hello and welcome. i'm damian trujillo. today on the show, mexico dancer plus shop with a cop on your "comunidad del valle." >> nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. >> we begin today with the sacred heart nativity schools here on "comunidad del valle." with me is the principal and president. what do they call you over at the nativity? >> yes, we're a jesuit school to we have a president and a principal. >> very good. now, it's a jesuit school so everybody thinks it's a private school, public school, tuition is incredible. but tell us who you're focused on, who you're targeting and what the tuition is like.

>> yes. we're in our 14th year of operation. and so we are a catholic school but serve low-income kids in the washington neighborhood. we serve 136 students. it's co-institutional. we have a girls school. our lady of grace nativity school for girls. and we have a boys school, sacred heart nativity school for boys. so our -- we offer a catholic jesuit middle school experience, which is not tuition driven. so our families pay $45 a month. so it's an average of $540 per year. and the cost for students is about $15,000 a year. so we fund-raise the balance because we believe that every school -- excuse me, we believe that every student has the ability to succeed in a catholic jesuit environment. >> that's fascinating. we do have video we downloaded from your website, actually. these are kids who wouldn't normally be able to go to a private school. tell us about the kids who you're serving there. >> absolutely. you know, all of our students are first in the family to go to college. about half of our students are first this their family to go to high school. so we are looking at the children of the working poor.

children whose parents came to this country not for them, right? immigrants never come for themselves. they come because they want to offer their children the future generations something different. perhaps a life that is not so difficult. and so we believe that we can break the cycle of poverty through education. we believe that if we prepare students now for college prep programs and high school, be that in catholic schools, in charter schools, in public schools, that then we will increase their chances to go on to college and to successfully finish a four-year program and then go off and be positive contributors to their community. >> absolutely. talk about your service to the poor. this was a brainchild of father mat mateo. and if there was anybody who personified helping the poor, it was him. >> absolutely. you know, he had a dream of lifting up the community there, of bringing students together in a safe environment where they could dream, where they could grow, where they could be fed and be safe.

and so we live that every day. we are so grateful for his vision, his commitment. we're so grateful for all the other religious institutions and people that have come before to make it a reality. >> now, not by choice, but we here or i personally, we cover a lot of crime, gangs and whatnot in the washington neighborhood. i wish we didn't do that, but the fact of the matter is, it happens there. and so this is where these kids are coming from, where you're pulling them off the streets and into an institution like yours. >> absolutely. and we are offering them a different path, right? and middle school, adolescence, it's right at the beginning where kids can choose. we are offering them a choice for something different. where we say we value who you are, your neighborhood and we're going on invest in it, right? and so, you know, we are so blessed with partners like martha's kitchen, santa clara university, bellingham college prep, other jesuit institutions that support us in our work. and there are many more than those i just listed. but who are willing to make an

investment in the lives of our students and say we believe you in you sixth grade kid. we believe in you today and we see the next 11 years of your life which is a path of educational success that leads to economic mobility. >> my last question, and you've seen that success. you've had students who have graduated from your schools, come back as professionals or as college graduates and whatnot. >> absolutely. it's wonderful. the tough part is that it's a long trajectory. it's 11 years. so we are just seeing our first wave of college graduates. we've got kids that have graduated from santa clara university, from cal state-monterey bay. it's wonderful now to see them as working professionals giving their lives in service of others. >> well, it's sacred heart nativity schools in the heart of the washington district in san jose. there is our web address for more information. any final thoughts? i know you do concentrate a lot on fund-raising because of your operation there. >> absolutely. we are a nontuition-driven model. we've got to fund-raise the cost of tuition. so we have an annual event, our

annual fund-raiser happening february 21st hosted by bellingham college prep. thank you very much. we're also really looking for partners who are willing to, again, invest in the future of our community and invest in these young lives for the success of all. >> u.n. for what you're doing out in the community. >> thank you so much. up next here on "comunidad del valle," shopping with a cop. stay with us.

