hello and welcome to "comunidad del valle." today we come face to face with -- coming up next here on "comunidad del valle." plus the assistant majority leader in the state assembly helping veterans. this is "comunidad del valle." we begin with a special housing tour that promotes mass transit here with the silicon valley leadership group is sandra. we are talking before the camera lights came on. we called this a smart growth. that is the idea of developing

high density housing in areas of mass transit. how has it worked so far? >> it has worked great. an example we showed the community house great it is working by conducting a housing tour that took place. we took them from fair oaks all the way to north san jose where the division was occurring in 1988. >> the idea is to get people out of their cars and take mass transit but live in a place where you don't have to drive to get groceries. >> at fair oaks great example and downtown san jose where you can step outside and go to the drugstore and go and buy bread and milk and take care of business without getting in your car. what does that mean? it means a better environment, getting cars off the road. it is working. >> and you just had a tour of these high density housing all

over san jose. you are going to have another one this spring. who do you think should participate in this type of tour? >> there are several groups. to start, planning commissioners so that they can get an education on what it is like, how it has worked, maybe even some of the deficiencies because some of the housing is actually pretty old anywhere from 20 to 25 years old. others don't quite understand not in my neighborhood that high density belongs somewhere else. they don't understand what affordable housing is, it means an apartment, a condo or town home is affordable housing. we want those people to come with us and in this case we road the rail and the light rail and showing off how it can be done. >> pardon the pun but 15 years ago you guys were on the right track. >> downtown san jose.

julian and north first. you go on the tracks or in your car and you don't pay attention. it is like a resort. and then another one is for sale. it is just amazing what we did. at that time it was a vision and it wasn't that difficult to build. sometimes the projects come through for whatever reason cities just don't always support them. that's one of the strongest reasons why we want to educate the community so that all cities will support this high density housing. >> you might want to log on and subscribe to the next tour coming up. you have a luncheon coming up with the governor? >> yes we do. that is friday november 2 at the fair mont hotel and it is called the policy annual luncheon with the governor. there is still room to sign up. please buy a table. corporate we need your support.

it goes to charitiess and different groups. single tickets are available, as well. >> it is a way to nudge ingovernor or listen to what he has to say? >> both. if you buy a table you can really nudge. >> silicon valley leadership group is leading the way. one with the high density housing and transit area. find out where the state is at and where it should be going. any final thoughts? >> i wanted to also let them know that we are building leaders. we have what is called a neighborhood leadership council. for the spring i encourage people to ask about it because if you think that you are going to sit on a board that needs to have an understanding about what high density housing is about, affordable, we show you and train you and bring you in speakers to give you a wonderful understanderi understanding of what it is. education is the key.

up next here on "comunidad del valle" assistant majority leader talking about helping veterans. [ 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. the pathway home is a program geared at helping veterans. he is gracious enough to join us on "comunidad del valle." tell us about your interests in helping veterans first of all. >> i came out of that generation with the vietnam war. and i saw many of my friends go off to war. when they came back if they were fortunate enough to survive the war they were treated like trash. i know for my entire life i felt that those who serve our country deserve our utmost gratitude and good treatment. a few years ago when i started working for the senate i started going to the vets' homes. i met the vets and started

seeing their programs. i decided that i wanted to do everything possible to help our vets coming back from iraq and afghanistan. >> i have been to the veterans home. it is such a serene place. i want to move there because it is such a beautiful place. >> it was established after the american civil war. it has been in existence a long time. >> so tell us who qualified or who you would like to participate in the pathway home. >> people need to know that no federal funds go to this program. it is completely supported by grants and individual donations. it is a residential treatment program. they take 40 vets at a time for four months. i have seen some of the group work they do. it's incredible the things that the vets say when they come home. they say they feel like strangers in their own communities and talk about things that they used to enjoy and talk about problems with drug abuse and sometimes

