llo: hello and welcome to "comunidad del valle." i'm damian trujillo and today on the show, hello and welcome to "comunidad del valle." california dreamers, a firsthand perspective. plus, the new tv show on "comunidad del valle." we begin today with a group of senators that are venturing out for latin america. kent campbell and fatima ramiro. you just came back from one of those experiences. welcome to the show, first of all. tell us first of all about am o amig

amigos. >> every summer we send college and high school students to latin america to engage in community long-term emerging programs where 4 out of weeks at a time, volunteers live in one community surrounded by other communities where colleagues are working with locals to supplement the work of non-profit organizations that work year round in those communities. >> we're looking at some video being provided for us here. we're not talking about folks taking a vacation down to peru or bogota or whatnot. you're rolling up your sleeves and doing the heavy lifting that needs to be done. >> it is something very different than volunteer travel. it is one thing to go to a foreign destination or someplace locally and do volunteer work for a short time, a number of days. but this is about living and working in another community to get to know another place, to get beyond the borders of silicon valley. for a young person this is a

transformational opportunity for them to see themselves working in another place. >> tell us where you go to school and what made you decide i want to be a part of this. >> okay. so i attended santa clara high school. i graduated last friday. but it pretty much started off as a presentation in my spanish class and i saw the video and i fell in love with the idea of amigos, the value, just the value that i have as a person and what i believe that everyone should be doing in life. amigos reflected that to me and i was, like you know what? i'm going to get on, i'm going to call the representative and i'm going to do this. and ever since then my life has really changed. not as a cliche way saying, oh, this experience changed my life, but i do believe it was a stepping stone to where i am today as a person and i love who i am as a person as of today. i've really learned a lot from

amigos of my values and family as well. >> i talk about some of the heavy lifting. describe some of that for us. there is a lot of bonding that takes place but there is some rolling up of your sleeves. >> oh, definitely. yes. so i am a part of the co-that reka pr costa rica project for six weeks. >> people think of the beaches and palm trees. >> oh, no. you see, the cool thing about the costa rica project is that we also work in the national parks. so we worked in national parks. i thought it was a beautiful symbol. we were there, first i went to the most cold national park. there were literally no bugs there but we did a lot of -- we built -- had to go out and clear all the trails so we had a walk miles and clear out trails all the leaves and we built

bathrooms, too. the second one, it was literally raining the whole time we were there. we had to walk a mile up a mountain, you know, in the rain carrying cement bags because we were building steps out on there. but although it is completely safe the whole time, it is heavy work. you know, it is heavy work. you think we're just here to work with the community but, no, you have to take on that heavy work that all the other volunteers are doing as well as yourself. and it's really awesome. >> you won't describe it as a walk in the park. >> no gguarantees. >> talk about your inner feeling when you leave that country that you visit and you know what you left behind, both physically and maybe emotionally with those families. >> absolutely. leaving behind a piece of -- the volunteer leaves a piece of themselves there. their hard work, their relationships that have been developed. and i truly have seen

communities that have been -- from the spark of the volunteer, community has changed in a way that will never be the same. at the same time, within the volunteer themselves, if it is a rite of passage unlike anything else we have in our culture. amigos is a program i did three times when i was in high school and college and completely changed the way that i saw the world and my view of myself. the reason i stay involved now as a volunteer is to see these remarkable, amazing young people who give of themselves and are serious to see what is beyond the border. internally and physically. what is out there in the world and how can i make a positive difference in it. it is just amazing. >> how would you recommend it to other teenagers who might be considering? >> i would definitely say, if you feel that you don't know what's out there in the world, this would be a really good way to experience what life is like outside of your personal bubble,

outside of your community. because when i left the country, i realized that life kind of seems very structured. it's not real. it's not what life really is like. and when you go out to country, you realize this is life. life isn't perfect. there are going to be struggles and there are going to be blockages and there is going to be so much that you're going to go through in life, and that's the reality. that's the way life really is. >> you are constantly recruiting folks like fatima to come out there? >> turns out it works on an annual buy sayasis. our volunteers in june are getting ready to leave san jose and spend their six to eight weeks abroad. we'll recruit again in august and september, we'll have interviews and information nights. if you're curious, e-mail us. it is a good time form parents