it's called the shop with a cop foundation, a great organization. here to tell us all about it are officer deputy, noelle angoria and maria reyes, the principal in san jose. let me show you a clip because this is one event that i was a part of. and what a way, noelle, let me ask you, to make kids smile. talk about what happened here. >> absolutely. so, you know, for the last six years, shop with a cop has basically raised funds, partnered with target store, and

the target corporation gives us gift certificates or gift cards which are then given to children from, you know, some of the poorest neighborhoods in san jose, and it's really -- it's really satisfying because a lot of these children have never really had cop -- or excuse me, contact with cops or law enforcement. and as you know, coming from poor neighborhoods, these poor kids, the only time they ever see officers is when bad things happen and they may or may not have a good impression. but this is an opportunity for them. >> and some of these kids fit that profile because some of these kids, their families were victims of crimes. and so you've pulled them out and said you want to help your families. >> that's correct. one of the things that we do is we reach out to children who are victims of domestic violence. when i say victims, either mom and dad or one or the other killed the other, unfortunately. and it happens. so these children are basically left to grieve. this is one opportunity for us to reach out to them and show

them that somebody actually cares about them. and we do. and we give them all the support that we can because they're victims, too. >> what does this mean, maria, to your kids there at santee elementary? >> we're very lucky. we've been the resip yept cipie last three years. this has actually evolved now. we're making it a little bit bigger to make it a reading campaign. because we know that most of our kids are needy. and most of the kids have experienced some kind of trauma or domestic violence. so now thanks to the foundation, we're able to create a rewards system that doesn't just say okay, we're doing this because you are -- >> you have to earn it. >> you're earning it. so now we have kids that are from third to sixth grade. they have the opportunity to show how much they're reading. so at the beginning of the year, they get an initial evaluation. their evaluation basically gives their reading score. based on the reading scores, we set goals for the particular kids. and if they meet their goals, then they are able to and eligible for the shopping spree.

this year we're going to be able to take 60 students. >> oh, wow. >> we have 200 students participating in the campaign. it's probably going to be a lottery at the end to be able to say, okay, who are the ones that will be the 60 lucky students who get to go shopping with a cop. >> we talked in our last segment about the washington district. the santee area is no different either. you get your fair share of bad news coming out of there. how important is it to have some good news for a change? >> this is wonderful. you know, having partnerships with shop with a cop, it's amazing. most of the times that we have a police officer on campus is not something that's positive. so it will be having them for a different purpose and say they're here to bring a reward. so this year they've been on our campus a lot more. we started with a schoolwide assembly and they brought free books for the kids. now there's no excuse. you have the book. get ready to read. so they came in september and they were back again in october. so we've been getting free book. just the mentorship that has started is just amazing.

>> wow, that's great. and i know that it's $100 gift card, noel, that the families get. and i have seen that tab maybe go up to $115. and then the police officer who's escorting these kids pulls out his or her own wallet out of their own pocket pulls it out. >> absolutely. it could be up to $125. and by the way, we're always looking for donations. >> with a smile. >> with a smile. but more importantly, though, you know what happens, it's really magical 37 you have these kids from these poor neighborhoods, sometimes these hardened police officers who have seen and done it all. when you put the two together, they meet for the first time, and what happens is, the officers then see that these children could be buying for themselves, but instead, they know that mom and dad, you know, they don't make that much money. so instead they buy toiletries, things for their sibling. because christmas may be lean in their home. and then a lot of times these officers seeing these things, it touches their heart. and it's not unusual for them to

pull out their wallet, you know, and say go ahead. just get what you need. >> i've seen them. i've seen the kids point out detergent. laundry detergent because they know mom needs it at home. >> that's true. >> what does that do to a hardened police officer? >> well, you know -- >> it softens you a little bit, no? >> it softens you, but more importantly, though, speaking for some of these other officers, because i've always had a soft heart. you no he that. >> oh, of course. >> and i mean thatsincerely. it makes them pause and give thanks to god or whoever they worship that for the fact that their children are doing well. and that they probably could have been in that situation, but all of us have mentors. you know, we had a choice. we went another direction. so consequently, we provide for our family and we are not in that situation. but it reminds you. it makes you very humble. >> and these are elementary school kids over at santee. now is the time to rein them in. maybe they're teetering on going

