damian trujillo: hello and welcome to "comunidad del valle." i am damian trujillo and today our tribute to pepe martinez, a former leader of mariachi vargas de tecalitlan, we lost him here last weekend. plus, also, the hola run on your "comunidad del valle." announcer: nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. damian: we begin today, with again, our monthly visit by the mexican consulate in san jose. the topic today is cinco de mayo, of course that's next week. with me on "comunidad del valle," again, once again, is loren cruz sandoval. welcome to the show again. loren cruz sandoval: thank you very much, damian. it is a pleasure to be here with you. damian: thank you. well, you know what? we always say that cinco de mayo isn't celebrated in mexico. it's more a chicano thing here and maybe an american thing here but we do celebrated cinco de mayo over there. loren: and we celebrate it in a very big and in a very big kind of way.

and actually, we want to, well just to talk about what we celebrate here in cinco de mayo because this is a very important celebration for all of our community. and we will need to be very proud. and we need to celebrate this special date but in a very responsible way as well. so, we celebrate cinco de mayo in mexico as well because, as you know, this was the battle in which the mexican army fought with the french and just stopped another invasion to our country. but not only that, it is actually very important to see why it is also celebrated here in the u.s. and part of that history actually tells us that if that battle had been won by the french army in mexico, the french army would have continued their march up to the u.s. and they would have also joined the southern army during the revolution here. damian: what? so, this would have been what?

france, maybe? we would be speaking french right now. loren: maybe like louisiana. we don't really know but yes. and not only that, i mean this is a very important day in which we need to celebrate our unity, our friendship as a community as well, and we need to be very, very sure of ourselves. we need to know that this is a celebration of our contributions as latinos in this other country as well. because, as you know, the hispanic community here in the u.s. is actually one-sixth of the total population of the u.s. and the two largest economies of the u.s. which are texas and california, there are more than 20 million hispanics in their local populations. so, but our contributions don't stop there. we have also contributions to our economy and the social life here in the u.s. it is actually expected that in the year 2017, the contributions

of the hispanic population in the economy will reach $1.7 billion dollars. currently, we are reaching the $1.3 billion dollars and that is equal to 10% of the total, yes, the total economy in this country. damian: so, cinco de mayo is not a day to put on your sombreros and to throw gritos out at the local bar. it's a day to really appreciate though where-- maybe where we came from. and if you're not latino, maybe where your friends may have come from. loren: we also have to know that latinos are businessmen. we are very--it is very common to see our community celebrating this special date while going to the friend restaurants or having these cultural expressions but another way to celebrate this special date is also to be, well, to encourage the creation of new businesses. up to now there are 2.3 billion businesses that have been created by latinos in this country. which is expected to be a--creating around 2 million

jobs and $350 billion dollars as well. so, we need to know all of these different numbers and we need to know why we're celebrating cinco de may and there's other ways to celebrate as well. damian: well, that's a lot of numbers and it takes a press attaché from the mexican consulate to kind of fill us all in. that is very fascinating. here's the web address for the mexican consulate in san jose. log on for more information. thank you so much for the quick history lesson. loren: thank you very much. and let's celebrate cinco de mayo, celebrate their prosperity, our friendship, and our common history as well. damian: que viva cinco de mayo. loren: que viva cinco de mayo. damian: and up next on "comunidad del valle," the hola run; stay with us. thank you so much. did you say honey? hey, try some?

mmm that is tasty. is it real? of course... are you? nope animated you know i'm always looking for real honey for honey nut cheerios well you've come to the right place. great, mind if i have another taste? not at all mmm you're all right bud? never better i don't know if he likes that. yeah part of the complete breakfast with me is a man who puts it on every year. arturo medina with rivera advertising and also what? the founder of the hola run or just kind of-- arturo medina: oh, no, no, no, no. but i'm-- damian: let me give you credit. arturo: was-- [chuckling] was there for the founding event, how's that? damian: oh, very good. well, you have some great video on your website

