Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez
Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter
About
Gustavo covers race, identity, and immigration in the Pacific Northwest. His reporting is focused on tribal sovereignty, how a diversity of communities leverage their power to effect change in and beyond their neighborhoods, and the impacts of immigration policy at the state level.
He arrived to KUOW in 2023, and previously wrote about northern Nevada's tribal efforts during mid-term elections, addressing the legacy of state-funded boarding schools and the impacts of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples' epidemic. He's also written about healthcare access for undocumented Idaho farmworkers during the pandemic and Juneteenth celebrations in Idaho.
Gustavo was born and raised in the sagebrush of Boise, Idaho. He spent many years trying to get into a career in journalism, juggling work, school, and community radio before settling into the restaurant industry for eight years. He was able to work in award-winning kitchens before the pandemic threw him back into journalism. In his off time he takes documentary photography, participates in the Purépecha community, and dreams of pit barbecuing and carnitas.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, Spanish
Pronouns: he/him
Professional Affiliations: Founding Board Member, Voces
Stories
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King County Sheriff urged to provide more interpreters for non-English speakers
An oversight committee is urging the King County Sheriff's Office to do better around how it communicates with people who don’t speak English.
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Orca taken in the 1970s to be released from captivity, returned to PNW
The Miami Seaquarium has announced that it will begin the work of releasing the last remaining captive Southern Resident Orca, and bringing her home to the Salish Sea.
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Seattle Audubon hatches new name: Birds Connect Seattle
The Seattle Audubon is changing its name to Birds Connect Seattle. They want to step away from a name with a racist legacy.
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Black-led farming program in Seattle is being asked to uproot
Nurturing Roots is a Black led community farm that started in 2016 that’s based in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. It’s a group that’s also urged city leaders to put more land in the hands of Black farmers.
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New law would make sexual misconduct by corrections staff a felony
A proposed bill in Olympia would impose harsher sentences for corrections officers or staff who are convicted of sexual misconduct against inmates.
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It's a good day to celebrate Billy Frank Jr.
Billy Frank Jr. led protests for tribal fishing rights across Washington in the 60s and 70s. He was arrested more than 50 times starting at age 14. And his efforts helped lead to a landmark supreme court decision that honored tribal treaty rights. It’s why today several Northwest tribes, schools and public agencies celebrate him today, which includes Washington State Parks.
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Black-led nonprofits need volunteers. This local newspaper is helping
As the pandemic eases, Seattle’s nonprofits are coming back to work in person. Some don’t have the volunteer staff to match demand, and the support they received at the height of the pandemic isn’t what it used to be.
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WA unemployment bill to benefit unauthorized workers likely won't survive
A bill that would provide benefits for people typically excluded from unemployment has received strong support from workers, immigrant rights organizations, and industry groups, but it likely won't make it past Friday's legislative deadline.
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Seattle renames block to honor D'Vonne Pickett Jr.
The city of Seattle Thursday renamed a block on Union Street for community activist and business leader D'Vonne Pickett Jr., who was fatally shot waiting at a bus stop in the Central District last October.
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Proposed WA bill would raise threshold for farmworker overtime
This is the second year that farmworkers will be eligible for overtime. Right now, if they work past 48 hours they’ll get paid time and half. Next year they’ll be the same as everyone else - anything past 40 hours would count as overtime. But there’s new proposed legislation in Olympia that is trying to re-negotiate that.