Access Humboldt Held First Annual ILLUMINATE Event and Presented ‘Ray of Sunshine Award’
This is a press release from Access Humboldt:
Photo by Mark Larson
Access Humboldt’s Sunshine Week discussion, award presentation, and “Illuminate 2025”
reception was held on March 20, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Eureka Theater. Panel members included (from left) Lauren Schmitt, KMUD; Maryanne Casas-Perez, El Lenador; Patrick Cleary, Lost Coast Communications/Lost Coast Outpost; Persephone Rose, Redwood Voice Youth Media, KFUG; Allie Hostler, Two Rivers Tribune, Hoopa; and Mo Harper-Desir, Redwoods Listening Post/Access Humboldt. Thad Greenson, editor of the North Coast Journal, was presented the first Ray of Sunshine Award by Access Humboldt’s executive Director Christina Marie Jeffers (back center).Access Humboldt holds the first annual, “ILLUMINATE” event featuring the Ray of Sunshine Award which took place on March 20, 2025. Access Humboldt created the Ray of Sunshine Award to recognize excellence in local journalism and other efforts related to the Freedom of Information Act and Open Government. ILLUMINATE was registered as a national event with Sunshine Week this year and served to inspire collaboration between local news outlets, journalists, and the community that contributes to our vibrant local news ecosystem.
The recipient of this year’s Ray of Sunshine Award was Thadeus Greenson, News Editor, North Coast Journal. The award featured a beautiful glass marble from John Gibbons Glass as part of the award. “We wanted to feature a local artist and create something that was uniquely made,” said Executive Director Christina Marie Jeffers.
ILLUMINATE also held a panel of six local people representing six media outlets including:
Maryanne Casas-Perez
El Lenador
Patrick Cleary
Lost Coast Communications/Lost Coast
Outpost
Mo Harper-Desir
Redwoods Listening Post/Access Humboldt
Persephone Rose
Redwood Voice Youth Media, KFUG
Lauren Schmitt
KMUD
Allie Hostler
Two Rivers Tribune
The conversation was broadcast & streamed on Access Humboldt, KZZH, and KMUD; and
revolved around each person’s role in promoting civic participation and open government.
Thad Greenson had this to say about ILLUMINATE, “It’s about time that we had a Sunshine
Week event here locally. It felt really good to gather the news outlets and celebrate the hard
work we do in this region.”
For more information:
Christina Marie Jeffers
E.D. Access Humboldt
916-919-5965
Jane Callahan
Board Member (VP) Access Humboldt
571-331-6301
Photo by Mark Larson
Access Humboldt’s Sunshine Week “Illuminate 2025” event at the Eureka Theater included a presentation of the first Ray of Sunshine award to Thad Greenson, editor of the North Coast Journal, by Access Humboldt’s executive director Christina Marie Jeffers.
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What a shameful batch.
The whole gang held quiet while our natural resources were torn to shit
for an ill conceived weeding program.
To this day, zero reports, miles of wetlands destroyed with wildlife habitats
scoured.
Glorified cheerleaders stroking themselves.
No RHBB Representation? A rather glaring omission.
RHBB was invited to be on the panel. RHBB is a great example of local journalism.
Thank you, Jane. I just saw your response and Zip’s and wanted to let everyone know that it wasn’t because you didn’t invite us. My husband is ill and I just can’t do one more thing right now and the thought of being on the other end of a mike was just too horrible.
Zipline, Jane very kindly invited us. But my husband is scheduled with Stanford for heart issues this week and I’m pretty stressed right now and the thought of being on the public end of things just was too much right now.
Sorry to hear. Medical problems will affect us all as we age. Stanford provides excellent medical care. Also UCSF and CPMC. Spent a good part of my life in medical management (wife was a m.d.) Always had good outcomes with those three….Good luck.