that we kind of borrowed. but this is a great event for the whole family who are celebrating cinco de mayo. and it's a chance not only exercise but go out and run a 5k. arturo: well, it is but, you know, the real purpose, the reason that the gentleman who came up with the idea of putting this together is to try to get the latino families out, active, and running, and to help fight some of the problems that we face as a community and that's with diabetes, obesity. and to try to engage them as a family to go out, and enjoy the day, and realize how fun it is to do things like these 5ks and exercising. damian: do you find that people--i mean, as people tend to come back because they like that message that you're saying now? it's not just a 5k where you get your medal and you get to run but you can do a lot of things that are good for the heart. arturo: well, yes, because this is our third event, and the numbers doubled on the second event, and we're expecting them to double again on the third event. so, it's growing rapidly.

and also the support from the community sponsors has grown. you know, this year it's called la costeña jumex hola run. again, we have the children's discovery museum sponsoring and giving out passes to the museum. the monterey bay aquarium has joined in, sponsoring, giving out children's passes to the monterey bay aquarium. first 5 is sponsoring some families with young kids to come out to the event. and the event founders also sponsor some young kinds to come out and participate in the event. and the whole idea is to get them involved while they're young in events like this, so it becomes part of what they do as they grow up. damian: that seems to be an ongoing message especially here in the bay area where we're trying to--there's a lot of agencies trying to educate the folks by eating healthy, exercising, you know, to control, as you mentioned, diabetes and other maybe ailments. do you find that maybe this is a strong area when it comes to sending that message to our community? arturo: oh, of course it is. it's--we're just a little behind on the curve in our community

but it's happening everywhere and we're just trying to help that--our local community along a little faster. and, you know, your station is a sponsor, through telemundo nbc, of the event as well. and i know your kids had a great time out there last year, so we hope-- damian: yes, we're going back-- arturo: to see them again this saturday. damian: they'll be there. so, what's going to happen? there's a 5k but there's a lot of other things happening. arturo: well, there's a 5k. we will have a mariachi on the run. we're going to have banda from radio lazer is going to be there, and they're going to have banda along the run. we're going to have spanish rock and roll at the finish. damian: so, there's stops along the way-- arturo: we also have-- damian: because if you want to listen to banda-- arturo: well, some people stop and take pictures, you know. others are committed to what they're there to do is win the race. but, you know, we have moms with strollers, grandmas. it's--you don't have to run. you can walk. enjoy the day. you get--the 5k is roughly three miles. you get it in. you come back and there's going to be

a lot of things to do there. the u.s. tennis association even puts something there to engage the kids to learn how to play tennis. and there's--there'll be a lot of stuff to do. and then we always have the kick off with the zumba warm-up, you know? harry--potter the otter from first 5 comes out and helps these lovely ladies. which i think last year you interviewed one of them. it's a good time. everybody has fun. everybody told me last year they were coming back this year. so, it's going to be a-- damian: you're celebrating culture and also health, it's the annual hola run, may 7th at discovery meadow in san jose. any final thoughts, arturo, before i let you go? arturo: no, i mean, we still have some slots open before we sell out. so, jump online. and you'll probably still be able to get a pass to the monterey bay aquarium or children's discovery museum as part of registering. adults are $30. kids are $15, so. and there's family discounts. damian: and free banda and free mariachi.

arturo: free band. free mariachi. damian: thank you, arturo. arturo: okay. damian: appreciate it. alright. and up next on "comunidad del valle," we're going to have the family giving tree. stay with us.

children have the tools they need when they go back to school. with me here on "comunidad del valle" representing the family giving tree is a principal of washington elementary in san jose, maría evans. welcome to this show. maría evans: thank you very much. my pleasure. damian: well, what has-what have they done for you? i mean, it sounds like they've done a lot of great things and your kids have taken advantage. maría: well, we've been in partnership with the family giving tree for--since 1994. and it began with a holiday wish drive and then it's extended to the backpacks. so, every year our children have been the recipients of backpacks and it's festive. it's like christmas at washington in august. damian: i mean--you, like a lot of schools, you have a population where buying a backpack to start the school year is not easy and sometimes it's impossible.