of students who are really ambitious, 16 to 18 years old. >> what did you do in your summer vacation? >> i went to the state park. >> i built a home and some bathrooms for people who really need it. >> or really developed a lasting a relationship with a community that's just completely out of the world that we are so lucky to live in this silicon valley. i love in the video you showed a clip of one of the students saying, i didn't mess anything this summer. when his friends talked about what did you miss at the state parks and parties. >> if you want to participate, there's the web address and more information. we're talking about the santa clara chapter here. there are different chapters. >> the last thing i would say would be that anyone across the country can participate in the program. there are five chapters here in san jose, palo alto, san francisco, marin and the east bay. but anyone in the country can participate. >> thank you so much. our boys played baseball with each other and against each other. thank you so much for what

you're doing. up here next on "comunidad del valle" -- mmmmmm yoplait! ♪ oh! good news everybody! there is now 25% less sugar in yoplait original. say "adieu" to that sugar. because it still tastes good ahhhh

yoplait! they're undocumented students who are given the they are called california dreamers. they're undocumented students who are given the legal opportunity to stay in this country and study. with us here on "comunidad del valle" are dr. julia curry, professor at san jose state university, and arianna, who is a dreamer. what is it like to have someone call you a dreamer? >> it's very interesting. i've never been called that before so like it's kind of like calling someone a mexican. you know? i don't know, i'm just kind of like that's just a part of me. it's not -- it doesn't identify my complete -- like me. if that makes sense. >> well, tell us about yourself and your study, what are you studying, what are your goals and ambitions? >> i'm a student at san jose state university. i just finished my freshman year there. i'm majoring in political

science. i might minor in theater. that's a little something i like. but that's what i'm doing today. >> what's it like, dr. curry, to have students in your classroom who are called "dreamers," yet they see that maybe as an asset, not as an obstacle. >> well, that's the exciting part, damian. because so often -- well, we can actually call them dreamers instead of calling them the "i" word, which we won't use. but i think that's an important element. after 2001, at least in our state in california, we're able to call people ab-540, which is the local name. finally in 2012 in our state again we passed the california dream act and so we're able to call them dreamers. but as arianna said, it is kind of new. it is yet a word that empowers

people, because when you discover that you are undocumented, that you came to the united states not through the regular legal channels, you have to figure out what to call yourself. and so back in 2002, students were empower to call themselves ab-540 and they would also say, it is a relief not to call myself -- >> right. the "i" word. do you find you are talking about identity in your classes a lot just to get over this hump, if it is a hump? >> not so much identity per se. but rather understanding that immigrant students -- which is my favorite word. that's the "i" i will use. as immigrant students they have a very global outlook. they totally understand the reality of the nation's state. politics. because they live them.

and the difference between arianna today in 2015 and the students that i had in 2000 who were undocumented is that she can be, as some of them say, doba dhaka-mented. it is definitely awareness that the state has a lot of control, not just the state of california obviously but the nation. >> when did you realize your status in this country and what was your reaction? because i have spoken with a lot of dreamers who didn't know until seniors in high school that i can't apply for scholarships. >> yeah. i couldn't -- probably when i hit junior year -- no, junior school. i'm sorry. middle school.

that's when i realized i was because there was a field trip that i couldn't go to because it was going to be close to where there was border patrol checks, you know when they do the check-ups. so i couldn't go to that. my mom said it. like i always new, i just never really new the danger. then when i went into high school, that's when it really hit me of what i was here in this country. i felt like i was not even -- like a floating paper that's here. like i don't have a status here. i don't have a status in mexico anymore. so -- because i wasn't able to apply to scholarships. i wasn't able to -- i thought i was going to be receiving financial aid but then it kind of all just hit me, i kind of had to suck it up in a way. i feel that's what we usually have to do, we just kind of have to suck things up and say, you know what? i have bigger things to be thinking about right now. how am i going to get out of this, how am i going to make it through. that's why i don't -- whether we

