Access Humboldt and the League of Women Voters of Humboldt County hosted the second annual local Sunshine Week awards event, discussion, and reception on March 19, 2026, at the Eureka Theater. Illuminate! 2026 emphasized the National Sunshine Week theme, “Your Right to Know.” Sunshine Week (March 15-21, 2026) highlights the media’s essential role in supporting good governance and promoting civic engagement. The need has never been more urgent.
There were three awards handed out.
Photojournalism: Mark Larson, Freelance Photojournalist. Mark Larson’s work offers an important visual record of Humboldt County’s public life, capturing civic engagement, community events, and key moments that shape local identity. His photography often connects with government transparency and public participation, including documenting major public demonstrations and civic gatherings. He is a regular contributor to the North Coast Journal.
Investigative Journalism: Isabella Vanderheiden, Lost Coast Outpost, Humboldt County News. Isabella Vanderheiden consistently provides impactful, accountability-focused reporting on Humboldt County government by using clear sources, direct interviews, and detailed explanations of complex public processes. Over the past year, her work has shown how government decisions and inaction impact housing, public safety, and environmental protections.
Young Journalists: As part of a team of reporters, Maryanne Casas-Perez, Noelle Doblado, and Griffin Mancuso were selected for their work as students in a Cal Poly Humboldt investigative journalism class. They collaborated on “Green and Gold Washing on the Menu?” The story examined the multi-million-dollar CPH food services contract with Chartwell’s. They reviewed public records and interviewed administrative staff, sustainability experts, community members, and students. Their story appeared in the North Coast Journal, Times Standard, Redheaded Blackbelt, and Newsbreak.
Griffin Marcuso, who accepted the award, contributes to The Lumberjack, Cal Poly Humboldt’s student newspaper and the North Coast Journal. Maryanne Casas-Perez graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt in December 2025 and served as the editor of El Leñador, the bilingual student-run newspaper at Cal Poly Humboldt. She is currently working at San Jose Spotlight. Noelle Doblado’s photography frequently appears in El Leñador.
Award recipient Mark Larson said, “Thank you for the unexpected honor of receiving the Ray of Sunshine award in the photojournalism category last night at Illuminate! 2026. It was a lovely evening, and my gratitude extends to Access Humboldt, and everyone involved for keeping public access alive and well.”
League President Julie Kelly and Access Humboldt’s Executive Director, Christina Marie Jeffers, welcomed the guests. Last year’s Illuminate award winner, Thadeus Greenson, Press Education Specialist from the First Amendment Coalition and former news editor of the North Coast Journal, served as the keynote speaker.
Access Humboldt’s Board Chair, Molly Cate, shared this statement: “Thadeus Greenson’s address, emphasizing the essential role of journalism in a democracy and the increasingly vital role community journalists play in spotlighting local events that might otherwise go unnoticed, proved that he is as effective a speaker as he is a writer.”
Access Humboldt’s Executive Director, Christina Marie Jeffers, said: “The past year has seen a decline in press freedom. Locally, our journalists have ‘stepped to the plate’ and reported on how local, state, and national policies affect Humboldt residents. Access Humboldt is dedicated to helping residents learn how to source information and think critically when consuming all types of media.” Access Humboldt, a nonprofit community media center, is an innovative and trusted resource for residents of Humboldt County, California. It plays a crucial role in our democracy by promoting transparency in government, sharing locally produced stories, and broadcasting emergency information. The League of Women Voters of Humboldt County advocates for public participation in government as a civic duty that ensures effective governance. The League works tirelessly to inform voters and increase voter engagement.
For more information visit Access Humboldt – Illuminate 2026!
This article appears in My Humboldt Life April 2026.