Alaa Mostafa

As the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, Florida is a case study in what can happen in states where abortion is easy to access. Florida is an unexpected safe haven for people seeking abortions in the South. The state has 55 abortion clinics – more than seven other Southeastern states combined. But Florida is also increasingly an abortion battleground. Reveal found that calls to police from Florida abortion clinics for disturbances, harassment and violence have doubled since 2016... I co-produced this episode along with producers Katharine Mieszkowski and Emily Harris, and supported the team as production manager.

Congress spent hundreds of billions of dollars to rescue small businesses hurt by the pandemic. But Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) money disproportionately went to White neighborhoods, leaving communities of color behind. Small businesses are the heart of Los Angeles’ many neighborhoods. Reporter Laura C. Morel talks with business owners around Los Angeles who either received PPP money or faced insurmountable hurdles to get one of the forgivable loans...We end with an interview with reporter Gabriel Thompson about fast food franchises that received PPP money. One McDonald’s owner in Chicago got half a million dollars, but workers there filed multiple complaints with OSHA because they felt they were not protected from COVID-19. I produced the last segment on this episode, and supported the team as production manager.

WBEZ reporter Shannon Heffernan brings us the story of Anthony Gay, who was sentenced to seven years in prison on a parole violation but ended up with 97 years added to his sentence. Gay lives with serious mental illness, and after time in solitary confinement, he began to act out. He was repeatedly charged with battery... I produced the last segment on this episode, lead produced the episode for Reveal in collaboration with our partners at WBEZ Chicago's "Motive," and supported the Reveal team as production manager.

Aisha Wahab is the newest member of Hayward’s city council. Last November, Wahab made history when she became the first Afghan-American woman elected to public office in the United States. Months later, Wahab has been sworn in on the council of the second most diverse city in the state, where residents are navigating rising rent prices, unemployment, and last year’s officer-involved shooting of Agustin Gonsalez. Reporter Amy Mostafa has the story on what’s ahead for the councilwoman in 2019, and her efforts to push forward increased mental health and de-escalation training for the city’s first responders. I reported, wrote, and produced this story.

The Bay Area has the highest concentration of self-identified LGBT adults in the country. But that doesn’t mean the needs of the entire community are being met. Six months ago, Lindsey Page opened Radically Fit in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood. She saw a need for an inclusive, body-positive gym for queer and trans people of color—especially the big bodied. So, she built it. I reported, wrote, and produced this story.

A new Anchorage art exhibit looks at conservation and ecological issues facing birds in the north and beyond. I reported, wrote, and produced this story as part of my focus on science, health and enviornmental equity in the city of Anchorage for Alaska Public Media.

A new city program in Anchorage is training childcare providers and parents on what to look for in household products to avoid potentially harmful ingredients. I reported, wrote, and produced this story as part of my focus on science, health and enviornmental equity in the city of Anchorage for Alaska Public Media.

This tax season, reporter Amy Mostafa looks at financial literacy. What does it mean? What’s keeping us from it? And should public K-12 schools take on a bigger role in providing finance education? I reported, wrote, and produced this story.

In the latest episode of “Tales of Two Cities,” we’ll hear from people about how they’ve repurposed buildings, steel, names, and shared rides — and why other things like school meals and the cannabis industry should or shouldn’t be repurposed. I produced this episode.

As Oakland takes steps toward becoming an “age-friendly city,” District 3 residents shared how issues like high housing costs and access to transportation affect local seniors. I reported this story, and it later served as the basis for my thesis-reporting on the displacement of some of the Bay Area's most vulnerable residents through housing safety code enforcement.

“Everything else goes away when you play,” Thompson said. “It’s a meditation. It’s awesome, you know? Without it, I can handle it for a little while. But after about a week or two, I’m ready to play again.” That might explain why each of the musicians has been playing for so long. Pacarro first picked up the ukulele in Hawai’i in the 10th grade when he was sent there to finish his schooling after getting into trouble. Noga started singing at church. Cruver started with the keyboard at 19. And Thompson with a toy drum set at 10. Today, Noga says he’s happy the band gets to serve as Alaska’s reggae connection. And as far as what’s next? Paccaro says they want to make time to record some of their original songs. And Thompson says he just wants to keep playing music. I reported, wrote, and produced this story.