Barrio Voices

On May 1st, 2026, Gavilan College in Gilroy hosted a sold-out evening celebrating legendary playwright and filmmaker Luis Valdez. His documentary American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez had just won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The event was presented in collaboration with the Gavilan College Foundation, the Watsonville Film Festival, and the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival.

In this episode, you'll hear conversations recorded live that night. I sat down with Luis Valdez and his wife Lupe Valdez, and spoke with a group of people whose work is deeply rooted in this region's education, arts, and civic life: Mattie Scariot, Festival Director of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival; Dr. Pedro Avila, President of Gavilan College; Elvira Robinson, attorney and former Gavilan trustee whose decades of advocacy have shaped this college and this county; and Diane Ortiz, co-founder and CEO of Youth Alliance, a nonprofit she has built from a grassroots Hollister organization into a lifeline for thousands of young people and families across the South Valley.

We talked about Chicano storytelling, what Luis Valdez's legacy means for communities like ours, and why a room full of South Valley neighbors showing up on a Friday night to celebrate one of their own matters.

On May 1st, 2026, Gavilan College in Gilroy hosted a sold-out evening celebrating legendary playwright and filmmaker Luis Valdez. His documentary American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez had just won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The event was presented in collaboration with the Gavilan College Foundation, the Watsonville Film Festival, and the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival.

In this episode, you'll hear conversations recorded live that night. I sat down with Luis Valdez and his wife Lupe Valdez, and spoke with a group of people whose work is deeply rooted in this region's education, arts, and civic life: Mattie Scariot, Festival Director of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival; Dr. Pedro Avila, President of Gavilan College; Elvira Robinson, attorney and former Gavilan trustee whose decades of advocacy have shaped this college and this county; and Diane Ortiz, co-founder and CEO of Youth Alliance, a nonprofit she has built from a grassroots Hollister organization into a lifeline for thousands of young people and families across the South Valley.

We talked about Chicano storytelling, what Luis Valdez's legacy means for communities like ours, and why a room full of South Valley neighbors showing up on a Friday night to celebrate one of their own matters.

On May 1st, 2026, the Gavilan College Library in Gilroy hosted a sold-out evening celebrating legendary playwright and filmmaker Luis Valdez. His documentary American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez had just won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The event was presented in collaboration with the Gavilan College Foundation, the Watsonville Film Festival, and the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival.

In this episode, you'll hear conversations recorded live that night. I sat down with Luis Valdez and his wife Lupe Valdez, and spoke with a group of people whose work is deeply rooted in this region's education, arts, and civic life: Mattie Scariot, Festival Director of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival; Dr. Pedro Avila, President of Gavilan College; Elvira Robinson, attorney and former Gavilan trustee whose decades of advocacy have shaped this college and this county; and Diane Ortiz, co-founder and CEO of Youth Alliance, a nonprofit she has built from a grassroots Hollister organization into a lifeline for thousands of young people and families across the South Valley.

We talked about Chicano storytelling, what Luis Valdez's legacy means for communities like ours, and why a room full of South Valley neighbors showing up on a Friday night to celebrate one of their own matters.

Raul Ceja, a seasoned marketing and communications professional and founder of Ceja Creative Studios, has built a career around storytelling as a tool for impact. With over eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector and personal branding, he shares how his creative journey began, the moments that shaped his voice, and why storytelling remains his north star for both grounding and growth.

Raul discusses the balance of doing purpose-driven work, his reflections on mindfulness and mental health, and the role of unconditional love in community building. He also highlights how his work in visual narratives, direct address documentary filmmaking, and brand strategy has helped amplify diverse voices and drive meaningful change across the Central Coast and Silicon Valley.

About Barrio Voices Barrio Voices is both a podcast and a creative communications business, partnering with nonprofits, grassroots groups, and purpose-driven leaders. Through storytelling and strategy, we help share your story, grow your impact, and build lasting community connections.

