Introducing our trailblazers of East Pierce County. Who should we write about next?

Stories about Black, Indigenous, people of color rarely used to make the front page of newspapers.

Stories about them making a difference in the communities they serve got even less attention.

Times are changing.

Representation is crucial in news coverage.

There are BIPOC leaders in East Pierce County, and we’re telling their stories.

The Puyallup Herald is launching BIPOC Trailblazers of East Pierce County, a website to showcase agents of change.

Trailblazers aren’t afraid to make waves. They make it a priority to positively impact those around them. They transform their community for the better.

We’re introducing you to five trailblazers this week.

You’ll meet a teenager who has 20 times more volunteer hours at her local food bank than she needed to graduate.

We’ll tell you about a woman whose parents met in a WWII incarceration camp. She’s building a memorial in Puyallup to help tell that story.

You’ll also hear from a mother who went to school with her son every day, and became a teacher who helps other Spanish-speaking families navigate the school system.

And we’ll tell you about the woman behind Puyallup’s Two-Way Racial Healing Project and the city’s recent Juneteenth celebration.

Another teacher you’ll meet was never asked if he wanted to go to college. Now his classroom is a safe space for students.

You’ll also see older stories on our Trailblazers page that fit the theme.

Most importantly, this is an ongoing project, which means we’re looking for more East Pierce County trailblazers to write about. Tell us who we should be talking to.

Thank you for reading.

This story was originally published July 24, 2023 at 5:15 AM.