xxx hello and welcome to the show. ♪ we begin today with the portraits of success with me here on comunidad del valle. welcome to the show. >> thank you for having us. >> it is what is called portrait of success. we put a portrait of of those who made a difference in the community.

>> yes. we can recognize latinos who have made a difference in our xunts, through customer service, through their success and their careers and their impact on the youth. >> and you've been doing this for how many years? >> this is our 27th annual portraits of success. >> and those people, i've noticed, they put the fact that they've received your awards, either on their resumes and -- >> yes. they are portraits for our communities to look up to. oftentimes they're looking at the role models and those in our community that you can look up to with a positive feeling. >> and we'll talk about a youth component in just a bit, but a lot of these folks don't do what they do for colorfication. as a matter of fact, that's probably why we should recognize them. >> right.

and hgc corporation was established to recognize exactly that. getting back to a community out of your heart, most of these recipients, many people haven't heard of because they're not at that level. so we're honored to -- we have volunteers to bring their bios and we get to sit in and listen to what these amazing people do. we get to talk to so many people that makes a huge difference. >> kind of the unsung heroes. >> they are, definitely. >> there a huge component. that's what was intended when he co-founded the corporation. it gives him a date of what it's like to shake hands with those who make a difference and who are moving and shaking. >> every year, we bring in about 200 latino high school students to experience the day,.

when we think about it, the impact is so strong, these mentors reflect the same neighborhoods, the same that these students have and oftentimes they face the same obstacles and gives them inspiration and hope that they, too, can find success in the classroom and beyond. >> as i recall, you were a child once? >> yeah. i was a student at mt. messant high school. that's when i first learned about portraits of success. i came back and volunteered and years later i was invited to be on the board and serve the community that way. just this year, i took over the reigns as president. it comes back full circle. because i first had to know how this can impact lives. >> tell us about that impact. because, i mean, if you come full circle like that, that's quite a story. >> same type of thing. i was always searching for those role models out there that we

can search for, we know the big names, those that are well known. but, you know, kids and students are always looking for those who actually care about our future to this conference, to reach out to the students and let them know, you know, i'm hear for you. here is my business card. call me. how can i support you, how can i mentor you through your journey on the way to success? >> that is such a difficult process of elimination, if you will. you mentioned all those applications. >> for the portraits of success, yes, definitely. and, you know, there's so many people that need that recognition and -- but we pick. they have to have the guidelines posted on our website and we choose who, you know, the volunteers consider the best. >> it is quite an honor to be

honored by the volunteer corporation. it's happening september 21st. there is the number to call for more information and the web address, portraitsofsuccess.net. thank you for the continued success. >> thank you. up next, rick solinas. stay with us. here you go little man. [ humming ] [ babbling ] the cheerios bandit got you again? [ both laugh ] ♪ the one and only, cheerios ...and now... you! [ giggles ] ♪ the one and only, cheerios

>> yes, damian. let me -- we'll talk about that in just a bit. you were on this show and talked about this with her better. let me show you a clip of -- this is your performance of the relationship. there were so many of them.

>> he was riding around in a gypsy cam when he created the people, don't you know. and he saw the people lonely, and he saw the people hungry. and from his -- he created a companion for these people and he called that companion capitalism. but genesis, according to -- word. and when ponce de-leon looked upon the islands he said -- and when the first puerto rican brother landed on the shores, he said -- it's cold! ♪ >> hilarious. you guys, when you're doing your

script writing, who decides what or each one has their open skids? it's the guy who yells the loudest. also, when you were here last, you were kind of showing us how it is that latinos -- how they dance. >> yeah, the difference. there is a difference. a lot of people don't know. they think latinos were all from the same place. but when it comes to dancing, that's how you can tell us apart. >> a puerto rican, when he dances salsa, it's like he's thinking, did i leave the iron on? because he's so serious about it. i go through the whole brown, the way doe minute cans dance, the way -- dance and it's a comedic piece, but there's some reality to it. >> are you guys trying to make, obviously, the audience laugh and maybe go home and think politically and culturally at

the same time? >> yes. i think that's what we started out from the very beginning. maybe at first when we were young riders, maybe a funny joke came out, sometimes it wasn't smart, it wasn't tasteful. we thought as humor you have to go home with something. but all of a sudden, they were going, wait a minute, i'm laughing at something that's a heavy subject. it's about racism. we've always had that as our montra. >> and when you're not transforming on stage with richard and with her better, i mean, like right now, richard is filming a movie in san francisco. so do you all do your own gigs? >> yeah, yeah, you know, we started out in 1984 in the mission district. and, you know, it's 28 years of doing work nonstop together. i mean, we're like the latino aerosmith, you know? and at some point, you know, we get our, like, private time. and right now, we've got our

moments when we're doing our individual work. her better did a play of pablopy casio and it was a one-man show. richard is doing some filming. he shot his play called water and power that we did here and he's making it into a movie. i was here last year and i directed a show for solani. i had to direct about 18 people. so i did that and now i come back, you know, to my place of birth in terms of where culture clash started, in the mission district. so we get tour our individual work. >> yeah. and this is performing september 6th. you sent us some images here. >> yeah. plakas means tattoo. it also means when you put your name, shorty and snoopy, that's his placaso.

