Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas (DDIA)

Meet @jorgerios21 , the Radio Station Manager for Radio Indigena, an indigenous migrant radio station in Oxnard, CA. Radio Indigena is part of the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), a coalition that supports, organizes and empowers indigenous migrant communities. Jorge has worked all of his professional life in the radio industry. His first job at a radio station was as technical support in the company’s IT department. Eventually, Jorge moved into accounting, and then into managing the traffic departments at two different companies. Jorge has an insatiable desire to learn and to be of service to his coworkers and community. In his own words, working for MICOP is a great opportunity for Jorge to reconnect with his ancestral roots and be of service to the community he serves. Welcome to #LMDP2026! Follow Jorge’s work! https://lnkd.in/e6wATr4g

This weekend, @bragaroberta @ddia_org had the pleasure of joining @fightforprogress in Toronto for a series of conversations on progressive policy priorities for tech and democracy, including platform and AI regulation. Roberta shared perspectives on Brazil’s recent Digital ECA and moderated a panel discussion on innovation as power with Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation @evanljsolomon , Member of the European Parliament (Germany) @alexandrageese and MP and Party Leader, Social Democrats (Finland) @anttilindtman .

Today we introduce you to @jcfrias , one of our LMDP participants for the Spring 2026 cohort! JC is a Mexican-American content creator and civic educator based in South Texas. Through his Real Talk platform, JC breaks down politics and policy impacts for Latino communities using clear accessible language rooted in lived experience and public records. Follow JC! On Instagram: @jcfrias On YouTube: https://lnkd.in/epfDZue4 On TikTok: https://lnkd.in/eqqZ7NgZ @dfrlab

Wednesday means REDESCover day! It’s May 6, 2026 and here’s what shaped Spanish-language digital conversations in the U.S. this week: A wave of redistricting and a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling sparked polarized debate among Latino communities online, with pro-redistricting voices dominating engagement and framing the changes as a political victory. On WhatsApp, World Cup hype is fueling a growing marketplace, where products, promotions, and scams are circulating rapidly. A hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, with three confirmed deaths, is driving high engagement and alarm among Latino audiences, as misinformation competes with medical explainers and some narratives draw comparisons to COVID-19. Get the full picture at ddia.org! Subscribe for weekly insights: /forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLnTSQ1HF0BGEajGT1RMm2SSRHvJg32xEzDfZW425gMOoe5w/viewform?usp=header

We recently supported the @radical_communicators_network with Spanish-language monitoring of narratives related to key issues of abolition, climate, the economy, democracy, and more. Are you interested in learning how Latinos are talking about these concepts in practice? Check out the report! @radical_communicators_network

So proud of what we are building alongside our favorite Latino communicators at @ddia_org . This week, we welcomed the first of two groups of Latino journalists, creators and civil society leaders to DC to kick off LMDP 2026, an 8-week, AI and counter-misinformation-focused, hybrid training program. These are the trusted messengers working with communities every single day to make sense of the polluted stuff they come across on the Internet — we are so happy to be working alongside them to strengthen a healthier internet for all of us! Follow @ddia_org for more!

This week, DDIA welcomed the first 2026 cohort of Latinos, Media, and Democracy Program (LMDP) participants to DC for two days of in-person trainings. The gathering marked the kick-off of our 8-week hybrid training program! This group of 20 Latino journalists, content creators, and civil society leaders are on the frontlines of listening to, informing, and engaging with Latino communities across the United States (and in parts of Latin America!). Over the next 8 weeks, they’ll learn how to responsibly harness AI in their work, how to use prebunking, open-source research, and verification techniques to counter online harms, and they’ll receive the latest Latino media consumption and voting trends data (from our friends at @equisresearch ). Keep an eye on this group - they are paving the way for a new future of the Internet!! The 2026 participants: @arigabriella , @ariannyrocks , @belen.quellet , @carliana.co , @celiaemontoya , @eduardohayek , @jackie.gar.cia , @kraussss , @jorgerios21 , Vanessa Flores, @jcfrias , J.B. Branch, @mariamolina_dc , @lindalopezstone , @__roxanaromero , @ysaleftyouonread , @otalora_sergio , @tono.latino , @fabianna.rincon , @cristobal.comunidad The 2024 alumni (back for more!): Michelle Zacarias, @rafaelolavarria Our collaborators: @grahambrookie , @estebanpdl , @dfrlab Our team: @bragaroberta , @ctardaguila , @danielanaranjo.r , @annasabriaa

