Dreaming Big | Working Hard

Did you know there is over $4.3 billion in California state financial aid waiting for students—money you do not have to pay back?   

In this episode of Dreaming Big | Working Hard, California Assemblymember David Alvarez sits down with Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and former Interim Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. From emancipating from foster care and navigating college applications on her own to running the nation’s largest state financial aid system, Dr. Gonzales breaks down how California students can fund higher education without drowning in student debt.   

Whether you’re eyeing a California Community College, CSU, UC, or a private university, we cover the essentials every family needs to know about FAFSA, the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), Cal Grants, and the Middle Class Scholarship.   

In this episode, we break down:

• The critical difference between FAFSA and CADAA (and which one to file)  

•Crucial deadlines: Why March 2nd is your most important priority date   Why families making up to

• $262,000 can still qualify for the Middle Class Scholarship   

• How community college students can transfer Cal Grants with no age barriers  

• Step-by-step documents you need before sitting down to apply   

Need help completing your application? Contact Assemblymember Alvarez’s district office in Chula Vista at (619) 498-8580 or visit a80.asmdc.org for hands-on application assistance.   

Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help California families unlock the educational funding they deserve!

00:00 – Highlights & Introduction   
01:36 – The Reality of Financial Aid for Working-Class Families   
04:03 – Dr. Daisy Gonzales: From Foster Care to CSAC Executive Director   
09:30 – How California Funds Higher Education: Over $4B in State Aid   
13:11 – California’s High School Graduation Requirement & 75% Completion Rate   
16:46 – What is the CADAA? Financial Aid Pathways for Undocumented & Mixed-Status Families   
19:32 – Think You Make Too Much? The Middle Class Scholarship Explained ($262K Limit)   
22:53 – Financial Aid Differences: UC, CSU, Community College & Private Institutions   
27:32 – Community College Baccalaureate Degrees & Cal Grant Transfer Entitlements   
32:54 – Deadlines You Must Know: March 2nd Priority Date   
36:09 – Step-by-Step: What Documents You Need to Apply (Taxes, Assets, School Lists)   
39:25 – Ending Student Debt & How to Get Direct Help in the 80th District 

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In this episode, David Alvarez sits down with education advocates Amber Riehman (Californians Together) and Carolyne Crolotte (Early Edge California) to discuss the vital role of dual language learning, overcoming the legacy of Proposition 227, and creating real pathways for bilingual students to become the next generation of teachers.

Discover how Assembly Bill 2325 (AB 2325) is addressing California’s bilingual teacher shortage, leveraging the State Seal of Biliteracy, and transforming how we view language assets from early childhood education through high school graduation.

📌 In this episode, we cover:
• The economic, cognitive, and cultural benefits of dual language education.
•The English Learner Roadmap and identifying Dual Language Learners early.
•Building sustainable pipelines from high school dual enrollment to university teacher prep.
•Combating fear and creating safe, welcoming spaces for immigrant families in schools.

📞 Need assistance from our office? If you live in California's 80th Assembly District and need help with a state agency, contact our Chula Vista office at (619) 498-8580 or visit a80.asmdc.org.
👍 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and leave a rating to help us share these important conversations!

Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction: The Power of Language Assets
01:00 - Assemblymember David Alvarez on AB 2325 & Personal Experience
02:35 - Meet the Guests: Californians Together & Early Edge California
05:05 - California's English Learner Roadmap & Student Diversity
08:00 - Overcoming Proposition 227 & The Brain Benefits of Bilingualism
11:25 - Early Education: AB 1363 & Identifying Dual Language Learners
19:15 - Personal Stories: Why Multilingual Education Matters
26:00 - State Seal of Biliteracy & Global California 2030 Goals
33:15 - How AB 2325 Creates a Pipeline for Future Bilingual Teachers
38:30 - Belonging, Joy, and Overcoming Barriers for Immigrant Families
45:00 - Final Thoughts & District 80 Constituent Resources

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In this episode, David sits down with two inspiring district interns, Jacián Arreola, a Southwestern College transfer student heading to UCLA, and Izayah Ringfield, a South Bay native currently attending Yale University double-majoring in Political Science and Black Studies. 

