Peter Hong spent 15 years reporting on people in L.A. - many of whom are not primarily English speakers - for the Los Angeles Times. Whether interviewing Salvadorans in South Los Angeles, Vietnamese in San Gabriel Valley or Soviet Jewish refugees in Hollywood, he showed that writing effectively about economics, politics, education and culture requires speaking to all who now form our mainstream. His reporting philosophy was: Neglecting anyone diminishes journalism for everyone. Peter broke stories by connecting with overlooked communities. Since leaving the Times in 2009, Peter has been a senior deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.