Born in Sonora, Mexico, Darian Cruz is a writer and illustrator based in Phoenix. Inspired by her upbringing as an undocumented immigrant in the country, Cruz is committed to serving diverse communities through meaningful and solution-driven storytelling. By blending artistic passion with writing, she explores topics of social justice using design and cultural elements – making news and stories more accessible through creativity.

For over five years, Cruz has worked in the nonprofit sector – starting with local museums, and youth- and immigrant-serving organizations. Whether she’s creating social media content, writing articles, interviewing or designing merchandise, her work focuses on supporting individuals and communities whose stories are often misrepresented in the media. Cruz is pursuing a Master of Mass Communication at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.