Report Scammers

Lawyers with the Center for Migrant Rights say farm workers victimized by scammers should seek legal aid to prevent future abuses and potentially find justice.

As Risks Escalate, Wave of Community Resistance to ICE Enforcement Spreads

Live Fri | As ICE enforcement intensifies nationwide, communities are mounting legal, local, and grassroots resistance. Experts examine escalating raids, community defense efforts, risks to public safety, and whether a broader immigrant rights movement is emerging.

Court Win Brings Relief for TPS Holders, Though Uncertainty Remains

Jhony Silva has lived in the US under TPS for 30 years. While a Dec. ruling blocked the Trump Admin from terminating the program, his future is uncertain.

The Healers of MacArthur Park

LA's MacArthur Park has come to embody many of the city's ills, from crime to homelessness and drugs. Still, not everyone is ready to give up on it.