Carren Jao

A woman sitting down with a floral skirt

Born and raised in the Philippines, Carren is a storyteller at heart, working to uplift diverse voices. She is a skilled digital storyteller with more than a decade of experience working on engaging content that lives on multiple platforms. Her arts and culture stories have won recognition from the LA Press Club and the Asian American Journalists Association.

As arts and culture editor for KCET, a public television station and online destination in Southern California, she leads editorial strategy and content development for arts, culture, food, travel and history content. Working with collaborators across 11 Southern California counties, she tells award-winning stories that matter.

Previously, Carren has worked as a full-time freelance journalist. Her work has been published around the world, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Wired UK, Surface, Dwell and many others.

From the River: Michael Kolster's Handmade Photographs

Guided by Play the L.A. River's playing cards, Michael Kolster captures segments of the L.A. River through an intensive photographic technique from the 1800s.

New Sign Informs and Provokes at L.A. River 'Bowtie Parcel'

Located on the "Bowtie Parcel" the sign masquerades as California State Parks signage, seeking not just to inform, but also to provoke its readers.

Microbeads: Water's Tiny Trash Problem

These pieces of plastic, less than one millimeter in diameter, could eventually release toxins into our food chain system -- and perhaps eventually even in our bodies.

'Missing Link' in San Fernando Valley L.A. River Trail Launches

The $2-million Zev Yaroslavsky L.A. River Greenway Trail will connect two sections of the river trail, creating a continuous 5-mile pathway in the San Fernando Valley.

A Look Back at a Decade of Proposition O

There is little question that Proposition O, which passed in 2004, has gone a long way toward changing a city's perspective on dealing with its water crisis -- but it didn't do so without some initial bumps.

Urban River Parkways are a Cost-Effective Cure for the Public Ill

A new study reveals the many health benefits associated with urban river parkways, such as what L.A. is trying to realize by the 51-mile Los Angeles River.

Harriet Bailey run "Guided Viewing Dance" with her four dancers | Photo: Carren Jao

Experimental Dance by the Los Angeles River

Every corner of the Ed Reyes Greenway along the Los Angeles River will come alive with movement from experimental dance Sunday, October 26.

Water Bond Draws Many Supporters, But Also Many Doubters

The proposition seeks to provide $7.545 billion for management of California's water resources for water-related projects, which could include the L.A. River.

Lewis MacAdams: Poetic Politics on the Los Angeles River

"Godfather of the L.A. River" just celebrated his seventh decade in this world this month, more than three decades after he founded Friends of the L.A. River.

First Ever Bird Fest Demystifies Hidden Avian World of Los Angeles

The first ever Bird Festival of Santa Monica will be toward beginner and advanced birders alike.

Arts District Fights to Keep Metro Maintainance Yard Out

The neighborhood just recently found out that Metro is planning to build a maintenance facility for the heart of the Arts District.

Elysian Valley Residents Push for Smart Growth

In the wake of a looming billion-dollar investment on the Los Angeles River, developers are looking to win big on river-adjacent communities -- which has Frogtown residents worried.

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Carren Jao