Exploring Afro-Mexican cuisine at Tamales Elena in Bell Gardens

Lucas Kwan Peterson is a former columnist and video producer for the Food section of the Los Angeles Times.

Yadira Flores is a former video editor for the Los Angeles Times who joined the newsroom through Metpro in November 2017. Flores graduated with a bachelor of science in filmmaking and has edited online content for Amazon, the American Cinema Editors, FilmLight, Emmy Primecuts and Moviola. She hails from El Paso, Texas.

Cody Long is a former video journalist and producer for the Los Angeles Times who focused on food video. Originally from San Diego, Long received his bachelor’s in art with an emphasis in photography from San Diego State University. He has produced Emmy award-winning content for the San Diego Union-Tribune and has had clients including Sony Interactive, HSN, American Airlines and CQ Roll Call.

Former Los Angeles Times video editor Vesta Partovi is a native Angeleno with experience in nonfiction and narrative storytelling, spanning both new and traditional media. She received her degree and training at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. Previously, she led an international docuseries with Lucas Kwan Peterson and her work has been nominated for a regional Emmy award.