are called undocumented, before i was like a little like -- i would be called undocumented and i would go into a slel. b shell. but now i'm like, yes, i'm undocumented and i'm here fighting for my rights. like professor curry mentioned, it empowers us and we're put in a position where we have to know the policies. we have to know the things that are being updated. stuff like that and we have to know how we're going is to speak up and fight for ourselves when people aren't fixing things so that will benefit us. because we're not doing anything wrong in this country. we didn't come here -- if we want to say because we wanteded to? i'm not saying, oh, it's my mother's fault. it wasn't a decision we made. so why are you going to tell us that we're here wrongly. you know? and judge us by it. we're not even committing anything bad other than just going to school and fighting for our rights of education. >> are you inspired on a daily

basis by arianna and your students? >> every day. i would say every minute. every frustration i experience in my institution, or any government agency or whatever, i always feel, they're the reason why i have to be where i am. it's them. i'm always inspired. always. you know, just listening to the way that they handle things, they don't complain. i've never seen complainers. they tend to have higher gpas than other students. they have determination until tomorrow and beyond that. yeah, they are my heroes and my sheroes. >> you are going to graduate with your degree. what happens after that? >> well, let's say i was going to graduate in a year. so fortunately, i qualify for

daca. we don't even know if we're going to be able to have it. that's where i stand. but let's say people who doesn't even qualify for that, it's kind of like you have a paper that you can't even do anything with it. you can't go apply to jobs. inte internships, there's very few you can apply for. the ones you can are probably not even paid. so i feel like those people -- and i can see myself in the future hopefully not. hopefully something happens where we're going to keep pushing for something but it's kind of like you're back into the same position you were i feel when you first tried to go into the college. you're trying to find your way through a labyrinth through loopholes to see what you can do to get a job. it's frustrating you feel at times because you say i just went through all these four years of college, all through this for what

[ speaking spanish ] but it is not for anything. >> i think you inspired a lot of folks today watching this show. there's a couple of pieces of information there. dr. curry is professor at san jose state university. is that number okay? >> yes. >> thank you so much for your continuing inspiration and for you for supporting all these students. >> thank you. >> thank you. up next on "comunidad del valle," a new show. stay with us.

you wish your dog could fight off

fleas and ticks. but since he can't... you rely on frontline plus. because frontline plus unleashes a deadly killing force to kill fleas and ticks, plus flea eggs and larvae, preventing a new infestation. its protection lasts a full 30 days. no wonder frontline plus is the #1 choice of vets for their pets and yours. after all, your dog is a lover not a fighter. frontline plus. the vet's #1 choice. where we highlight the success in our peoples. mia perez: we definitely wanted to highlight the bay area, the beauty, nuestra cultura, and definitely success. but we wanted to do it in a way that we hadn't seen before. armando: elc is special because of the content. the content es de nosotros. female: el estilo y la moda son algo completamente diferentes. mia: next time you guys are in oakland, make sure you stop by and check it out. armando: you know, latinos lead segments such as social media usage, technology.

they start businesses three times faster than the general population, so it's important for us to--that we write it. damian: we have a new show. it's called "en la calle." mia perez, there she is. and she's on our show here on "comunidad del valle." she's part of the talent. and armando tam is director of "en la calle." they're joining us here on the show. armando, welcome to the show. tell us about this endeavor. i was telling you off camera i'm committing career suicide here by having you on the show. no. so happy to have you here. tell us what this is about and where we can see it? >> first of all, thank you so much for inviting us. we're really excited to be here and share this project. i know you've been so supportive ever since i started on my journey with my passion. things progress from the last time i was with you here more on the asking side. well, i figured that i have somebody to come along who shared my vision highlighting