maría: well, we have 500 children at school and 95% qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. so, many are well below the federal poverty line. so, yes, it is a stretch. and who doesn't want a new backpack when starting school? my daughter had a new backpack. we didn't in the day because we carried our books by hand. but how nice for the kids to open up their backpacks and find supplies from people who have loved on them from all over the county. damian: tell me about your kids because i would imagine that simply because they come from that kind of background that they don't use that as an excuse. that they still hit the books that they do get and that they're succeeding. maría: well, i'm a kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school principal. and so, we get to mold and shape them from the start. and so, school is cool, and they love learning, and they love the challenges that we've set before them. but it's hard to go to school when there may be issues at home about whether their family members are able to pay for rent. whether there's going to be a check at the end of the week

or at the end of the month. and so, there's a lot of stressors on these children. but when we're fortified by outstanding teachers and community supports like family giving tree, it really boosts the children's self-confidence and their potential. so, we're really excited about what the gains--the academic gains that our children are making because they're being loved on from all over. damian: that's it. well, finish this sentence for me then. if it wasn't for the family giving tree... maría: if it wasn't for the family giving tree, washington would be a sadder school for our children. there are some children that--for many of our children, families rent a one-bedroom apartment, and there anywhere from four to nine people living in five hundred square feet. sometimes that backpack is the only place where our children can keep their personal belongings. so, it's very valued, very important, and really critical in feeling like a student. damian: well, the family giving tree relies on a

generosity of people they raised or they were able to give out more than 36,000 backpacks around the bay area last year. and so, i guess this is a pledge for folks to open up their wallets and to help out the family giving tree so that more children at washington and other schools around the bay area can have that same opportunity. maría: that's absolutely right. we don't know you but we love you. damian: [laughing] and the--when it comes to the student population at your school specifically then you talk about the teaching and those who also don't use anything as an excuse but they roll up their sleeves every day. because i've seen the accolades that your school has received for a school who's admired, maybe in the middle of not one of the most affluent neighborhoods in san jose. to succeed like that, it takes more than students, it takes more than administration, it takes a collaboration of everyone around. maría: well, let me brag on my staff-- damian: yes, please. maría: and on my community. we just recently had a literacy test for our primary grades and there are 27 elementary schools in san jose unified.

we were number 11. high-five. damian: hello. maría: yay-hay! damian: well, what does that say? i mean what does that-- maría: well, that says is that teachers are working hard. kids are working hard. and our parent, and our community partnerships are being highly effective. there's a dynamic here that's part of a virtuous cycle. and when children feel loved on, and inspired, and they have great opportunities, parents are really excited about helping out. and when you have inspired students and parents who are involved, community partners are thrilled to be part of it. and we've seen that growth with the family giving tree where we started off in the past with 100 backpacks. last year it was 200. and this year, thanks to the community's generosity, we'll have 500 children, all children will come to school in august with a backpack. damian: you're giving me chills. maría: yeah. damian: well, that's great. if you'd like to help out it's the family giving tree, again. and they're making all kinds of good deeds all across the bay area. there is a phone number and web address to dial for more information. books for backpacks, log on for more information.

any final thoughts, maría before we go? maría: thank you for this opportunity to do a shout out to my school, and, we come and invite you to do the turkey trot again next year. damian: there you go. we will be there. gracias. maría: yeah, super great. damian: alright. and up next here on "comunidad del valle" we'll have a tribute to pepe martinez of mariachi vargas and the latino leadership summit. stay with us.

is again right around the corner. it's an-the corner. it's an annual event. with me on "comunidad del valle" is the founder, also from es tiempo, with me is frank carbajal. and, also, he brought an entrepreneur manny fernandez. welcome to the show. frank carbajal: thank you-- damian: not the wrestler but another manny fernandez. frank: that's right. that's right. damian: well, we'll get into that in a little bit but frank tell us about the summit again, here we go again. frank: yeah, damian, thank you for having us on. and it is the 7th annual silicon valley latino leadership summit. i remember i had the inaugural interview with you and it just seemed like yesterday. so, the silicon valley latino leadership summit is at stanford

