Nagi Daifullah, a Yemeni immigrant, came to the U.S. to work as a grape harvester.  He learned to speak English and Spanish and advocated for farmworker rights in the early 1970’s. Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society. All rights reserved. Sometimes heroes are found unexpectedly. Maybe they were overshadowed by a larger-than-life figure or their story got lost in history. Maybe they didn’t realize how great an impact their sacrifice would have.  By an

Students participate in Live Again Fresno’s afterschool programming at Roeding Park. Live Again Fresno serves children and families living in the Jane Addams neighborhood near Fresno’s Motel Drive.  Started by Executive Director Richard Burrel in 2011, the organization builds hope, empowerment and trust among neighborhood residents. When Live Again Fresno broke ground on a brand-new community center in March, it was a full-circle moment for Richard Burrell, who founded the or

In 1881, Hagop (Jacob) Seropian, right, was the first Armenian to settle in Fresno. He wrote to his family about the climate that was so much like their native Armenia. His brothers Garabed, left, and Simon soon joined him in Fresno.  Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society - Fresno Bee Collection. All rights reserved. While Kim Kardashian may be one of the earliest social-media influencers, she’s not the first Armenian-American to master the art of prom

Louis Gundelfinger, an early Fresno businessman and entrepreneur, shaped the Central Valley in many ways.  As a lover of community, nature and music, he championed green spaces, public art and fine music. His legacy lives on through the Louis M. Gundelfinger Fund, an endowment that supports parks and art in our region. If you’ve ever hiked through Woodward Park or listened to a Fresno Youth Orchestra performance, if you have memories of going to Playland and Storyland when yo

On a plot of land in Visalia, hope is about to take root. After months of coordination, collaboration, and hard work, the City has approved the plan and budget for a new community garden.  These early steps are part of a larger vision: to create a place that increases local access to healthy food, teaches hands-on growing and sustainable practices, creates pathways for food entrepreneurs, beautifies the neighborhood, and brings people together. This project started as a commu