Connection is Key

Hyper-Individualism vs. Community Interdependence: The Neighborhood We’re Building


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Sí Se Puede Collective Series - Part 3 of 3

In this final episode of our Sí Se Puede Collective series, we explore what these five East San José organizations are building together - and discover their vision is already becoming reality!

I talk with Jess at the School of Arts and Culture about how pandemic response opened doors to community development. Shawn from Veggielution explains how community input led to a worker cooperative. Veronica from Grail Family Services shares the hope she still feels after 10 years. Victor paints a picture of Mayfair as an epicenter where the community figured out how not to get gentrified. And Maritza reminds us this was always about creating a replicable playbook.

This episode's What I'm Learning covers the incredible developments happening right now—the cultural district that just became official, the $3 million investment in Mayfair, Veggielution becoming a Civic Commons partner, and more. Our Community Spotlight features the Rapid Response Network supporting our immigrant community. For Take Action, I encourage learning about the Si Se Puede Collective, supporting rapid response work, and thinking about your own interdependence.

Si Se Puede Collective Organizations:

  • Somos Mayfair - somosmayfair.org
  • Grail Family Services - grailfs.org
  • Amigos de Guadalupe - amigoscenter.com
  • School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza - schoolatmhp.org
  • Veggielution - veggielution.org

What I'm Learning Sources:

  • Mayfair Cultural District Celebration - January 29, 2026 event: LinkedIn post
  • Civic Commons - National initiative: civiccommons.us
  • City of San José Children Youth Master Plan - sanjoseca.gov

Community Spotlight:

  • SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network) - siren-bayarea.org
  • Rapid Response Network - Know-your-rights resources RRN
  • Immigration Legal Resource Center - ilrc.org

Mentioned in the Episode:

  • AB 816 - California legislation requiring 10% of affordable housing units in cultural districts go to artists
  • César Chávez - Labor leader whose motto "Sí Se Puede" inspired the collective's name
  • Cultural New Deal Silicon Valley - Coalition advocating for arts and culture policies

Take Action:

  • Visit Si Se Puede Collective organization websites
  • Attend a know-your-rights training with SIREN or Rapid Response Network partners
  • Explore collective models in your own community
  • Share this series with someone working on community building

Previous Episodes:

  • Episode 13: Cast the Net - The origin story
  • Episode 14: The Test - COVID-19 and interdependence
...more
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Connection is KeyBy Gini