domestic problems, not even feeling connected to their families. and the program is incredible because not only do they have therapy where they can talk through and be with other vets but the local agricultural community has embraced them to do farming and horseback riding. it gives them an intensive experience. that is why it is called the pathway home. it is one thing to come home physically. it is another thing to come home mentally and reconnect with your community. >> we keep talking about the cost of wars and i think we put a price tag on the cost of the vietnam war. that price tag keeps growing. we are not talking about recently returning veterans. you are treating any veteran who feels he or she needs the help. >> absolutely. right now we are focused on afghanistan. to me we talk about this earlier i feel so strongly that we owe

such a debt of gratitude. sometimes when you see in the end of the war they come marching home. they need support every day after that to really come back and be part of our society again. so when the music ends and the marching ends and they come home we have to be there for them in every way possible. >> and i was there at the home for the -- i spoke at the funeral for the last surviving who was then deceased congressional medal honor from world war ii. that facility houses some of the greatest american heroes who put their lives on the line for this country. >> it absolutely does. when i go out there i meet with the world war ii vets who tell the stories, the korean vets, the vietnam vets. all the wars that we fought there are folks living out there. it is an incredible experience to go there.

every day should be memorial day for the veterans. >> i don't know if you have been able to gauge the success for the program. i know it is up to the individual. have you been able to gauge? >> they have an incredible success rate. they are talking about 70% to 80% where people do not need to go for further treatment. that is higher than most programs in the country. so to me i just wish there were more programs like this. we have no programs for the women who come back and the women vets need help, as well. >> absolutely. i have been speaking to veterans and i know one of the most difficult things for them is to admit that they have a problem and need help. how crucial is it for them to take that first step? >> there is a lot of denial. there is a lot of shame sometimes feeling what is wrong with me? i should be fine after this experience. i think for us a lot of it is giving that space to know that we love them and know that we accept them and honor them. i think that goes a long way.

>> and so is this at any cost to the veterans? >> there is no cost to the veterans. the state helps a little bit by allowing them to have the program out there. it is basically grants and donations. i tell people go to the website. thepathwayhome.org if they want to donate and find out more aboutt the program. for me i am so pleased they have allowed me to be an ambassador for them. it is satisfying for me to know we are finding ways to help veterans. >> is there a waiting list? >> there is a huge waiting list. >> what does that tell you about the need? >> absolutely. there is a huge need. this is a unique program. there should be programs like this in every state in the union. they have people there. a lot from the bay area as you would expect. they take everybody from all

over the country. >> you spent time on the east coast? >> a little. >> it is a pleasure. this is the pathway home. it's in the beautiful acreage at the veterans home run by the state department of veterans affairs. you have to visit it one of these days and to thank a veteran for their service. any final thoughts? >> if you can find it in your heart to help veterans, this program or other programs let's do it. we owe it to ourselves and to society and we certainly owe it to oour vets. thank you for having me today. >> coming from a person who did not serve you have a special bond with veterans. not that you relate to what they have gone through but you appreciate what they have done. >> i appreciate it because i had a student deferment. i saw what happened to my friends and to folks when they

are exposed to those circumstances. we need to appreciate them. i feel it from the depths of my heart. i hope others will feel the same way. >> thank you so much talking about the pathway home. up next on "comunidad del valle" -- stay with us. [ male announcer ] this is the opposite of subliminal advertising...

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here to tell us about the production the arttistic director and the founder. you play one of the roles. who would win? >> are we talking northern california or southern california? she is everywhere. she is everywhere. everybody knows her. we have been partnering with san jose state.

and part of the classwork that they have been doing is interviewing young people, old people. everybody has a quinto. and everyone is different. >> my dad claims he saw her. i am thinking my dad -- in any case, when you talk about it, how do you explain the concept to nonlatinos? >> sometimes i compare it to the mexican madea, a greek story. a lot of people know that women who for whatever reason have gone out and have relationships, sometimes really horrible relationships and drown their children we see that in the news. why do women do that? or why do others portray women as evil characters.

that is what i wanted to explore. >> you are getting deep. >> i'm getting really deep. one of the elements i incorporated was the question of whether or not we are in control of our fate or if there are other forces. the river, the great river controls the fate of all of the characters. so her fate is predetermined. so that's how i explain why she drowns her children. >> is the main character the river? or do they feed off of each other? >> it started with another piece which was based on the life of my grandmother. lived in san antonio 1940s. in that work she appears and takes the main character's daughter. it was never explained as to why she would do that or who she was. i started to explore who she was and who was the main character. and for me the river is the main character and she is sort of a pawn.