in the wrong direction. now is the time to really have them focus on what's positive. >> exactly. i mean, we know the statistics about their grade. you know, the reading scores, how many jails are they going to build. those statistics. our goal is to be able to put a little dent on that. we were talking in regards to, you know, he mentioned that he can't save them all. what i said is like it makes a difference to the one that you did save. so really taking, valuing each and every one of the children. that is our motto. that's what we want. >> self-esteem, how much of a role does that play into these kids' success, knowing instead of sitting in the back seat of a patrol car, they're sitting in the front seat and riding along in a shopping cart. >> just having people from outside the community coming into our campus and being able to say we are investing in our future. we want you to do well. this is what we -- we expect great things from you. we have our motto at school which is dream, believe, achieve.

and they know that they are not doing this alone. it goes even a step beyond. like once the students are identified, they get to sit down and create those shopping lists and be able to identify, okay, so how much am i going to need? how many i going to be able to make ends meet? so it's the whole conversation, you know, they get to meet the police officer. they get to meet the families. it's a wonderful thing. again, i really want to push that. we're taking 60 students. if we get more donations next year, wee could probably make i bigger. >> there's the web address for more information on the silicon valley chapter. they also give backpacks, bicycle helmets throughout the year. it's not just the holiday giveaway, but that's kind of their main focus. and that's what tugs at everybody's heart. thank you all for what you're doing for kids and giving them a chance. >> thank you for having us. up next, some dancing. stay with us.

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♪ good morning, usher! hey! did you know bees communicate through dance? me too... we're practically twins! called the nutcracker pin

ya pinada, my guests are alexa and ni nina. welcome to the show. >> thank you. >> now he have a beautiful performance that you all provided for us. now, tell us about this performance because it kind of got you a great nomination. who can tell us about that? >> so this summer we participated in the ethnic dance festival in san francisco. and we performed the region. it was a real exciting time for us, and we were nominated for isidore jenkin award. >> what does that mean? >> i think it's just really nice to be recognized for the hard work that we're putting into this as by the larger bay area dance community. and this award, they give nominations for all kinds of dance. there's classical ballet, contemporary. and we really appreciate it being recognized as an art form at the same level as those.

>> and it's a ballet. talk about the prestige you take in talking about the fact that you do dance ballet in this form here. >> our directors are really into conditioning us as dancers, teaching us different styles of dance. there's a ballet aspect of our warm-ups. and that helps us as dancers, you know, our form and our technique. and that, i think, helps our style and makes us different from other groups. >> now, talk about the nutcracker pin yaada. that's a fascinating concept. >> going with that idea, our directors, they always wanted to do kind of a holiday event but put their own spin on it. so i think it took a couple years to develop the idea going. but it's just a mexican version of classical nutcracker ballet. so we follow clarita as she goes

through a dream and different regions of mexico. it's just a really beautiful, colorful, fun event that everyone can go to. and i think it's a really well-rounded show. >> but what a good time to put it on. the holidays are approaching. >> definitely. >> how hard is that? how different is that from any of the other maybe dance steps or songs that you dance to? this nutcracker one? about the same? >> well, there are actual more classical ballet segments put into it. and so i'm trying to think, do we do that? no. but there's a nutcracker, of course. and there is the rat king and there's -- >> party scene. >> there's a party scene and a fighting scene. it's dance like we always do but there's definitely a theatrical element. >> tell us about your dance company. because, i mean, there's several around the bay area. but tell us about yours and what you think makes it unique. >> our group was started in 1991. romero came a year later.

