Kamna Shastri
Community Outreach Producer
About
Kamna is a community outreach coordinator. She connects with organizations and individuals with the goal of building relationships and deepening trust between KUOW and all the communities who share space in our region.
She has spent six years reporting and writing about communities of color and immigrant communities for various publications throughout the Greater Seattle Area. Previously at KUOW she has been a reporting fellow and mentor for RadioActive. She also completed a mid-career reporting fellowship with NPR's Code Switch.
You can reach Kamna on her work cell at 206-591-8197
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English, Tamil, Hindi, basic Spanish
Pronouns: she/her
Stories
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Economy
90 days to make a life: One Afghan family’s resettlement in Washington state
Afghans continue to top the list of new refugee arrivals in Washington state. More than 5,000 have resettled here in the past two years. For this first wave of refugees from Afghanistan, it can be a lot to figure out from scratch. Especially when the resettlement process gives families only three months of support.
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Business
Striking Seattle electrical workers demand better pay, improved safety
Striking electrical workers from IBEW Local 46 have shut down eight work sites after negotiations broke down with the Puget Sound Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).
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Health Care
Acute mental health resource guide – starting points
The mental health care system in Washington state can be convoluted and confusing. KUOW and The Seattle Times looked into the problem in the six-part podcast "Lost Patients." Getting help for mental health issues, and for mental illness like psychosis is not always straightforward, so we compiled a starting list of resources for anyone looking to care for themselves or their loved ones.
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Arts & Life
These neighbors are the heartbeat of Seattle’s Chinatown-International District
Everyone in Seattle's Chinatown-International District has a story that contributes to the neighborhood’s rich historical and multicultural significance. While it isn’t possible to catalog every individual story that makes up this place, we curated a series of profiles that showcase the layers of life that exist in this place.
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Environment
From restaurant table to garden compost in the CID
Nine windows at the Wing Luke Museum will need to be replaced after being smashed last week during what’s being called a racist attack. The museum says the man used a sledgehammer. Police made an arrest. The CID has been through a lot over the past few years, but through it all remains a vibrant network of neighbors. Our friends at Soundside took a look at the CID as a community and stopped at the Danny Woo Community Garden to talk about gardening and sustainability with some CID residents.
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Environment
This community composting initiative brings its own flavor of sustainability to the Chinatown-International District
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Environment
Chinatown-International District's happiest corner: How this neighborhood garden keeps community rooted
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Arts & Life
Exploring the meaning of community in Seattle's Chinatown-International District
The Soundside team has spent months in the Chinatown-International District, working with journalists from International Examiner to get to know the community better. Our hope is that you’ll come away with a deeper picture of what makes this neighborhood such a vital part of the city — and what the hopes and challenges are for the people here.
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Arts & Life
Not just more of the same, South Asian filmmakers break out of the mold
This Thursday, the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival is coming to town. It's a festival dedicated to films by and about South Asians.
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Education
Seattle teachers on the picket lines
School was supposed to start yesterday. Instead of coming to classrooms full of students, Seattle public school teachers donned red shirts and took to the picket lines to strike. Teachers are striking for competitive pay, adequate classroom support, and a better teacher to student ratio for Special Education classrooms. In fact, Seattle's Special Education program has been a core issue at the bargaining table. We went to a few schools to talk with teachers and educators about why they are striking and the issues that are important to them.