Meet Daylight’s co-founder and resident mom, Maya Srikrishnan
Maya Srikrishnan has written about underserved communities, equity and racial justice issues in San Diego and nationally for more than a decade. She’ll write about anything because everything has an equity and social justice angle.
Introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Maya Srikrishnan. I’m a Desi American. My parents immigrated to the U.S. from India in the 1970s. I was born and raised in New York, but have spent the past decade in San Diego and it’s now the only place I call home.
Why did you become a journalist?
I’ve always been terribly curious and nosy. Journalism both gave me a productive outlet for my naturally snoopy nature and gave me the opportunity to do work that could better the world around me.
What type of journalism do you like to cover? What topics?
I’ve covered everything from housing to immigration to education to economics. What’s most important to me is covering every topic with an eye towards inclusivity, social and racial justice and equity — and those issues exist everywhere you look.
Who’s your favorite musical artist?
My music taste is all over the place and this list would be way too long. But the three albums that have gotten the most play in our home the past few months have probably been “GNX” by Kendrick Lamar, “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac and Sesame Street’s “Splish Splash: Bath Time Fun.”
What TV shows or movies are on your mind at the moment?
Survivor. I had never seen it, so my husband and I decided to watch every season during our parental leave. I thought I wouldn’t be into it at all, but it’s actually a fascinating social experiment.
What hobbies do you have?
I just had a baby six months ago, so if I have any downtime, my hobbies include couch rotting and cat napping. But before that, I used to love to run, spend time outdoors, read fiction, dance salsa and hang out with my anxious pup, Fox.
What does living in San Diego mean to you?
San Diego means home to me. It’s where I’ve spent the last 10 years of my life, met my husband, had my daughter and built a community. At this point I think of San Diego more in terms of the people in my life here than the place itself.
If you weren’t a journalist, what would you be doing instead?
A private investigator — like I said, I’m nosy.
If you could interview any person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
My dad’s dad — or my paternal grandfather. He’s the only grandparent who died before I was born and who I never got to know.
Do you have a favorite journalist or writer who inspires you?
Ida B. Wells.
What’s the most unexpected or bizarre story you’ve ever covered?
I’ve covered a lot of incredible stories, revealing troubling facts about how our government works and what people from marginalized communities face. But this story I wrote for Voice of San Diego in 2016 about an Oceanside city treasurer race stands out because of the sheer pettiness of the local politicians involved. I’ll leave you with the headline because really nothing else needs to be said about it: “Oceanside Councilman Hopes Deceased Colleague Wins in November.”
If you could write a headline for your life right now, what would it be?
Local woman says she’s very tired
— Maya Srikrishnan
Nonprofits grow coalition amid budget cuts
Reeling from sweeping grant cuts under the Trump administration, San Diego nonprofit leaders and staff gathered in Barrio Logan Wednesday to advance their months-long effort to sustain and expand critical community resources.
— Lauren J. Mapp
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, a journalist and poet born in Mexico City and raised in the San Diego-Tijuana border region, will perform a poem at the 20-year anniversary celebration of the National City library on Saturday. He recently published his first book of poems, “California Southern: writing from the road, 1992-2025.”
— Kate Morrissey
Mind On Basketball, San Diego’s newest and only American Basketball Association League franchise, aims to not just be a winning basketball team, but also a space to develop young talent and build community. Shawn Pablo, the owner of the team, said he wants to develop professional basketball by bringing in athletes who typically wouldn’t have the access or opportunity to play professionally
— Sam Barney-Gibbs
Islamophobia incidents are on the rise, and San Diegans of many backgrounds recently gathered at the Islamic Center of San Diego to discuss ways to address Islamophobia in schools, media and elsewhere. The key? Get people together to learn about each other and build coalitions to bring about change.
— Kate Morrissey
Community patrols chase ICE away from elementary school
Community groups monitoring City Heights for immigration officials spotted several SUVs belonging to Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday morning. The community members followed the cars to Herbert Ibarra Elementary School, but after the activists got out of their cars to film, ICE officers drove away. One still had a sunshade covering the windshield when they drove off, according to video footage from Unión del Barrio.
— Kate Morrissey
Anti-ICE demonstrators protest
The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action, a state-wide grassroots nonprofit that organizes for economic and racial justice, spearheaded the “ICE Out of San Diego” demonstration. Community members came together to discuss how companies like software-manufacturer Palantir benefit from ICE raids, surveillance, and militarization that affect San Diegans daily.
— Sam Barney-Gibbs
Weekend Energy: Aug. 27 to Sept. 02
This week, the National City Public Library turns 20, Chicano Park offers a movie night under the stars for Chicano Legacy Month and Mi Gente is hosting its final block party of the summer. Aside from community celebrations, there are also opportunities to give back through neighborhood clean ups and a pet supply drive at City Farmer’s Nursery.
— Brittany Cruz-Fejeran
Other news
Following allegations of misconduct against San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, community activists are looking to have him removed from the department, KPBS reported.
San Diego is taking steps to thwart the impacts of rising sea levels near Sunset Cliffs by shifting parking spots from the cliff’s edge to the street and removing a traffic lane, according to Voice of San Diego. The city’s plan follows an incident last summer when a chunk of the cliff fell at Guizot Street.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 29
CreativeMornings: Head to downtown San Diego to hear from speaker Claire Johnson — San Diego Magazine CEO — at CreativeMornings, a monthly breakfast lecture series that brings together artists, business owners and other creatives. The free event includes time for networking, coffee and a 20-minute talk on the month’s theme: Nomad. Registration is free online. 8:15 to 10 a.m., San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego, California United States 92101
‘Fragmentos del Barrio’ Opening Reception: The Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center hosts an opening reception for “Fragmentos del Barrio,” an exhibition celebrating the work of artist and political activist Ramsés Noriega. The collection includes three decades of paintings, drawings and political graphics, and honors Noriega’s role in the Chicano Art Movement. Register online for free. 5 to 8 p.m., Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, 1960 National Ave., San Diego, CA 92113
Aug. 30
Coffee & Community Pop-Up: The Urban Collaboration Project and the Black Chamber of Commerce host a morning of coffee, community storytelling and live music. 9 a.m. to noon Brooks Huffman Plaza, San Diego, CA 92113
Aug. 31
Neighborhood Clean-Up Day: The Diamond Business Improvement District is hosting a community clean-up day. Volunteers will clean up parks and streets starting at the Market Creek Plaza. Participants are asked to bring their own gloves. 3 to 6 p.m., Market Creek Plaza, 310 Euclid Ave., San Diego, CA 92114
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