>> and your role when you first read that there was a casting call you said i got to do this. tell us what happened. >> when i read about theadition basically i didn't know so much. i was working at the time and that is how i heard about hector and this production. of course, i'm from mexico. i know the story very well. i was very interested only by the title. >> that was what your parents would tell you. >> my mom, yes. and i was scared. i really was truly scared. and when i hear about it i was like what is this? and even more it was a musical so i was like i want to work on this. >> we have a slide show that we will show you with this segment

and then we will close the show with a small youtube clip. it's a theatrical performance. >> for those that know it functions very much like that. the musical drama and an opera. my goal was to bring in the community to experience theater in a new way and expand the art form and make it accessible. in the piece there is a song. there is a musical theaterish pieces. the story is very tragic. it demands to be operatic. we have opera singers and musical theater singers. and then we are collaborating with the a dance company. >> they have been on this show

before. >> they are a wonderful group. >> when you are maybe back stage and it is dark do you feel something and look over your shoulder and be like what was that? >> yes you do. we are working with a great team. i feel very comfortable working with them. so -- >> what is your role? tell us about your role in this production? >> the main character. she sacrifices her child. >> corina has incredible talent. she came to us and wanted to audition. we like to provide opportunities to young people to gain training. and she has gone beyond my expectations as a young artist. she has learned difficult

musical theater pieces. she is always rehearsing and always on task. we are very excited that she is able to be a part of the production. >> what is next for you? this is a big deal right now. sounds like this isn't the end for you. >> i continue to audition around the bay area. i got a call back for a play in california. i hope i can get it. >> good luck. >> thank you. >> did you have the option of making this an opera production? >> that's a great question. that's a great question. we know who she is. the general community or the big opera houses do not. so i received a grant in san francisco to do a reading of it. i was looking to different opera companies to produce it. and then a musical theater company said this is really

interesting. so we met over coffee and in about an hour conversation they decided to commission it and produce it and got a grant, national endowment for the arts grant. we did it in new york in january. it was a wonderful success. and then we are bringing it here. and in creating the piece it's both musical theater and has some of the elements of opera. it is really a hybrid between the two. it is very sensible. >> get your pens and paper out. it is being performed at the mexican heritage plaza right here in san jose. any final thoughts before we wrap up? >> tickets are still available. buy your tickets for november 2 which is the premiere. we are pretty much full at capacity for the opening but

there are tickets available saturday and sunday. that's about it. >> break a leg out there. >> thank you so much. up next on "comunidad del valle" a short clip.

and now here is what is happening in your comunidad. here is who is celebrating a special day.

and here is next week. remember to pick up a copy of the newspaper. follow us on twitter. find out what is happening. we thank you for sharing a part of your sunday with us. next week here on the show -- we leave you with a clip. in this scene young 14-year-old has been lured into the dead forest. the forest was once the home of the people. the shawman, keeper of the great river waits for her in the darkness. i will read both the parts. the shawman will speak first.

you cannot touch what you cannot see. >> who is there? >> do you see it child? there right there. >> come out so i can see you. >> i'm not afraid. >> then come close. then, then. >> she is her mother's daughter. >> all that have walked this forest know her and know her well. >> i need to go home. >> afraid? >> no.

it's very late. i should -- >> it started with her. she was so beautiful. >> and once the river's favorite. look at her now. her spirit torn between the worlds. she lived in none of them. dead and not dead. >> always searching but the river will never let its hands go. >> wake her. >> must she find another child for the river. >> it is always hungry. searching for another and another. >> and she obeys like all of us. giving the great river another

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