There’s been an increase in deportations of Marshallese people from northwest Arkansas, and the organization Chikin Melele is making sure this crisis doesn’t go uncovered.

Our Southern Movement Media Fund recently awarded a collaborative reporting grant to Chikin Melele members (Melanie Carbine, Michael Mapa & Thomas Tulensa) and Arkansas journalist Olivia Paschal to continue amplifying this critical issue. * Chikin Melele is a bilingual, community-centered media platform serving Marshallese communities in Arkansas, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and across the Micronesian diaspora. They produce culturally responsive journalism in English and Marshallese through articles, translation, audio, video, and collaborative reporting, documenting the stories, relationships, and lived experiences that shape Marshallese communities. Their reporting is rooted in cultural context, community trust, and the belief that Marshallese voices should tell Marshallese stories while strengthening understanding across communities. * Melanie (she/her) @thefelanie is an editor, translator, and community journalist who works alongside Marshallese reporters to produce bilingual, community-centered journalism serving Marshallese communities in Arkansas, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and across the diaspora. She is the founder, editor, and publisher of Chikin Melele and a doctoral student in Multilingual Education at the University of Iowa, where her research focuses on heritage language education for Marshallese and Chuukese students. Through journalism, translation, and collaborative reporting, she works to strengthen access to culturally responsive information while amplifying Marshallese voices and stories. [Please find bios for the rest of the grantees and image descriptions in the comments.]