Join the conversation as these next-generation changemakers discuss:

• Their pathways through community college and higher education.
• The real-world impact of California legislation, including AB 91 (cross-border student tuition relief) and AB 664 (bachelor’s degree programs at community colleges like Southwestern College).
• The daily hands-on experience of working in a district office and helping South San Diego constituents directly.
• Why youth engagement in local government is essential for the future of Chula Vista, Barrio Logan, and the entire 80th Assembly District.

Whether you're interested in public policy, community college transfer pathways, or local South Bay politics, this episode offers a raw and candid look into how dreaming big and working hard creates real progress.

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Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro: Youth Engagement & District Internship Program
• 00:38 – Meet the Interns: Educational Backgrounds (Southwestern College to UCLA & Yale)
• 01:38 – Why Pursue a Local Government Internship?
• 02:43 – Bipartisanship in Sacramento & How Small Bills Make Big Impacts
• 03:18 – Discovering Assemblymember Alvarez & The Impact of AB 91
• 05:04 – Future Career Aspirations: Public Policy, Constituent Services & Running for Office
• 08:21 – Community College Transfer Success: AB 664 & Higher Education Access in South Bay
• 12:07 – Education as a "Second Home": Local Education Pathways & Public vs. Private Universities
• 15:10 – What’s Next: Community Events, Sacramento Trips & The Young Legislators Program 

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South County San Diego is home to over 585,000 residents, yet it remains a "college desert" without a single local public four-year university. For place-bound students, working parents, and first-generation scholars, commuting or relocating hundreds of miles away simply isn't an option.

In this episode of Dreaming Big Working Hard, Assemblymember David Alvarez sits down with Marilynn Palomino, a Chula Vista native, single mother of two, student leader, and tutor at Southwestern College’s San Ysidro campus. Marilynn shares her powerful journey of returning to school after a ten-year gap, finding her passion in Forensic Studies, and traveling to Sacramento to testify in support of Assembly Bill 664 (AB 664).

Authored by Assemblymember Alvarez, AB 664 is a historic piece of legislation that would authorize Southwestern College to offer up to four workforce-aligned bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields like Applied Forensic Science, Allied Health Leadership, TESOL, and Interaction Design.

Tune in to discover what it really takes to break down systemic educational barriers, foster economic mobility, and keep life-changing opportunities close to home.

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Timestamps
● 00:00 - Intro: The outdated 1960 higher education model vs. modern student realities.
● 00:25 - Defining the South County "College Desert": 585,000 residents without a local public university.
● 01:52 - Welcome Marilynn Palomino: A non-traditional student story from Chula Vista.
● 02:23 - Graduating from Southwestern College and becoming an ASO Student Senator.
● 03:59 - Cultural expectations, family background, and the pressure to choose work over college.
● 06:26 - Life happens: Taking a 10-year break to raise a daughter and attending trade school.
● 11:17 - The decision to return to Southwestern College at 30 years old.
● 14:59 - Navigating campus support networks: EOPS, CalWORKs, and financial aid systems.
● 17:25 - Discovering a passion for Forensic Studies and crime lab career pathways.
● 20:53 - The San Jose barrier: Realizing her dream bachelor's degree is hundreds of miles away.
● 24:12 - From the campus pantry to Sacramento: Marilynn's student advocacy journey.
● 26:52 - Breaking down Assembly Bill 664 (AB 664) and workforce-aligned community college degrees.
● 31:02 - Using education as the ultimate tool for upward economic mobility to enter the middle class.
● 37:32 - "Thank you for everything you do": Inspiring the next generation of children.
● 39:40 - What happens next for AB 664 in the Senate.