Today we kicked off our 2026 Spring Cohort of LMDP! We could not be more proud to be convening this amazing group of Latino communicators. These professionals are on the frontlines of listening, informing and engaging with Latinos all over the U.S. each and every day. Over the next 8 weeks, we’ll learn and grow together in support of our communities. Thank you all for what you do!

Meet @jackie.gar.cia , of @calonewsla ! Jacqueline is a bilingual journalist with over 16 years of experience covering and communicating about issues that affect local Latino communities in California. She previously worked for La Opinión, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States. Jacqueline has a B.A. in journalism from California State University, Northridge, and a Masters in Communication Management from University of Southern California. Follow Jackie’s work! /users/profile/jacqueline/ /in/jacquelinegarcia11?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Introducing, J.B. Branch. J.B. is a technology accountability advocate, legal scholar, and policy strategist working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, civil rights, and democratic governance. He currently serves as Big Tech Accountability Advocate at @public_citizen , where he leads national coalitions advancing AI oversight, consumer protection, and regulatory accountability. His work focuses on the structural risks posed by frontier AI systems, including algorithmic bias, AI-enabled sexual exploitation, data governance failures, and the concentration of technological power. J.B. holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and is completing a Mid-Career Master’s in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School, where he is a Gleitsman Fellow. His scholarship and commentary have appeared in leading academic and policy forums, including the Harvard University Law Review Blog, Yale University Journal of Regulation Notice & Comment, Lawfare, Project Syndicate, and other national and international outlets. He has testified before legislative bodies and regularly briefs policymakers in the United States and Europe on AI governance, procurement accountability, and digital civil rights. Prior to his work in technology policy, J.B. held leadership roles in justice reform and civil rights organizations, advising state and local governments on systems innovation, automated expungement, and data-driven reform. Across his career, he has focused on bridging technical systems with public interest safeguards ensuring that emerging technologies advance democratic values rather than undermine them. Follow J.B.’s work! https://lnkd.in/dKzdSGRB

Meet @fabianna.rincon ! Fabianna, one of our 20 LMDP participants, covers local government and its impact on the Latino community for @eltiempolatino under the leadership of @javierjmarin and @marcosemarin . Her position is part of the 2025 Reporter Corps of Report for America, where she is committed to reporting on underserved communities and underreported issues. Working with the leading Spanish-language publication in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region, she focuses on delivering accurate, accessible, and impactful reporting to the community. Fabi graduated from American University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. While there, she bridged politics and media through her work at the School of Communication and studied misinformation and disinformation as part of the University Honors Program. During her time at AU, she worked as a digital journalist for NBC10 Boston and contributed to the student newsroom of the @officialnahj (National Association of Hispanic Journalists). She also received scholarship support from The LAGRANT Foundation and expanded her experience in political communications as an intern with the @chcidc . Raised in a household of Venezuelan journalists, Rincon developed a passion for reporting at just seven years old, when she began publishing Spanish-language interviews with musicians, politicians, and public figures. Follow Fabi’s work! Instagram: @fabianna.rincon LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eNR5xYXx @dfrlab

We are kicking off the week with an intro to @kraussss , one of the 20 LMPD participants joining the program this year! Eithel is a Mexican-American filmmaker and photojournalist based in San Diego, CA, with roots in Tecate and Tijuana, Mexico. He currently serves as a Multimedia Content Producer, creating impactful content focused on social justice, immigration reform, and human rights advocacy. Growing up in Mexico allowed Eithel to witness firsthand the realities and challenges faced by border communities. Today, he uses visual storytelling as a tool to elevate those voices. Follow Eithel and his work! Instagram: @kraussss and @alliancesandiego LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eHGvF8Uj