Meet the Team
Chapter President
carolina astrain
Carolina Astrain is the Morning News Anchor and host of Community Crossroads at KAVU-TV, where she brings more than a decade of experience in journalism to audiences across South Texas. Known for her clear, compassionate reporting and strong editorial judgment, she has earned multiple awards for excellence in breaking news coverage, education reporting, and sports feature storytelling.
Astrain began her career in print and public media, contributing to both the Victoria Advocate and Minnesota Public Radio, where she developed a reputation for thoughtful, community-focused journalism. Her transition to television strengthened her versatility as a multimedia storyteller and deepened her commitment to delivering timely, impactful news.
A proud alumna of the University of Missouri–Columbia, Astrain graduated in 2010 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Throughout her career, she has remained dedicated to elevating local voices, fostering trust with viewers, and upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
In her current role at KAVU-TV, Astrain continues to inform, engage, and inspire her community each morning through diligent reporting and a steadfast passion for public-service journalism.
Each summer she serves as a mentor for the Missouri School of Journalism Summer Workshop, and for the last two years as a mentor for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Student Project.
As NAHJ Austin Chapter President, she looks forward to connecting journalists and media professionals with each other through the revival of the organization.
Chapter Vice President
erin garza
Erin Garza is the News Director at CBS Austin and Telemundo Austin, where she leads editorial direction, multiplatform strategy, and a talented team focused on telling impactful stories in our communities.
Before stepping into the role, she served as Assistant News Director and Executive Producer in Austin. She previously worked in Houston as Producer for KIAH’s NewsFix and as Special Projects Producer at KHOU. Garza’s work spans digital growth, enterprise storytelling, and major breaking news and severe weather coverage, and Emmy-nominated specials.
A proud NAHJ member since 2011, Garza is excited to continue serving on the Austin Chapter board as Vice President. NAHJ has been a source of community and support throughout her career, and she’s committed to helping elevate Latino voices, support emerging journalists, and grow a chapter that feels welcoming and connected.
A Texas native, Garza graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Entertainment Management. She returned to the Lonestar State and worked her way up from a production assistant to a newsroom leader, guided by mentors and programs such as NAHJ, Society of Professional Journalists, and The Carole Kneeland Project: For Responsible Journalism – experiences that continue to shape how she leads today.
Garza looks forward to working with the board to expand opportunities, strengthen the Austin chapter, and continue serving the Austin journalism community.
Chapter Treasurer
salwa yordi
Salwa Yordi is a Venezuelan immigrant of Middle Eastern descent who has built a dynamic and influential career at the intersection of media, community impact, and cultural storytelling in Austin, Texas. She currently serves as Director of Grantmaking & Programs at Glimmer Austin, where she leads philanthropic strategy, nonprofit partnerships, and community investments focused on equity, housing stability, food security, and economic opportunity.
In addition to her philanthropic leadership, Salwa is a Public Relations and Event Specialist at Latinitas, Austin’s only 100% bilingual STEM education nonprofit, where she supports storytelling, visibility, and community engagement initiatives that uplift Latine girls and families.
She is also a freelance Entertainment Reporter for Telemundo Austin, Salwa is the founder of Farandula Texas, a bilingual media and marketing platform spotlighting Austin’s vibrant cultural, nonprofit, and entertainment scenes. Through Farandula Texas, she has covered major national industry events including the Latin Grammy Awards, Latin Billboards, and People en Español, and is widely recognized as one of Austin’s first Spanish-speaking entertainment reporters. She also works as a marketing consultant, partnering with nonprofits, small businesses, and cultural organizations to amplify their impact through strategic storytelling, influencer campaigns, and event promotion.
Her journey in the United States began in 2001, when she immigrated at age 15 with her single mother and sister to Killeen, Texas. Arriving without speaking English, Salwa attended Ellison High School, where she worked as a cashier and cleaning attendant at a car wash to help support her family. She graduated with honors and went on to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio, laying the foundation for her career in communications and community advocacy.
Before her current role at Glimmer Austin, Salwa held leadership positions in resource development, communications, and administration at the organization, and previously served as Development and Outreach Manager at HomeAid Austin. There, she led initiatives addressing homelessness, coordinated critical supply distributions for families, and built cross-sector partnerships to create safer, more dignified pathways for individuals experiencing housing insecurity.
Salwa Yordi’s work is rooted in resilience, lived experience, and a deep commitment to uplifting communities through media, philanthropy, and culturally responsive storytelling.
Chapter Secretary
azul beltrán
Azul Beltrán is a bilingual multimedia journalist originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, and raised in Austin, Texas. Her work focuses on breaking news, digital storytelling, and connecting with the Hispanic community to amplify underrepresented voices.
She graduated from Texas State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Media and Mass Communication and holds an associate degree in Journalism. Azul is committed to accurate, community-centered reporting and is proud to serve as Chapter Secretary with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Chapter Officer-At-Large
john-carlos estrada
John-Carlos Estrada is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and author with more than 15 years of storytelling experience, serving as Board Member-at-Large for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Austin Chapter. He anchors CBS Austin This Morning from 4:30–7 a.m., leading the station’s early newscast with a focus on breaking news, community stories, and features that preserve Central Texas history.
Before joining CBS Austin, John-Carlos built a wide-ranging broadcast career in Washington, D.C., New York City, Texas and Florida. He worked as a producer for ABC News, NBC News, and MSNBC (now MS NOW), contributing to national coverage of politics, severe weather, arts and culture, crime, and human-interest features. His work helped shape reporting watched by millions and strengthened his commitment to inclusive, responsible storytelling, especially when it comes to elevating Latino voices.
At CBS Austin, he created and produces Turning Back Time, a celebrated franchise that uncovers overlooked Texas history, highlighting Austin’s early LGBTQ+ spaces, influential musicians, landmark sites, and forgotten local stories. His passion for cultural preservation naturally led him into documentary filmmaking.
John-Carlos is the co-director of the award-winning documentary Barbette + Fontaine, which expanded from a two-minute CBS Austin feature into a globally screened film about Texas’ first internationally acclaimed drag performer. The documentary premiered at major LGBTQ+ and documentary festivals, earned multiple awards, and secured national streaming on Revry. His latest film, This Is Texas, follows the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus, especially its trans members, as they prepare for the GALA Choruses Festival, offering an intimate look at identity, community, and resilience amid heightened political scrutiny. Both films reflect his commitment to amplifying underrepresented stories.
He is also an author with the University of Texas Press. His upcoming book, a biography of Barbette, blends cinematic storytelling, archival research, and international reporting to reintroduce readers to a groundbreaking Texas artist. The book is set for release in 2027.
John-Carlos is a proud graduate of The George Washington University and the Columbia Journalism School, where he developed his belief in journalism as public service, rooted in curiosity, accuracy, and community impact.
As a board member of NAHJ Austin, his intention is to increase Latino representation in newsrooms and build a strong, supportive network for Central Texas Latino journalists.