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What does a California State Assemblymember actually do when they aren’t voting on bills in Sacramento? In this episode of Dreaming Big Working Hard,  David Alvarez flips the script and sits down with his own front-line team: District Field Representatives Liliana Barba and Ernesto Castañeda.

Discover the hidden half of government service that changes lives day-to-day right here in the San Diego community. From breaking through bureaucratic red tape with unemployment claims to navigating the unique binational dynamics of the 80th District California, learn how real constituent caseworkers get things done without the corporate AI robot filters.

If you are facing issues with a state government agency, remember that our office is your office.

📞 Contact the Chula Vista District Office: (619) 498-8580

🌐 Visit our website: https://a80.asmdc.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: The Unseen Half of the California State Assembly
01:28 – Meet the Team: Frontline Staff of the 80th District
02:50 – What is a District Field Representative?
04:30 – Battling Political Cynicism & Restoring Trust
05:50 – A Day in the Life: Late-Night Meetings & Community Outreach
08:27 – Casework Victory: Recovering Stuck Unemployment Benefits
10:40 – Why Human Contact Beats AI Phone Trees
13:13 – Building Real Relationships in San Diego Communities
16:36 – Staff Interview: Keeping Grounded in a Heavy Budget Week
20:00 – Going Rogue: What a Day in Sacramento Really Looks Like
24:40 – Engaging the Next Generation: Internships & Young Legislators
28:51 – Driving the Binational Economy: Baja Fridays & Cross-Border Policy
31:45 – Serving Families: The Annual South County College Fair
35:24 – AB 91 & the Reality of "Transfronterizo" Students
41:40 – Outro: How to Reach Our Office for State Government Help
 
#DavidAlvarez, #CaliforniaStateAssembly, #80thDistrict, #SanDiegoCommunity, #ConstituentCasework, #DreamingBigWorkingHard, #PublicService,

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How do we build trust in communities where it has been tested for decades? Join David Alvarez for a powerful conversation with retired SDPD Officer Carlos Lacarra, a man who spent 31 years—nearly 23 of them in South San Diego—redefining what it means to protect and serve.

In this episode of Dreaming Big | Working Hard, Carlos shares his journey from being the son of Mexican immigrants to becoming a cornerstone of community relations in San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Nestor. We dive deep into the reality of community policing, the impact of traumatic calls on officers, and how simple acts—like food distributions and "Santa" visits—can bridge the gap between law enforcement and residents.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between traditional patrol and Community Relations Officers (CRO).
• How relationship-based policing helps solve crimes and increase community cooperation.
• The role of technology and AI in modern law enforcement.
• What it takes to maintain mental health while dealing with high-stress situations.

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Intro: The fragile nature of community trust.

02:40 – Family Roots: From Tijuana to San Diego.

05:40 – What exactly is a Community Relations Officer?

09:47 – Creating partnerships: The "Get It Done" app & community empowerment.

12:06 – Marquee Events: Food banks and National Night Out.

14:30 – Addressing "Over-policing" vs. community needs.

19:08 – Mental health and coping with traumatic calls.

21:40 – Technology in Policing: Cameras, AI, and the human element.

24:45 – The most touching moment of Carlos’s career (Santa Claus).

27:40 – Challenges at the Border: Illegal transportation and solicitation.

32:10 – The future of the San Diego Police Department.

34:30 – Key takeaways: Why relationship building is a public safety strategy.

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The "Dreaming Big Working Hard" podcast welcomes a true global icon: Don Miguel Ruiz. In this deeply personal conversation, the author of The Four Agreements sits down with David Alvarez to share the incredible story of his three hearts—literally. From his early days as a surgeon to surviving a near-fatal heart attack and undergoing two heart transplants, Don Miguel explains how these crises became opportunities to refine his message of love and respect.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Four Agreements: A breakdown of how being impeccable with your word and avoiding assumptions can shift your entire belief system.
• The Three Hearts Story: Don Miguel’s journey through medical school, a 9-week coma, and the miracle of organ donation.
• Overcoming Irrational Fear: How to navigate a "crazy" world with common sense and self-respect.
• Dreaming in Crisis: Why moments of struggle are actually the best times to take action and find new opportunities.

