MOI Fellows

The fellows in MGW’s Member Organizer Institute are key to building our worker power. Their work includes helping to plan and execute collective actions on the job and developing new Guild leaders in their shops. Senior fellows have previously completed the MOI and now help to provide one-on-one coaching and facilitate group trainings for new MOI participants.

Meet the current cohort of MOI fellows:

Candi Bolden, Fort Worth NewsGuild
Candi Bolden is a visual/multimedia journalist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is a steward for the Fort Worth NewsGuild.

Mikala Compton, Austin NewsGuild
Mikala Compton is a photojournalist and steward at the Austin American-Statesman.

Chris Damien, Desert Sun NewsGuild
Chris reports on criminal justice for the Desert Sun, a newsroom he proudly helped unionize. He is a member of the unit's bargaining committee. And he likes to work on his garden and cactus collection at his home in the California desert.

Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times Guild
Sam Dean is an LAT Guild steward, MGW executive committee officer, and business reporter at the L.A. Times.

Jonathan Horwitz, Desert Sun NewsGuild
Jonathan Horwitz is an education reporter for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., and a member of the contract action team. He's probably out hiking. Follow him on Twitter @writes_jonathan.

Maneeza Iqbal, Los Angeles Times Guild
Maneeza Iqbal is an audience engagement editor at the LA Times. She was born and raised in the Midwest, but after living in California for the past decade, claims the West Coast as home.

Wendy Killeen, Arizona Republic Guild
Wendy Killeen is a digital producer at the Arizona Republic in Phoenix where she also serves as a steward and the one-woman welcome committee for The Arizona Republic Guild. When not momming her grown sons or producing her colleagues’ stories, you're likely to find her tending to her eyelash crested gecko Paarthurnax, singing karaoke or camping.

Courtney Lewis, Los Angeles Times Guild
Courtney Lewis is a digital editor and a steward at the Los Angeles Times. She usually spends her weekends mountain biking, hiking or otherwise enjoying the SoCal climate. Follow her on Twitter @sportsCourt

Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth NewsGuild
Harrison Mantas is a Boston-native reporting on city government for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He's a Fort Worth NewsGuild steward, a Red Sox fan, and is still getting adjusted to how nice everyone is in Fort Worth.

Megan Menchaca, Austin NewsGuild
Megan Menchaca is a higher education reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. She is a steward for the Austin NewsGuild. Follow her on Twitter @meganmmenchaca.

Autumn Pattison, Dallas News Guild
Autumn Pattison is a multiplatform editor at The Dallas Morning News and unit council and communications committee member for the Dallas News Guild. When not at work, Autumn can be found watching YouTube video essays on obscure topics, taking a silly little mental health walk, or trying out a new coffee shop.

Matt Pearce, Los Angeles Times Guild
Matt Pearce is the president of Media Guild of the West and a founding member of the L.A. Times Guild.

Alexis Potter, Arizona Republic Guild
Alexis is a digital and social media producer for azcentral/The Arizona Republic, where she sometimes write movie reviews. She's also a steward and communication/actions committee member for the Arizona Republic Guild. In her free time, she likes to bake, do crossword puzzles and hang out with her dog, Gracie. Follow her on Twitter at @alexispotter_.

Erin Rode, Desert Sun NewsGuild
Erin Rode is an environment reporter for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., where she is also a member of her unit’s contract action team. She’s a big fan of desert hikes and vegan BLTs.

Ema Sasic, Desert Sun NewsGuild
Ema Sasic is an entertainment and health reporter for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs. She is a member of her unit's CAT team. When not at work, you can find Ema watching or talking about movies. Follow her on Twitter @ema_sasic.

Katya Schwenk, Voice Media Guild
Katya Schwenk is a staff writer at Phoenix New Times and a steward for Voice Media Guild. She covers many things, including the criminal legal system and housing/development in Maricopa County. You can find her on Twitter at @ktyschwnk.

Veronica Serrano, Austin NewsGuild
Veronica Serrano is an editorial assistant at the Austin American-Statesman and Bargaining Committee Chair for the Austin NewsGuild.

Maria Sestito, Desert Sun NewsGuild
Maria Sestito is a journalist and Report for America corps member covering older adults for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif. She is a proud Jersey girl and member of her unit's executive committee and bargaining team. Her cat, Cosmo, often makes appearances during Zoom meetings. Follow her on Twitter @RiaSestito.

Charlie Vargas, SCNG Guild
Charlie Vargas is a casino/entertainment reporter for Southern California News Group. He enjoys music, film, television, exercising, listening to people talk about their passions and having difficult but meaningful conversations.

Nicole Villalpando, Austin NewsGuild
Nicole Villalpando is a reporter and editor who has been with the Statesman since 1999. She runs the Statesman's philanthropy program Season for Caring, and writes about health ... or at least, that's what the editors think she does.

Leah Waters, Dallas News Guild
Leah Waters is a multiplatform editor at The Dallas Morning News, where she also writes for the cities newsletter program. She's the current treasurer and past chair for the Dallas News Guild. She likes to eat, sleep and collect obscure books on the human experience she'll likely never read. Follow her on Twitter at @waters_leah.

Alyssa Williams, Arizona Republic Guild
Alyssa Williams is the social video producer for The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com. She produces video for specifically Instagram and Tik Tok (follow the brand account @azcentral). She takes part in her unit's stewards, actions and communications committees. Follow her on Instagram @alyssawilliams.mp4 and Twitter @aly_awi_iam_.

Isaac Windes, Fort Worth NewsGuild
Isaac Windes is a Fort Worth Star-Telegram Early Education Reporter. He is a Tucson native that loves to cook, decorate cakes and hike.