Isa Farfan
Hi! I'm Isa, a New York City-based reporter and writer. Below are a few selections of the hundreds of digital stories I've published. Each of these highlighted articles features original reporting. Learn more about me here.
Immigration
International students risk immigration status to engage in Gaza protests (Al Jazeera)
Tourist Denied US Entry After ICE Found JD Vance Meme on His Phone (Hyperallergic)
DACA-Recipient Artists Share Their Stories as Program Hangs by a Thread (Hyperallergic)
The Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Latino Gallery Quietly Closes for Nine Months (Hyperallergic) - Broke this story
The Artist Whose Fauci Portraits Enraged the White House (Hyperallergic)
Trump Targets LGBTQ+ History, Migrants, and More in Chilling Smithsonian Hit List (Hyperallergic)
Museum of the American Latino Could Vanish Under Trump (Hyperallergic)
Congress Members Demand Investigation Into Trump’s Smithsonian Mandate (Hyperallergic)
Two Artists Withdraw From Smithsonian Symposium (Hyperallergic)
The National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts Cuts Millions in Grants (Hyperallergic)
Small Arts Nonprofits Face Uncertainty as NEA Cuts “Challenge America” Grant (Hyperallergic) - Private foundations later offered funding to organizations featured in the report.
ACLU Sues NEA for Enforcing Trump’s Anti-Trans Mandate (Hyperallergic)
Maui Wildfires
Maui’s Latino community contends with destruction, grief and immigration fears after fires (NBC News) - Interviewed in Spanish
Politicized Art
Show on Artists of African Descent Loses Funding Amid Trump DEI Crackdown (Hyperallergic) - Broke this story
Montgomery Mayor Calls for Removal of “Politicized” Billboard Artwork (Hyperallergic)
Museum Showing Pussy Riot Artwork Targeted in Apparent Vandalism (Hyperallergic)
Museum Limits Entry to Exhibition Criticized by Republicans (Hyperallergic)
Colorado Town Settles With Native Artist Who Brought Free Speech Lawsuit (Hyperallergic)
Thai Art Center Censors Exhibition After “Pressure” From China (Hyperallergic)
Republican-Led Bill Would Penalize Texas Museums for “Obscene” Art (Hyperallergic)
Trump Seeks to Defund Institute of American Indian Arts (Hyperallergic)
Texas Schools Ban Lesson Over Exposed Nipple on Virginia Flag (Hyperallergic)
Is Female Anatomy Too “Controversial” for the American Quilter’s Society? (Hyperallergic)
Human Interest / Features
Inside the Bay Area’s Church of Magic Mushrooms (Hyperallergic)
Art Therapists on the Frontlines of Trauma Struggle for Recognition (Hyperallergic)
“Mother Pigeon,” the Artist Fighting to Save NYC’s Urban Birds (Hyperallergic)
Are Art History Majors More In Demand Than Computer Scientists? (Hyperallergic)
NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Unveils Arts Platform (Hyperallergic)
Columbia Daily Spectator
The saga of Celsius: What the energy drink reveals about tensions between Barnard Dining and students (Winner of SPJ 2022 Mark of Excellence/Barnard removed Celsius from dining halls after this report)
Barnard stopped allowing overnight guests. Students say the policy places their safety and agency at risk. (Barnard reversed policy shortly after my report)
‘Poster Man’ and vendor activist Michael Wells celebrates 15 years of decorating Columbia’s walls
Campus Protests
Columbia Apologized to Mahmoud Khalil in May 2024 for One-Day Suspension (The Intercept)
NBC Live Blog Updates (NBC News)
Live on-air reporting (NBC News Top Story with Tom Llamas)
Hawaii News Now
Lawmakers, advocates call on military to do more to address violence against Native Hawaiian women
There are two ways to write Olelo Hawaii. The debate: Is only one correct?
By day, he works at the airport. By night, this poet is a 3-time Honolulu grand slam champ
Secretary Haaland stresses the importance of indigenous knowledge in ‘era of climate crisis’
POLITICO
New York Playbook Contributions - Reported on Chuck Schumer and Mike Pence