Learn more at barriovoices.com

Raul Ceja, a seasoned marketing and communications professional and founder of Ceja Creative Studios, has built a career around storytelling as a tool for impact. With over eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector and personal branding, he shares how his creative journey began, the moments that shaped his voice, and why storytelling remains his north star for both grounding and growth.

Raul discusses the balance of doing purpose-driven work, his reflections on mindfulness and mental health, and the role of unconditional love in community building. He also highlights how his work in visual narratives, direct address documentary filmmaking, and brand strategy has helped amplify diverse voices and drive meaningful change across the Central Coast and Silicon Valley.

About Barrio Voices Barrio Voices is both a podcast and a creative communications business, partnering with nonprofits, grassroots groups, and purpose-driven leaders. Through storytelling and strategy, we help share your story, grow your impact, and build lasting community connections.

Learn more at barriovoices.com

Raul Ceja, a seasoned marketing and communications professional and founder of Ceja Creative Studios, has built a career around storytelling as a tool for impact. With over eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector and personal branding, he shares how his creative journey began, the moments that shaped his voice, and why storytelling remains his north star for both grounding and growth.

Raul discusses the balance of doing purpose-driven work, his reflections on mindfulness and mental health, and the role of unconditional love in community building. He also highlights how his work in visual narratives, direct address documentary filmmaking, and brand strategy has helped amplify diverse voices and drive meaningful change across the Central Coast and Silicon Valley.

About Barrio Voices Barrio Voices is both a podcast and a creative communications business, partnering with nonprofits, grassroots groups, and purpose-driven leaders. Through storytelling and strategy, we help share your story, grow your impact, and build lasting community connections.

Learn more at barriovoices.com

On this special episode of Varrio Voices, host Arturo "Velaz" Muñoz brings you stories straight from the heart of Hollister, CA, recorded on A Day Without Immigrants—a powerful demonstration highlighting the essential role of immigrants in our economy, culture, and communities. 📢 What is A Day Without Immigrants? This movement calls on immigrants and allies to boycott work, school, and shopping for a day to showcase the vital contributions of immigrant labor in industries like agriculture, construction, hospitality, healthcare, and beyond. It's a statement against anti-immigrant policies, labor exploitation, and systemic inequalities—proving that without immigrants, the country simply doesn't function. 💬 In This Episode We hear from local residents, community leaders, and workers who share their stories of resilience, sacrifice, and activism. Their voices remind us why immigrants are the backbone of our society and why collective action matters. 🎧 Tune in, reflect, and stand in solidarity.

On January 25th, Salinas' Digital Nest transformed into a powerful space of storytelling, poetry, and community as Brown Issues hosted an unforgettable Poetry Night. Voices from across the region gathered to share palabra, weaving together experiences of resilience, culture, and identity.

This episode brings you highlights from the event, where the power of spoken word connected us all. Featuring performances from Jose Cordon, Brown Issues' Kimberly Gudino, Velveth Legglew, Marco Osorio, Nathalie Guillen, and Varrio Voices' own Arturo "Velaz" Muñoz, this night was a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and unify.

🎧 Tune in as we revisit the moments that made this night special, celebrating the art of poetic storytelling and the community that continues to uplift and empower.

Let's put representation at the forefront, especially in leadership positions like college district trustee, city councilor, and county supervisor. We can draw inspiration from the three remarkable Latinas, Pamela Campos, Lisanna Dominguez, and Corina Herrera-Loera, who are paving the way for Latinas to hold influential roles.

Take action today by supporting these candidates through the links below.

Pamela Campos: https://pamela4sj.com/ Lisanna Dominguez: https://lisannadominguez.com/ Corina Herrera-Loera: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/corinaforsupervisor2024

To contact and support the podcast: Email: [email protected] Social Media Platforms: @varriovoices @velazporvida Donate: https://bit.ly/vv-donate

Tune in to learn about California recognizing lowriding as a holiday.