Planeta Venus expands reach and will offer tech training for Spanish-speaking residents

Planeta Venus, founded by Claudia Amaro, is breaking down the barriers that prevent Hispanic and Latinx populations from accessing timely and essential news. With over 3,000 readers receiving the print edition and a growing bilingual digital platform, the news outlet is preparing to expand beyond Wichita to rural areas across Kansas. 

Thanks to funding from the Wichita Foundation's Info Challenge*, Amaro has hired additional freelance writers, allowing her to widen coverage. The publication is now eyeing distribution in Kansas City, Lyons, Great Bend, Ulysses, Colby, Garden City, and other rural regions where residents have expressed interest in Wichita’s news stories.  

Expanding its reach is just one piece of Amaro’s larger vision to serve Spanish-speaking communities. 

Amaro’s second initiative, AB&C Bilingual Resources, secured a Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans grant from Kansas Commerce. The program equips Kansans with the digital skills they need to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world. Starting this fall, Amaro will offer technology training in Spanish. 

“I had a lot of people, especially from rural communities, asking me to go there and teach some classes,” said Amaro. “Those are the areas where I’m going to be teaching facilitators to help me do that and then continue to offer classes in Wichita.”  

Understanding technology is essential for accessing news and information on topics ranging from immigration policies to healthcare, local politics, and community updates—areas that Planeta Venus covers. Amaro recognizes that a lack of digital literacy in the Hispanic and Latinx population can widen the information gap, particularly on pressing timely topics like Wichita’s Pay to Park plans and Kansas’ shift to cashless toll roads. 

Amaro plans to collaborate with community groups as well as the Oaklawn Recreation Center and Wichita Public Libraries to ensure the program reaches those who have limited experience navigating digital platforms. 

This latest expansion and digital literacy efforts reflect Planeta Venus’ commitment to ensuring the Latinx community has equal access to information. Keep up with Planeta Venus’ journey by visiting https://www.planetavenus.online/.  

*In December 2023, three local newsrooms were selected as recipients of the Info Challenge, a joint initiative between the Wichita Foundation (WF) and Tiny News Collective (TNC): Planeta Venus, the SHOUT and TMBP Media. Each newsroom received a $30,000 grant from Press Forward Wichita at WF and a two-year TNC membership, providing access to resources and connections with local news founders across the country.