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Don Miguel Ruiz to the Podcast

01:40 – The Turning Point: From Medical Doctor to Spiritual Teacher

03:10 – Living Outside the Body: Lessons from a Near-Death Experience

04:30 – The Heart Attack & 9 Weeks in a Coma

06:30 – The Miracle of Three Hearts: Surviving Two Transplants

11:50 – The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

14:40 – Agreement 1: Be Impeccable With Your Word

16:00 – Agreement 2: Don't Take Anything Personally

17:15 – Agreement 3: Don't Make Assumptions

18:15 – Agreement 4: Always Do Your Best

20:50 – Overcoming Irrational Fear in Today’s Society

24:30 – The Solution: Respecting Yourself and Your Dream

28:10 – Turning Crisis into Opportunity

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What is a food co-op and how does it work? Can a community really build its own grocery store?

In this episode of Dreaming Big Working Hard, we sit down with Kim Rivero Frank to share the inspiring real story behind a community-owned grocery store built from the ground up. After becoming a food desert with no full-service grocery store, residents came together to launch Suncoast Market Co-op — a cooperative grocery store owned by more than 1,300 local members.

We break down how to start a food co-op, how cooperative businesses work, how this grocery store was funded, and what entrepreneurs and community leaders can learn from the journey. From raising millions of dollars to building a sustainable business model focused on fresh food access and local sourcing, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, small business ownership, and community development.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How do food co-ops make money?
• Are food co-ops profitable?
• How do you open a grocery store with no corporate backing?
• What does community ownership actually look like?
  
  

This episode answers those questions and more.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or someone passionate about local business and food access, this story will show you what’s possible when a community decides to build something for itself.

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, entrepreneurship, and building stronger communities.

Here are some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Skepticism & Food Desert Reality

01:04 – Meet Kim & The Co-op Vision

05:33 – Why Big Grocery Chains Said No

07:43 – What Is a Food Desert?

10:03 – Moms & The Cooperative Model

15:12 – What It Means to Be an Owner

18:11 – Why Co-ops Survive

19:31 – Inside the Hybrid Grocery Model

23:25 – The $4 Million Journey

26:35 – The Turning Point

31:22 – A Blueprint for Other Communities

34:19 – The Bigger Lesson

Tags:
#FoodCoop #GroceryStoreBusiness #HowToStartABusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwners #CommunityBusiness #CooperativeBusiness #LocalBusiness #StartupStory #BusinessPodcast #SocialEntrepreneurship #CommunityDevelopment #FoodBusiness #RetailBusiness #LeadershipPodcast #BusinessMotivation #StartupJourney #EconomicDevelopment #WomenInBusiness #DreamingBigWorkingHard

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What does it really take to change your life after prison?

In this powerful episode of Dreaming Big. Working Hard., host David Alvarez sits down with Dr. Alberto “Beto” Vasquez, whose life journey defies every statistic. Raised in Barrio Logan, incarcerated as a teenager, and cycling through the prison system throughout his early adulthood, Beto’s story could have ended there — but it didn’t.

Today, Dr. Vasquez is a biologist, educator, and director of STEM outreach at UC San Diego, dedicating his life to helping young people — especially those from marginalized and formerly incarcerated communities — see what’s possible.

This conversation goes far beyond inspiration. We talk honestly about:

• Life inside the criminal justice system
  
  
• Juvenile incarceration and homelessness
  
  
• Mass incarceration and recidivism
  
  
• Why punishment doesn’t equal rehabilitation
  
  
• How education can change the trajectory of a life
  
  
• What “second chances” actually require — from individuals and society
  
  

If you or someone you love is navigating reentry, struggling to find purpose, or wondering if it’s ever too late to start over — this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations about resilience, justice, and real transformation.

