Many people think of Hawaii as a vacation destination. But what about the people who call it home? In this episode of Zip Code Economies, we travel to Honolulu to uncover "hidden" Hawaii. Through the stories of a blind shopkeeper, Filipino immigrants transitioning jobs, and a native Hawaiian working to build financial resilience, we encounter a community striving to adapt to tough economic realities in a landscape dominated by tourism.

Interviewees:

• Ryan Kusumoto
• Zachery Grace
• Shantel Jones
• Kim Gillis-Robello
• James Hardway
• Janny Mendoza
• John Dumayag
• Lahela Williams

Organizations:

• Parents and Children Together (PACT)
• Hotel And Restaurant Industry Employment & Training Trust (HARIETT) Hawaii
• Hawaiian Community Assets

How do you love yourself and your community when it feels like the whole world is against you? In this episode of Zip Code Economies, we head back to East Palo Alto and talk with a charter school principal, an "old-school" police chief, and a pastor who runs a homeless shelter where billionaires take out the trash. Through these conversations, we witness a refrain of love and forgiveness, which is transforming East Palo Alto from the inside out.

Interviewees:

• Amika Guillaume
• East Palo Alto Academy students
• Albert Pardini
• Paul Bains

Organizations:

• East Palo Alto Academy
• East Palo Alto Police Department
• Project WeHOPE

East Palo Alto, California, is a 2.64 square mile community surrounded by tech giants and staggering wealth, where residents must weigh being welcoming to newcomers today with the real possibility their own families may be displaced tomorrow. In this episode of Zip Code Economies, we meet individuals bridging this tension through entrepreneurship, coding, and legal services. While the future may be uncertain, residents have a mindset rooted in resiliency that offers reason to be optimistic.

Interviewees:

Organizations:

We continue to chisel away at preconceptions through conversations with five women in Salt Lake City— all of them part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this episode of Zip Code Economies, we take a closer look at their individual paths to the labor force, which all reflect a broader narrative of more women than ever before choosing to pursue work outside the home.

Interviewees:

• Janae Moss
• Robbyn Scribner
• Susan Madsen
• Meg Walter
• Sister Henrie

Organizations:

• Utah Women and Leadership Project at Utah Valley University
• Silicon Slopes

What makes a neighbor? In this episode of Zip Code Economies, we head to Salt Lake City, where we grapple with matters of values, faith, and inclusion— while confronting some of our own biases. In the search for clarity, we talk to an array of residents, from a demographic researcher at the University of Utah to a Brigham Young University student interning at the San Francisco Fed. Can we take a leap of faith? Find out.

Interviewees:

• Will Unga
• Brandon Payne
• Pam Perlich
• Josh and Elizabeth England

Organizations:

• Salt Lake City Community College
• The University of Utah
• England Logistics, Inc.

Can a physical place be a source of comfort? Can it be a light in the midst of darkness? We explore these questions and more in this episode of Zip Code Economies, as we return to the community of Firebaugh. From the Firebaugh Police Department, which serves as a type of community hub, to the campus of West Hills Community College operating in a former bowling alley, we meet individuals living out the message: Your current state does not have to determine your future state.

Interviewees:

• Salvador Raygoza
• Fernando Moreno
• Raquel Tabares
• Brady Jenkins
• Angelic Salinas
• Amber Myrick

Organizations:

• Firebaugh Police Department
• City of Firebaugh
• Firebaugh High School
• West Hills Community College

At first glance, Firebaugh doesn't seem to have much going for it as a small, agricultural community in the fifth poorest region in America. Yet somehow 97% of students in this primarily immigrant town graduate high school and 77% head to college. In the inaugural episode of Zip Code Economies, we discover the recipe for this success at Firebaugh High School.

Interviewees:

• Luis Sanchez
• Luis Linares
• Russell Freitas
• Cynthia Best

Organizations:

• Firebaugh High School

On June 21st, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco launches a new podcast, Zip Code Economies, hosted by SF Fed CEO Mary Daly. We'll be sharing the stories of people, as they navigate unique economic situations in their communities, but (like the rest of us) strive to make contributions, create opportunity, and move forward—together.