116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Sofia DeMartino
Sofia DeMartino strives to open dialogues that serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring readers to question the status quo, challenge their own beliefs, and seek greater understanding for collective growth.
Sofia’s lived experience and love for empowering others have led her to spend over a decade working in social services. Her work in this field has shaped her worldview, fostering a profound interest in the transformative power of human connection and the evolution of identity.
Latest Articles by Sofia DeMartino
Staff Columnists Dec. 22, 2024 5:00 am9d ago
She came to me in a dream. It has been twenty years since her passing; I didn’t expect to find …
Staff Columnists Dec. 1, 2024 6:34 am30d ago
In the four years I have served as an editorial fellow for The Gazette, I have submitted column after column …
Staff Columnists Nov. 3, 2024 5:00 am58d ago
Over the past few months, I have been asked several times what it is like to be a Black woman from Iowa during this particular election cycle
Staff Columnists Oct. 6, 2024 5:00 am86d ago
Early this year, I made a phone call to invite several women to breakfast at Oscar’s in Hiawatha. This group …
Staff Columnists Sep. 22, 2024 5:00 am100d ago
More must be done in Iowa to protect vulnerable people
Staff Columnists Aug. 25, 2024 5:00 am128d ago
People from all over the world are watching the U.S. election
Staff Columnists Jul. 28, 2024 5:00 am156d ago
Mike Barnhart has held the title of president and CEO of Horizons since 2019
Staff Columnists Jul. 7, 2024 5:00 am177d ago
Hi friends. It’s been a rough decade, right? I’m talking to those of you who have been prioritizing your mental …
Staff Columnists Jun. 10, 2024 8:37 am204d ago
LaNisha Cassell leads the African American Museum of Iowa, which has become a community hub in Cedar Rapids
Staff Columnists May. 12, 2024 5:00 am233d ago
What is the most important lesson your mother has ever taught you?
Staff Columnists May. 5, 2024 5:00 am240d ago
Iowa lawmakers passed one of the broadest DEI bans in the country.
Staff Columnists Apr. 7, 2024 5:00 am268d ago
It is snowing when I meet arts entrepreneur Briana Thompson at The Spot, a local Black owned business in Dubuque. …
Staff Columnists Mar. 17, 2024 12:54 pm289d ago
From a young age, Dr. Tamara Marcus wanted nothing more than to leave Cedar Rapids in her rear view mirror. …
Staff Columnists Mar. 4, 2024 9:55 am302d ago
Social service organizations work to support victims managing the emotional and financial fallout and trying to rebuild their lives. Many rely on Federal Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA, and Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA funding to provide temporary shelter, money for deposits on rental properties, transportation to medical appointments, therapy services, child care and more.
Staff Columnists Feb. 18, 2024 5:00 am317d ago
Educator, serial entrepreneur, and community leader Kimberly Fitten had an idea. The vision, a culmination of her years of work …