Here are some notables moments from the episode:

00:00 – Intro: Second Chances & Why This Story Matters

01:38 – Meeting Beto Vasquez: From Barrio Logan to Prison

03:12 – Growing Up Around Violence, Drugs, and Normalized Trauma

07:33 – Kicked Out, Homeless, and Introduced to the System at 15

10:13 – First Time Locked Up: Juvenile Hall Reality Check

14:50 – Trying to Go Straight While Playing Both Sides

19:19 – Life Inside State Prison & Being Dehumanized

21:20 – Riots, Isolation, and the Moment Everything Changed

23:57 – Mass Incarceration & Why Prison Isn’t the Answer

28:56 – Recidivism, Policy Failures, and What Actually Works

32:19 – Fire Camp, Education, and Choosing a Different Future

34:02 – Community College Changed My Life

36:20 – Imposter Syndrome, College, and Earning a Doctorate

38:48 – Why Representation in STEM Matters

42:27 – “If You Can’t See It, You Can’t Be It”

44:29 – Advice for Anyone Needing a Second Chance

49:49 – Final Reflections: Dignity, Worth, and Belonging

#SecondChances #PrisonReform #MassIncarceration #FromPrisonToPhD #RedemptionStory #LifeAfterPrison #CriminalJusticeReform #FormerlyIncarcerated #EducationChangesLives #CommunityCollege #STEMEducation #DreamingBigWorkingHard #Reentry #SocialJustice #Inspiration #RealStories

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As the holiday season invites reflection, family, and hope, this special episode of Dreaming Big, Working Hard asks a deeper question: what does faith really look like when times are hard?

David Alvarez sits down with Father Scott Santarosa, SJ, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan, for a powerful conversation about faith, immigration, and human dignity at the border. While many celebrate the holidays with loved ones, countless immigrant families are living in fear and uncertainty—feeling hunted, unseen, and unsafe.

Together, they reflect on the story of the Holy Family—a young couple forced to flee to protect their child—and how that story feels strikingly present today. Father Scott shares how the church has become a place of refuge, community, and action, and why faith during the holidays isn’t just about tradition or celebration, but about showing up for one another.

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, observing the season quietly, or simply searching for meaning at the end of the year, this conversation offers a reminder that faith is not just something we believe—it’s something we live, especially when it matters most.

📌 Topics include:

• Immigration fear and trauma during the holidays
  
  
• The Holy Family and modern-day migration
  
  
• Jesuit spirituality, discernment, and hope
  
  
• Faith in action vs. faith as words
  
  
• Finding light and dignity in dark times
  
  

✨ If this conversation brings you hope this season, share it with someone who may need it.

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Immigrants living in fear: “We feel hunted”

02:00 – Faith as something you live, not just believe

03:30 – Father Scott’s journey to the priesthood

06:00 – Discernment, calling, and Jesuit spirituality

09:20 – Spiritual Exercises & finding peace in decisions

15:00 – Fear, trauma, and dignity in immigrant communities

18:00 – Church as refuge and “vacation from fear”

21:00 – Finding God in all things (Ignatian spirituality)

27:00 – Saints, struggle, and human imperfection

33:00 – Immigration trauma and generational fear

35:30 – Vigil at the federal building & hope in action

40:00 – What it means to be a Jesuit parish at the border

45:00 – Dignity, dehumanization, and resistance

48:00 – Walking with people in suffering

51:00 – What “faith in action” really means

54:30 – Advent, hope, and surviving January

59:00 – Final reflections: Faith is something you do

#FaithInAction #ImmigrationJustice #JesuitSpirituality #HopeInHardTimes

#HumanDignity #BorderStories #SocialJustice #CatholicVoices

#FaithAndPolitics #DreamingBigWorkingHard #AdventReflection

#CommunityOverFear #SanctuaryChurch #ImmigrantStories

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