latinos and the best opportunity i had where i can be a difference and make a change would be in a show like this. that's his expertise in directing and producing. >> what do you see in mia that says this show is going to take off? >> authenticity. you see networks try to tap into latino markets by translating things. they see a trend and they want to jump on it. mia was born with it. i was born with it. you were born with it. i think that if you look at trends in society, latinas are bigger users of social media than any other generation. latinos starting businesses three times faster than general population. yet we don't have anything for it. so we want to provide it without perpetrating it, without saying, hey, let's have a fiesta or [ speaking spanish ] we wanted some for the rest of

our people. >> there is obviously a niche here for your kind of show because -- >> there is is a niche. given those stats, you rulize immigrants start businesses faster, higher rate than u.s.-born immigrants, latinos here. you know what i mean? they're more likely to hire employees. they already have that mindset. i came here from nicaragua in 1981. i look back now to see what our parents did to give us what we have today. they came in, started businesses. but there was no one there to support them. there was no one to guide them. it wasn't something we could watch on tv. so we decided, mia came in, she was passionate. she had done all the other projects. i look at her and think it's a true story. don't ever give up on your dreams because you could be five minutes away from walking away from what you love to do.

so i said, let's do it. >> that's awesome. is this you? is this what you've been waiting for are? this is your chance here? >> you know, damian, this is more than what i've been waiting for. you know, it is a trial and failure. but you learn. the last show i was on, i tried. i partnered with the wrong people. but as soon as i social media, i put on facebook i walk away from this project because it is not giving the quality that i promised and my passion is for latinos. so happened they read it and they said we want to meet with you and we did. this is more than what i expected, to be honest. >> we'll talk more in our next segment about maybe where we can see it and all of that. that's in our next segment here on "comunidad del valle." stay with us.

with "en la calle," the new show. we're talking about this new show. we are back here on "comunidad del valle" talking about this new show.

it airs when, where and when can we see it? >> july 8th. we'll be on the web series. we do have our facebook page if you want to find us on facebook. we already have little teasers of episodes that we've been getting ready to edit. just to give people a little taste of what's going on and what's coming up. >> you try the smartphone angle first, then see if the networks catch on. >> absolutely. because if you look at tv nowadays, it is very competitive. it is all reality tv so we don't know the future of tv. what we do know is that with the younger demographics, latinos, we're younger than any other, we also own smartphones higher than any other demographics. one of the best ways to communicate is through social media and digital platform. you can watch it many times. >> i know your talents a, mia. i know the show has to be scripted but is there a

ad libbing? >> we do do some scripting. we do a lot of research before we even decide who the guest is going to be, location, where we want it. we want something so fresh, so unique and still with an urban feel. one thing i actually do want to highlight was -- i came across a lot of times latinos and some of them don't speak spanish and they feel isolated. why? some people don't consider latino because we don't speak spani spanish. some people who have been here second, third generation who have lost touch with their roots. we want to either reconnect them to their roots or those who haven't been able to really find out what they're about, their background and their people. so that's what we want to do. the one thing that's really so cool about the scripting, when we're researching and we find our locations, we'll go to one chef who's dominican.

we'll iend up with other ones. we want to differentiate so people know the difference between us. a lot of scripting and learning is from him on how to get -- how to prepare yourself for that and your guests. and you know that more than anybody. >> are you learning more about the community where you live and where you work just by doing this? i didn't know about this little corner store here on valencia and -- whatever -- >> you know? you hit the nail on the head. those i think, i think our purpose is to find out the hidden talents, the jewels that are here and within our own community. one restaurant that we went to, mission street oyster bar on mission street in san francisco. the most amaze iing food. amazing. i don't know how many times i walked up and down there and i had no idea. that's the people we're meeting. we're meeting people who again started their own businesses, we're meeting dreamers as well, like one of your guests that you

had. people from all walks of life that are latinos, that are successful making a difference. >> our web series and one day on the network near you. thank you. good luck with your venture. we do have some information if you'd like to send us some suggestions for next week's show. drop us a line, follow me on twitter. pick up a copy of our newspaper and support your bilingual community across the area. don't forget on saturdays at 5:30 p.m., watch "comunidad del valle." [ speaking spanish ]

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