Adriana Cardona-Maguigad
Reporter, Curious City
Adriana is a former 2012 WBEZ Pritzker fellow and was part of the inaugural class of Northwestern University’s Social Justice News Nexus fellowship program. She worked on a 2015 award-winning audio project for WBEZ and NPR’s This American Life about unregulated drug rehab centers in Chicago drawing people from Puerto Rico. Her investigation was recognized with a Sigma Delta Chi Award with the Society of Professional Journalists, a 2016 National Edward R. Murrow Award and three Peter Lisagor Awards.
Prior to joining WBEZ’s education team, Adriana worked at Univision Chicago where she was honored with two Chicago/ Midwest Emmy Awards.
Adriana lived in Dubuque and Des Moines, Iowa for many years. She is originally from Medellin, Colombia and has been a Chicago resident since 2005.
Stories by Adriana Cardona-Maguigad
![]()
Migrants are finding spare rooms and shared spaces as an alternative to city shelters
Advocates say creative shared living spaces could be scaled to become sustainable models for housing migrants.
![]()
In East Pilsen, a ghost boy plays hide-and-seek with the living
In the basement, the medium stops and stares into the distance. “I know you’re sad,” she says to the otherwise empty room.
![]()
Who enforces the rules at dog parks?
Dogs must be vaccinated and have a permit to visit a dog park. But is anyone checking?
![]()
Is suburban Chicago taking away Devon Avenue’s “Little India” title?
More South Asian businesses have set up shop in the suburbs to meet the demand of a growing community. What does that mean for Devon Avenue?
![]()
Who’s behind the so-called ‘teen takeovers’ downtown?
In recent years, large groups of teens have started gathering in downtown Chicago. We spoke with some of the young people behind these events.
![]()
The unlikely rise of Malört as Chicago’s drink
Malört’s ascendancy happened more recently than you might think. And a lot of it comes down to one man.
![]()
When you die with no known next of kin, what happens to your body?
Last year alone, more than 400 people died in Cook County and had no one to claim their bodies. Here’s what happened after they died.
![]()
De Venezuela a Chicago, la historia de una migrante que vuelve a empezar
Carolina Sandoval estaba en uno de los primeros autobuses que llegaron de Texas a Chicago el otoño pasado. No ha sido fácil, pero las cosas son aún más difíciles para los migrantes que llegan hoy en día.
![]()
Who are ‘community navigators’ and how do they help their neighbors?
In West Ridge, Farhat Khatoon and Waniya Zahid help their neighbors get connected to health care, legal support and other social services.
![]()
From Venezuela to Chicago, one migrant’s story of starting over
Carolina Sandoval was on one of the first buses that arrived in Chicago from Texas last fall. It hasn’t been easy — but things are even more difficult for migrants arriving today.
