Join us for a special conversation with Van Le — a remarkable community volunteer, school board member, small business owner, refugee, and proud leader within the local Vietnamese community. Van Le shares her powerful story of escaping Saigon during the historic events of April 30, 1975, known as the Fall of Saigon. This moving interview is part of our commemoration of the 50th anniversary of “Black April”, a solemn day of remembrance for millions of Vietnamese around the world. Black April marks the painful fall of South Vietnam and honors the resilience, sacrifices, and new beginnings of Vietnamese refugees. The Fall of Saigon marked the official end of the Vietnam War, as North Vietnamese forces captured the capital of South Vietnam. After years of brutal conflict, the South Vietnamese government collapsed, leading to widespread fear and chaos. In the final days, desperate evacuations took place, with thousands fleeing by air and sea. This historic event triggered one of the largest refugee movements in modern history, as hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people sought safety and a new life abroad, many eventually settling in the United States. Van Le is not only a pillar in our community — she is also the founder of San Jose’s Lantern Festival and the organizer for this [...]

Welcome, everyone! I’m thrilled to have Supervisor Cindy Chavez with us today. Cindy is someone who has dedicated her life to serving the very community she grew up in – right here in Santa Clara County, the city of San José and the San Francisco Bay Area. Coming from a working-class family, Cindy brings a down-to-earth perspective and a tireless work ethic that resonates with so many of us in this area. Her journey is inspiring. She started at San José State University, where her commitment to community and social justice took root, leading her toward a career tackling real issues that impact people’s lives, like health, transportation, and education. From her time at the South Bay Labor Council to her leadership on the Board of Supervisors, she’s made a real impact on the landscape of Silicon Valley. As an advocate for wage equality she has pushed policies that support working families. She was instrumental in recognizing the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in 2020, initiatives that help empower more voices in our community. Supervisor Chavez has also addressed some of the most critical issues in the county, from establishing the Intimate Partner Violence Blue Ribbon Commission to [...]

In this episode, I have the honor of speaking with Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez, a tireless advocate for educational equity and the Deputy Director of Californians Together. Xilonin’s journey from her roots as a fifth-generation resident of Azusa, CA, and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, to leadership in statewide education advocacy is inspiring. With over two decades of experience serving on the Azusa Unified School District Board of Education, her passion for supporting all students, particularly English learners, shines through in every aspect of her work. We’ll dive into the mission of Californians Together, a powerful statewide coalition dedicated to improving education for the 1.1 million English learners in California. Through promoting equitable educational policies, this organization strives to create better opportunities and outcomes for a community that has often been overlooked. As we explore the challenges and victories in advocating for these students, Xilonin will share how they work on literacy policy with a student-centered approach, ensuring that teaching methods are responsive to the unique needs of English learners. Xilonin’s rich personal history and professional expertise give her a deep understanding of the barriers faced by immigrant and refugee students. She dedicated her career to providing educators with the tools [...]

Today we have a conversation with Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Superintendent of the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). ​ Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, the Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools, has served in education for over 33 years. Her work in education reform and change leadership is grounded in her commitment to serve the community and underserved, vulnerable youth and a mission that is centered around diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice. Dr. Dewan is a strong advocate for the expansion of early learning services, health, and education, and believes in providing each and every child opportunities that promote high quality, equitable, and inclusive experiences. ​ The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. They directly serve students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 21 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.​ The Office of the Superintendent provides support to the County Office, school districts and other educational agencies. [...]

Today, we are privileged to host a panel discussion on Public Education, broadcasting live from Stanford University. Our focus centers on the pivotal role of public education as the cornerstone of equality and the linchpin of democracy’s future. For that, we are honored to welcome some guest: Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, the Superintendent of the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE); Albert Gonzalez, President of the California School Boards Association; and Jessica Speiser, President of the Santa Clara California Latino School Boards Association (SCCSBA). Throughout our discussion, we aim to explore the significance of targeted groups in public education. Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, The Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools has served in education for over 33 years. Her distinguished work in education reform and change leadership is grounded in her commitment to serving the community and underserved, vulnerable youth and a mission centered around diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice. A strong advocate for expanding early learning services, health, and education, Dr. Dewan believes in providing every child with opportunities that promote high-quality, equitable, and inclusive experiences. Dr. Dewan has served in a variety of leadership roles, which have led to several local and state recognitions, including the [...]