we started just really small in the grarage, and it's basically grown. we have over 70 dancers. different generations. we've got six groups. they've got our infante group and advanced. we've got ours with the performing group. we've got an adult group. beginning adult group. we even have our mom and friends groups. some of our mothers who come and dance. they'll be performing and all of us will be performing at the show as well. >> some people go to zumba. i don't think you need to go to zumba if you're going to this three days a week when you're rehearsing. >> no, it's great exercise. total full-body exercising. >> you don't feel like you're exercising. >> not at all. i started when i was 7 and i made friends that i still have to this day as an adult. it's definitely a very community-driven group. we're always looking for new members and fund-raising and pulling together. >> talk about the different attire that you have to have in your own closets, if you will,

because i mean, if you're dancing from region, veracruz, you have jalisco. talk about with a that entails and what's happening backstage when you're going from region to region. >> it's exciting. it's crazy. it's wild. it's so much fun. there's different regions have their different styles, different shoes and hairpieces and costumes and undergarments. we've got a variety of different colored shoes and colored boots. your warm-up shoes. it's a lot. >> yeah. the good thing about group in particular is that usually in a different group, you would be responsible for your own costumes. and you know, we're a nonprofit group. we have tuition assistance for those people that can't make tuition. and we're very conscious of that, the fact that people want to dance. they want to be involved. but all these things cost money, of course. so the studio actually provides the majority of the costumes for the dancers. >> wow! >> so i would say most of our

repertoire has costumes ready set. so you go in, you get fitted. it's personalized for you, but you don't have to worry about that expense. >> and so when you show up to a performance, you can bring it with you or is it there hanging waiting for you already? >> it's distributed. it's distributed beforehand. >> okay. well, it's a great performance. the nutcracker pinata that's coming to a couple of performances, right? a couple different locations. tell us about that. >> our first one will be on november 22nd at the mexican heritage plaza. and that will be at 7:00 in the evening. and then on saturday, the 29th, we will be performing at the san leandro center of performing arts. we have a 2:00 show and a 7:30 evening show. >> and finally, why should people go see this nutcracker one? alexa? >> i think it's a beautiful, colorful, fun story you can follow. you can bring your whole family. it's a great way to start your holiday season off right. with some music and all of that

that goes with it. and it's actually our first time performing in san jose. so we would love to begin to get an audience in this area. so please come support us. >> there you go. you know we have a lot of groups here in san jose that we're going to be showing. what are they doing differently? well, thank you all for coming down here. we're going to show you a clip in its entirety with full sound and everything and you can see how well they perform. don't miss out on the nutcracker. that's up next when we continue here on "comunidad del valle." stay with us.

now here's what's happening in your comunidad. ♪

♪ a special day, felicidades. ♪ and here is our address for next week. pick up a copy of our newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies all across the bay area. you can also follow me on twitter. my handle is @newsdamian. also remember you can watch us every saturday in espanol on telemundo. that's saturdays at 5:30 p.m. comunidad del valle.

with us, once again, why should we go see the nutcracker pinata? it's going to be a great show? >> of course. great show. it's a fun family event, a great way to start your holiday season. it's colorful. vibrant. a great way -- and for those of us that appreciate dance and music, yeah. i think it's going to be a great opportunity to get into that. >> talk about that contura expression. that's a big part of dancing, i would imagine. >> contura is a mausk. it music. it's our language, everything that encompasses who we are, latina, mexican. you see all of that in our production. >> are sometimes some groups have non-latinos just because they love to dance and the musica. i mean, does that say a lot about the -- kind of the crossing of the borders that music and the culture has made in the states, i guess?

>> definitely. we've got dancers from different parts of latin america. and we've got from across the ocean, you know. we've got dancers from all over the place. and it's beautiful. it's something that we share. everyone loves music. everyone loves dancing. our culture sometimes is something that can bring us together. we have dancers that are not mexican that are part of our group and enjoy every minute of it. >> don't forget, two performances in the bay area. one at the mexican heritage plaza. it's called the nutcracker. what are the dates? >> november 22nd and november 29th. >> all right. and now we leave you with the video of this great performance by this great dance group. we'll see you next week. ♪

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