Opinion - Finding community, building leadership: My experience as a 2025 NAHJ Adelante Academy fellow

By Gabriela Watson-Burkett. October 11, 2025.

From left to right: Dunia Elvir, NAHJ National President, Yvette Guillen-Diaz, NAHJ Executive Director, 2025 NAHJ Adelante Academy Cohort: Anthony Martinez, Katherine Picazo, Georgiana Gonzalez, Alicia Ybarbo, Gabriela Watson-Burkett, Adreanna Rodriguez, Ana Maria Carrano, and Robert Hernandez, Program Manager. (Credit: Yunuen Bonaparte/ NAHJ)

As I packed my bags for New York city for a whole week of professional training, I felt excited, but also apprehensive. It was my first time leaving my two young daughters for such a long time. It was also the first time I would have specific training focused on leadership to advance my career in media. I was headed to the City University of New York (CUNY), a renowned educational institution, to reunite with six other journalists who were included in the cohort. Coming from a small nonprofit media organization that I founded last year, Inti Media, and being an Afro-Latina whose work focuses on social justice. I asked myself if I was going to fit in.

I had no idea, but I was about to embark on one of my most professional transformative experiences as the 2025 NAHJ Adelante Academy Fellow. As I eased into the first day of training at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, I felt all of the pressure melt away. I could not have asked for a better start. From the program leaders to the workshop experts — and especially the other journalists — everyone left their egos at the door and came together as a team, creating a supportive and welcoming environment.

The 2025 NAHJ Adelante Academy Cohort at the CUNY campus.

2025 fellows in front of the NY Times building.

In a day and age in which a lot of our interactions are virtual, being immersed in a full week of training allowed us to build something special. The workshops were targeted to provide us with knowledge to advance our career. Skills included  personality and team communication, design thinking and negotiation skills. Some of the coaches included the amazing professionals Karen Baum Gordon and LaToya Jordan. As I reflect on my education, I recognize how important these skills are to navigate leadership in any career, but especially in a newsroom setting.

New York’s weather in March is often rainy and requires big coats, but it did not impact our experience. The beauty of that week came from the balance between these packed sessions with trips and equally meaningful social gatherings. Some highlights included visits to The New York Times and the Documented NY newsroom, which gave me plenty of ideas to bring back to Inti Media’s Latine-led newsroom.

Some highlights included visits to The New York Times and the Documented NY newsroom (in the photo).

Attending the “Buena Vista Social Club” musical on Broadway brought me to tears, as the music reminded me of some songs I sing to inspire Black pride in my daughters. It also reminded me that joy is just as essential to leadership as strategy and planning.

2025 Adelante Academy fellows after attending the Broadway play.

An important element of the fellowship included developing a project that would allow us to implement the skills that we learned throughout the week. The project I developed was, “Building Trust with the Latine Community Through Inti Media’s newsroom”. Supported by the mentorship provided by the program, I was partnered with the inspiring journalist and media entrepreneur, Nuria Net, founder of Shaky it Easy Media, who offered me invaluable advice on Inti Media’s newsroom model. I was also partnered  with Becca Aaronson, Chief Product Officer of the News Product Alliance, who provided thoughtful guidance as I prepared a portion of my project: Inti Media’s first listening session.

With the support of some members of Inti Media’s team — reporters Jennifer Hernandez and producers Lamont Gibson and Claudia Ceballos — we hosted a listening session with community members, leaders, journalists and artists from the Philly Latine and other communities of color. They gathered to watch our short documentaries, discuss the articles and provide feedback on preferred topics, formats, languages and styles.

Community members during the Listening Session. (Credit: Inti Media)

“The stories that move me are the ones that remind me I’m not alone” -  was one of the most touching responses we received about what community members want to see in the media. Not only did the responses provide valuable information, but everyone left the session energized.

As a community-centered media organization, developing this project as part of the fellowship allowed us to build on our team's skills and refine our formats to offer more impactful information to our underserved neighborhoods.

As summer began, and the first week of July was upon us, I found myself in a familiar scenario: It was time to leave my family again, to attend the NAHJ conference in Chicago. As the African proverb says “It takes a village” to raise kids. 

It also takes a village to grow Inti Media. Creating a journalism start-up from scratch as a new mother requires a dedication that I never thought I had. But our communities are rooted in resilience. Inti Media was named after the organization my parents created in Sao Paulo, Brazil to support Peruvian immigrants. Inti means sun in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas. There is room for all of us under the sun. To get there, will always require overcoming challenges. 

Gabriela Watson-Burkett during her final presentation. (Courtesy: Ana Maria Carrano)

The final day of the program arrived. That morning, my collaborators Jennifer Hernandez and Manny Smith took time to review the presentation with me. Meanwhile, my husband video-chatted as I sang to my kids before heading out. Our last session, led by journalist Amanda Zamora, Founder and Principal of Agencia Media LLC, gave us a welcome boost of confidence before the presentations began.

Hours later, in a conference room at the iconic Hilton Hotel in Chicago, my heart was racing as I waited for my turn to present my project. I closed my eyes and asked for spiritual guidance to help me close this chapter. The PowerPoint was ready, filled with data, quotes, and progress. The feedback I received was truly positive. I should note that all the presentations were impressive. There were claps, laughs and tears. We did it, team! We did it again. 

The 2025 cohort at the graduation in Chicago. (Credit: NAHJ)

This year’s NAHJ conference in Chicago was more than just another professional milestone—it was affirming. As both a fellow of the Adelante Academy and a member of the panel,“Breaking Barriers: Afro-Latino Leadership in Media,”  I felt seen in a way that highlighted the role Inti Media plays in local and national journalism. For me, it was recognition that our work matters, that independent, community-rooted journalism belongs in spaces that celebrate excellence. Surrounded by talented journalists, editors, and storytellers, I left inspired and motivated to push forward in this work. 

One of the things I love most about independent media is its deep roots in the community. We may not always have the resources of mainstream outlets, but we bring authenticity, proximity, and intentional storytelling to the table. At NAHJ, that dynamic was clear: the mix of big networks, local outlets, and independent newsrooms created space for richer, more diverse exchanges. I’m incredibly grateful to our program manager, Robert Hernandez, for his guidance, and to my impressive cohort for the solidarity and wisdom we shared. Each person I met brought perspectives that enriched our conversations and deepened my learning.

My hope is that community-centered media will no longer be seen as “small players” but recognized as vital contributors to the future of journalism. As I left Chicago, I carried not just lessons but a renewed conviction that Latine and BIPOC creatives need support now more than ever on their professional journeys. 

When I speak with colleagues, I realize that many of us often struggle with self-doubt, but we shouldn’t. We are equally prepared to sit  at leadership tables and help shape a more equitable and inclusive journalism. We may have accents (puede ser), but we also bring professionalism, determination, and strong values that empower us to thrive in any position.I never imagined that when I began my career in 2007 in a Brazilian newsroom, I would one day work with outlets like ABC and WHYY in Philadelphia—or even found and lead, alongside an amazing and dedicated team, an independent newsroom. To the next generation: despite the systemic barriers creatives of color continue to face, my message is simple—believe in yourself, and as my mother always says, ponte las pilas — do the hard work.

I’m deeply grateful to all who have backed my experience—from Inti Media's devoted team to our families and community members who engage with and uplift our work. I’m also grateful to NAHJ, the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, and the Leeway Foundation for their support. 

I encourage other Latine journalists to apply for the Adelante Academy fellowship which has its application open until October 15. It is a transformative program that invests in us not only as journalists, but as leaders and changemakers.