Voices del Valle

What drives someone to enlist in the military? In this intense episode of Voices del Valle, five voices from the Imperial Valley open up about the real reasons behind their decisions—stories shaped by poverty, family responsibility, personal struggle, faith, and the desire for something more. From overcoming addiction and homelessness to finding structure, purpose, and identity, each story reveals that enlisting isn’t just about service—it’s about transformation. Centered on one question—why—this episode explores the deeper motivations that push young people to leave home, challenge themselves, and build a future beyond what they’ve known.

The Military: What’s Your Why?

Hosted by: Grace Navarro

Edited and produced by: Grace Navarro, Juan Carreon Limon, and Dr.Thomas Tacke

Episode Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Credits Music by: Emmanuel Twilley

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, KPBS Audio Operations Assistant Rebecca Chacon, and KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations Lisa Jane Morrisette.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

The family dynamic in the Imperial Valley is often one where grandparents have a heightened role in raising their grandchildren. The reasons this happens are many but in this episode of Voices del Valle, you will hear from three youth whose grandparents took on the roles of primary caregivers and how that seems to differ from being raised by a parent.

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CREDITS

Episode 111: Generations Under One Roof

You’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon.

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Growing Up & Raising Up is the story of a teenager who became a mother during her freshman year in high school and how she managed to learn to be a mom and a successful high school student.

Teen pregnancies and motherhood are things that are part of almost all schools and communities. In this episode of Voices del Valle, one teen mother will share her unfiltered discussion of becoming a mother at the age of 15. She will also share how she graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA and continued her success into adulthood.

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CREDITS

Episode 110: Growing Up & Raising Up

Growing Up & Raising Up was written and hosted by: Grace Navarro and Casey Davilos

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Grace Navarro and Casey Davilos

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?”

For this episode of “You’re From Where?”, we visited with the California Angels Spanish Language play-by-play announcer Marco Peralta about his growing up in El Centro, and his strong connection to Central Union High School and the Imperial Valley.

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CREDITS

Episode 109: You’re From Where - Marco Peralta

You’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon.

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Making music in high school is something that a large percentage of the population has experience with. At Central Union High School, making music happens in more ways than just band and choirs. In “Valley Music Makers” students of CUHS will share why they are involved with the various music programs and how it is part of the overall culture of the school.

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CREDITS

Episode 107 - Valley Music Makers

Valley Music Makers was written by Johan Gamez Aguirre, Jorge Villa- Quevedo, and Dr. Thomas Tacke

Hosted by: Samantha Denmon and Ethan Gonzalez

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Johan Gamez Aguirre, Jorge Villa- Quevedo, and Dr. Thomas Tacke

Music by: SpartanSound Productions, DAZE! and Johan Gamez Aguirre, and Jorge Villa- Quevedo

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?”

For this episode of : You’re From Where?”, we visited with smooth jazz recording artist and professor Walter Beasley about his growing up in El Centro, and his strong connection to Central Union High School and the Imperial Valley

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CREDITS

Episode 106: You’re From Where? Featuring Walter Beasley

You’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon.

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon

Music by: Walter Beasley and SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Being a homeless family in America is difficult for any family. But if it is in the Imperial Valley, additional challenges are added with the extreme summer temperatures and a lack of affordable housing. Heat & Hope is the story of one family’s fall into the homeless ranks. It is the brutally honest story told by a sister and brother of how they became homeless for four years with their mother.

CREDITS

Episode 105 - Heat and Hope: A Valley Story of Resilience

Heat and Hope was written and hosted by: Mia Lozano Madrid and Marley Lozano Madrid

Edited and produced by: Dr. Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Mia Lozano Madrid

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

The Imperial Valley is a place that is said to be a great place to raise kids. It has a small town feel and it is common for families to have been here for several generations. But when a family moves to the Valley from places like San Diego, Los Angeles, or other places that don’t have the stifling heat of the summers here, kids meet the “new kid” with the question of “What are you doing here?” This isn’t meant in a challenging way, it is just that Valley kids see places outside the Valley as the better, more desirable places to be.

In this episode of Voices del Valle, we visit with four students that moved to the Imperial Valley and attended, or are attending, Central Union High School. In the discussions, it becomes clear that our small town feeling community is actually a special place where students create great friendships and a strong bond to this place we call home.

CREDITS

Episode 104 - What Are You Doing Here?

What Are You Doing Here was written and hosted by: Ismael Peraza, Destiny Garibaldi, and Mitzel Martinez.

Edited and produced by: Dr. Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Ismael Peraza, Destiny Garibaldi, and Mitzel Martinez.

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.