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Ashley Valdes


Ashley Valdes is a Los Angeles native born and raised in the Echo Park neighborhood. She is a first-generation Latina of Mexican-Salvadoran parents. Ashley received her Bachelor’s degree in Global Politics from Mount Saint Mary’s University of Los Angeles. She is currently pursuing her post-graduate degree in Humanities with a focus in History. She is an educator, academic manager, and educational consultant.

Updated December 2023


Stories from This Author

Thumbnail for Changing Tides: Vanguards of Mental Health Awareness in the Asian American Community
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Changing Tides: Vanguards of Mental Health Awareness in the Asian American Community

Oct. 4, 2024 • Ashley Valdes

On Saturday, October 12, the Japanese American National Museum will hold its annual mental health conference. This welcoming space will usher mental health topics into the Asian American community. Changing Tides (CT) is a prominent organization at this conference and part of the Little Tokyo Service Center. It was founded in 2018 by four young UCLA scholars who facilitated a unique conversation about destigmatizing mental health in the Asian American community and opened a dialogue about normalizing mental health. The …

Thumbnail for <em>The Little Match Girl</em> — Debut Ballet Performer Yurino Niyama
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The Little Match Girl — Debut Ballet Performer Yurino Niyama

Dec. 6, 2023 • Ashley Valdes

From the very young age of three, Yurino Niyama has always known she wanted to be a ballet dancer. As she prepares for her debut performance at Pacific Ballet Dance Theater as The Little Match Girl, in Glendale, CA on December 9, 2023, Yurino Niyama has perfected the art of ballet through intense training and great mentorship. Born in Miyakonojo city in Miyazaki-ken and raised in Fukuoka, Japan, Yurino was encouraged by her family to excel in various creative outlets. …

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