this play, it's affiliated with the gangs and the gang culture with tattoos. it's a very, very serious thing. once you put a tattoo on that represents what neighborhood you're in, then you're part of that neighborhood. and if you cross that line or that boundary, then you're in trouble. and a lot of youth are involved in this. so this play is really a play about redemption. it's about a father who has been in the gang district for most of his life. but now he wants to change, he wants to shed his tattoos, so it's about tattoo removal. which is a very real thing happening in a lot of clinics. they're showing that you could get tattoo removal and you could start a new life. so their father try toes school his son to get out of the gangs. it's a very difficult thing to do. once you're involved in a gang,

it's very difficult to get out of. >> plakas is showing in san francisco with rick solinas, september 16th. there it is, information on your screen. we'll be back and talk more about this play when it continues. stay with us. big news !

verizon wireless is teaming up with xfinity from comcast. now you get the xfinity triple play and verizon wireless plus a great offer. call 855-704-7400 to sign up and you'll get up to a $300 visa prepaid card by mail. verizon wireless and xfinity. it's tv, home phone, internet and wireless.

we're back. this is kind of a -- you're -- not that you're reliving your personal experience, but you've been shot at at the missions. >> yes. i was part of a -- the gang violence that occurs in any inner-ci inner-city. and unfortunately, i was trying to break up a fight and somebody pulled out a sawed off shotgun and so the me. luckily, i survived. i wasn't supposed to survive. san francisco general hospital was five minutes away and they gave me a second chance in life. so i know what that means to be

out in the streets and the dangers of that. it's unfortunate because it's only the very few that ruin it for a lot. this play is about the el sael el salvadoran culture. a lot of people are going to say, why are you doing a play about the gangs, you know? but these exist and a time of them are people who are lost, people who need guidance. lawyers and, doctors exist, but sometimes we cannot neglect what exists. we call ourselves eoos, equal opportunity offenders. you have to offend everybody or you're not part of the culture. >> it's amazing how you are able to send a political message.

>> that's the main thing and i have to give credit to the play wright and the dire right and the director. this is art, it's a life they may not want to know about or they can look away from. with art, you can teach and inspire and if anything, it brings up dialogue. with dialogue, you get more of an understanding. >> in speaking with several people in doing news reports about removing your unwanted tattoos, maybe critics will say one thing is removing the physical aspect of the tattoo. it's kind of -- [ speaking foreign language ]. >> it's true. along with the tattoo removal, there's education. and that is where there's a lot

of education involved in that. and i think it's possible. if people give people that second chance. >> is this one of those roles where you said, yeah, i have to do it. >> you know, it's funny. culture class is considered a -- group and that is because we use that iconography, murals, the language. but i was born in el salvador. i would say savlador, central america, they always thought i was from kansas. nobody knew where savlador was. they told me about this play, i read it and i go it's about a savladoran dad. i'm from el salvador. it's about teaching his son redemption. i was very lucky, very fortunate to be. it's never been done. it will be the world's premier. >> i don't want to oversell it, but could this be life changing

for a child or parent in the audience? >> yes. i think if there's somebody who has gone through a similar process, it is life changing. we've done plays and comedy. we did the whole thing about the navy and about the military. we did it in a comical way. a young guy said, you know what? i remember going to enlist in the army. and nothing against people who are troops, you know, but he said after i saw what you did, i'm going to think twice before i enlist. and it was just because they saw us doing something. >> it's going to be playing in san francisco. you don't want to miss it. that summer, the 6th through the 16th. any final thoughts before i let you go? >> rumor has it it might be coming to san jose in october. so we're still negotiating, but we're going to bring the play down to san jose. >> and you guys are mostly l.a.

based, but how are you received up here in north cal? >> we love coming up here. this is our hometown. we played berkeley, and it's our hometown. it's like, you know, when the giants go and play, you know, down in l.a., they come back home, that's their space. so when we come back, it's like our space. we love coming up here. >> thank you for coming back. >> anytime. thank you. >> maybe before you do monthly, you can stop by and we'll promote it again. >> up next, little joe. stay with us. hmm, it says here that cheerios helps lower cholesterol

as part of a heart healthy diet. that's true. ...but you still have to go to the gym. ♪ the one and only, cheerios and now here is what's happening in your community. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> and this is celebration of a special day.

and here is our address for next week's show and follow me on twitter. pick up a copy of it at our newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies across the bay area. we thank you for sharing part of your sunday with us. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [ applause ]. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [ taste buds ] donuts, donuts, donuts!

who are these guys? oh, that's just my buds. bacon, donuts. -my taste buds. -[ taste buds ] waffles. how about we try this new kind of fiber one cereal? you think you're going to slip some fiber by us? rookie. okay. ♪ nutty clusters and almonds, ♪ ♪ almonds. ♪ fiber one is gonna make you smile. ♪ [ male announcer ] introducing new fiber one nutty clusters and almonds. with 43% daily value of fiber for you. crunchy nutty clusters and real almond slices for your taste buds.