Rune Soto Ponce de Leon Social Science
Post-Disaster Recovery in Southern California Through the Narratives of Latino Construction Workers
Scholars Journal
Rune’s research examines news coverage of the 2025 Los Angeles fires, paying careful attention to which groups are centered, and the lack of focus on essential laborers. Although the Latino/a labor force is critical to the effort to rebuild, their efforts are unrecognized in the broader media landscape. This project seeks to understand how Latino/a laborers tasked with restoring normalcy experience demanding working conditions alongside a lack of societal recognition. To gain insight into their conditions, Rune will conduct interviews on construction sites in Southern California, followed by an analysis through the lens of media studies.
Major: Chicanx Latinx Studies
Mentor: Pablo Gonzalez, Ethnic Studies