Stories by Alfredo Sosa

Cover Story

These migrants bound for the US border found their dream opportunity in Mexico

As record numbers of migrants vie to enter the U.S., others have found the opportunity they seek lies south of the border.

Europe burns wood pellets. Impacts rise for US communities, forests.

The wood pellet industry has surged under a clean energy label. Critics say the industry puts the environment and marginalized communities at risk.

It’s not just the sunshine: Why Portugal attracts US expats

Portugal is gaining popularity with U.S. citizens looking to move abroad. Reasons include the expected, like weather and the cost of living, as well as ones that hint at people’s deeper needs when trying to build a good life. 

Northeast wind projects notch a win, despite industry struggles

The first major offshore wind farms in U.S. waters have begun to generate power. It’s providing a sign of hope at a time of uncertainty for the industry. 

‘Small stories’ add up to big impact

Cover Story

In a return to forgotten lands, young farmers go small, demand less

Digging into small agriculture, a new generation of young people returns to the land to a more sustainable lifestyle in response to climate change.

Focus

Americans need help with child care. One solution is catching on in Maine.

The pandemic brought more attention to the challenges of working parents. In Maine, a new model for expanding day care options is offering one solution to America’s child care need.

Helping bays become ‘a better spot’ for oysters – and farmers

A partnership between conservationists and oyster farmers is expanding after a promising start. 

Biking the Erie Canal, I pedaled through history

It’s one thing to drive from Ontario to Rhode Island. It’s another to cycle, stopping along the way to reflect on decades of history. 

Cover Story

Fighting wildfires: A family tradition

Excitement is a big draw for wildland firefighters, but a commitment to each other – and, in some cases, to their families – keeps them battling fires.

In Pictures: The smokejumpers of McCall, Idaho

Smokejumpers fight fires in remote areas that are only accessible by air. The typical smokejumper is a combination of a special ops soldier, a tailor, and a ski bum.

Cover Story

Untangling the roots of violence: What can we learn from the South?

Beneath the South’s reputation for comfort food and a friendly welcome lie deep roots of violence. Can untangling them help uproot them?

Cover Story

Between the stacks: A day in the life of a library

Despite legislators’ threats to defund libraries, this busy one looks toward the future, with plans to expand its embrace of the community. 

Photo finish 2022: A year of insight and connection

From Ukraine to the U.S. campaign trail, this collection of favorite Monitor photos of 2022 honors partnerships forged between photographer, subject, and viewer.

A year of resilience: Monitor photographers reflect on 2021

When Monitor photographers returned to the field in 2021, they found a society eager to come back together – and a newfound joy of their own.

Swim pioneer Bill Meier’s mission is to transcend fear, increase safety

A spate of drownings in Massachusetts resulted in restrictions on open water swimming. But Bill Meier is on a mission to increase water safety among all levels of swimmers.

In Pictures: Standing outside and looking in

Romeo Alaeff comes from a long line of “outsiders.” His photography resonates with the Monitor’s Alfredo Sosa, an immigrant himself.

Soft focus on 2020: Finding humanity in a year of isolation (video)

In a year marked by isolation, our photojournalists found people working to better understand and find new ways to connect with each other.

One family, three generations, and 100 years of suffrage

A century into women’s suffrage, the Monitor asks three generations of women in one family what voting means to them.

‘The game of life and death’: An ancient sport revives in Mexico (video)

Ulama was once a high-stakes ritual in Mesoamerica. Today, as renewed nationalism takes hold in Mexico, a new generation is discovering the game.