Dr. Melissa Moreno is a CA Community College faculty. Her passion has been teaching, researching, and developing curricula in the areas of Ethnic Studies, Chicana/o Studies, Native American Studies, Education, and Leadership for over 15 years. As a first-generation college student, Ethnic Studies saved her life. Schooling became interesting, and she became a professor and leader with the support of many inspiring professors and leaders. For over a decade, she has led Ethnic Studies and taught Chicana/o Studies, History of Race and Ethnicity, Mexican-American History, and Native American Studies. She is a former community educator and faculty in Chicana/o Studies, Education, and Liberal Studies. She holds degrees in Ethnic studies, Sociology, Women’s Studies, and Education. She is a co-founder of the California Community College Ethnic Studies Faculty Council. Her publications and research interests include issues surrounding racial identity formations, subjugated knowledge, cultural citizenship, foodways, food justice education, Chicana/o indigeneity, intergenerational trauma and healing, and practices of community-based leadership. She is a member of the Indigenous Caucus for the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS), among other associations. Painted by artist Jerry Jordan, this mural celebrating ethnic diversity is displayed in the Multicultural Student Center Satellite Office in Gordon Commons residence hall. [...]

Today, we are having an engaging conversation with Pamela Campos, a remarkable Chicana and second-generation immigrant with strong ties to San Jose and Santa Clara County. Pamela dedicated herself to education and has had a career defined by her commitment to advocating for it, housing, and improved quality of life for all. Pamela witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by educators and families grappled with the harsh reality of making a life while earning a $16 per hour salary for educating and caring for small children in the competitive Silicon Valley landscape. However, Pamela’s passion for nurturing a brighter future for children and her proficiency in policy and community development set her on a powerful path toward positive change. During our discussion, Pamela will also talk about her work with The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) whose mission revolves around mobilizing capital and fostering partnerships to dismantle barriers and ensure equitable access to opportunities for all. This organization invests in, collaborates with, and advocates for high-quality, affordable housing, early care and education, educational opportunities, gainful employment, and access to healthcare. These initiatives are specifically designed to benefit Black, Latino, and other marginalized communities, whose [...]

This week we are talking with Jaqui Guzman, Sunnyvale city deputy manager. She is a native of the bay area with a bachelor’s degree in diplomacy and work affairs, a master’s degree in Public Works, and minors in Spanish and Economic Science, bringing with her two decades of work for the local and diverse communities in different positions. As a deputy manager, she oversees city-wide programs and initiatives on behalf of the City Manager, including direct oversight of the Communications Division and Equity, Access, and Inclusion initiatives while she provides strategic support to the City Manager, city department heads, and City Council.  Her heart and interests align with social justice causes and working for a happier and more livable city. At the time when she started her work for the city of Sunnyvale, the community faced a hate crime. A war veteran decided to drive over a group of pedestrians, thinking they might be Muslims. The need to take action brought the community together with the wish to fight hate and intolerance. Guzman started putting together city-wide plans to unite people and give them tools to improve community relations, learn tolerance and fight hate. The Sunnyvale Unity Initiative represents the [...]

Today our guest is Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, a long-time politician in the Bay Area who is running for the mayor position in San Jose. She’s a longtime resident of the city of San José. Chavez’s father was a carpenter, and her mother worked as a teacher’s aide, spending much of her free time volunteering in the community. Her background makes her unique as the local political representative of an area with a diverse local population. There have been 24 years since a woman was mayor of San Jose. Chavez attended San José State University, where her passion for politics and commitment to community led her down a path to public service. After graduating, she worked as a budget and policy aide on health, human services, and transportation issues at the Board of Supervisors. Chavez joined the South Bay Labor Council as Staff Director four years later. During her tenure there, she helped create and lead Working Partnerships USA, a collaboration of business and civic groups focusing on issues affecting working families. ​Chavez won her first election to San Jose’s City Council in 1998 and focused on the building blocks of urban centers: establishing standards for traffic calming, [...]

Today, we are talking with Jorge Pacheco Jr. He is a national award-winning teacher appointed by the California State Board of Education to help the California Department of Education create Ethnic Studies curricula for the state in 2019.  Jorge, who is proudly indigenous, has been an elementary and middle school Native Studies and Spanish teacher in the Bay Area since graduating from UC Berkeley in 2013. In his role as an advocate for equity and public education, he is now working to close the digital divide for Santa Clara County as a Digital Equity Specialist for Community Health Partnership.  Jorge currently serves as President for both the Oak Grove School District of Education as well as the California Latino School Board Association or CLSBA, where he leads an organization that represents and fights for Latino students and school board members across the state. The CLSBA  is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that Latino/a/x students have the best educational opportunities and resources available to succeed. We are committed to meeting the educational needs of all Latino/a/x students by working with educational organizations and empowering current and future Latino/a/x School board members. Together, we will positively change and improve the educational [...]