and the goal this year is, of course, diversity and inclusion, but what's unique about this leadership summit is i'm going to focus on having a panel that's on start-up nation. i'm calling it es tiempo start-up nation. there's five start-ups and i have five distinguished judges that are venture capitalists or angel investors. and today, i brought manny fernandez, ceo of dreamfunded, and he can tell you a little bit about dreamfunded. damian: that's great. well, manny, what does it take first of all to be--i mean it takes guts, i would imagine, to become a vc if you will. manny fernandez: well, as angel investor you're investing your own money and you have to have certain income or net worth standards. but that will change come may 16th where every day people can invest, you know, first time in 83 years. so, that's why i suggest people, if they want to support more hispanic businesses, visit dreamfunded and join us. damian: tell us about your site. manny: well, we vet the companies that--so say for example, i'll be judging at the standford event and if they find

something that's promising i will invite them to our site. and then we let our 6,000 plus accredited investors that are global know, and people invest as low as $1,000 and it ends up adding up to about half a million or a million, it depends. and then this entrepreneur has the capital they need to get their business started or grow it. damian: he sounds very humble. how big is this guy, frank? frank: oh, he's great. you know, how i found this guy was on cnn, and i googled him, and i said, "wow, he is sitting next to two prominent venture capitalist who are non-latino." and i said, "i got to get a hold of manny because he's a role model in our community." and as i mentioned there's very few latino venture capitalist and fewer in the silicon valley. and so, i was fortune to find manny locally. he lives in san francisco and he drove down here for this interview. and so, he's really passionate about our community. damian: you, basically what you do is you give people with ideas the opportunity to make sure that those ideas

are followed through? in a nutshell tell us. manny: in a nutshell. it's not just the capital but also the network and the advice that can help them move forward. you know, in the hispanic community it's a challenge more than anything else because most capital comes from family and friends. and so, usually the other communities have an established network that they can go to and ask for capital, and thus they end up being ceos of many of the silicon valley companies today, and you can tell who they are. so, it's important that for those that don't have family and friends they can turn to probably an angel investor that can provide capital, or these sites like dreamfunded that can help them to get started, or greatly grow their business. and it's important for, not just now, but the future generations to change our--the demographics of how silicon valley looks. damian: so, who should go to listen to you talk at themicoming u manny: well, number one is entrepreneurs looking for capital, that's a great place to go. if you're an investor looking to back the next promising idea, that's another place to go. and if you're just a networker that wants to move and shake, shake and move in a strong community, they should go as well. damian: why aren't there more of you out there do you think?

is it because of the risk factor? or just they simply aren't? manny: i don't know i think one person pointed out fear earlier that some people are held back in fear. and i think i've just been talented at it. i know what--i knew what to do early on in life and just decided to do it. and i think that most people may not be talented, may not know how the business work, i've been fortunate to have good mentors. and as i keep moving on i happen to listen and learn. and i just use the advice. and so, i think people that are out there that want to move up, just ask for advice from the person that does it right and take action on it. damian: alright, well, give us the hits, runs, and errors, if you will, on your summit. frank: well, the hits are, you know, it's going on the 7th annual and it's going to be sold out by next tuesday. i'm closing that registration. so, every year it's been sold out. and the misses are sometimes with top executives, for example, i have this year three awardees. i have monica lozano, who is on the board

of directors for bank of america. i have tim campos, who is the cio of facebook. and i have fidel vargas, who's the ceo of hispanic scholarship fund. so, sometimes the miss could be that the person introducing these pioneers, trailblazers, or visionaries, can't make it because of their busy schedule. so, what i do, damien, is i make sure to contact these folks 3 months in advance. so, fortunately this year i have all the folks introducing the awardees that are going to be present at the summit. so, this year, in 2016, fortunately there are no misses. but in the past, you know, there have been some hiccups that a person isn't able to attend at the very last minute. so, i hope i'm not jinxing anything. everything is on page and i'm very fortunate as i mentioned to have manny, as well, be present at the silicon valley latino leadership summit.

damian: well, thank you for driving down from san francisco and being on this show. i really appreciate it-- manny: i'm honored. i'm excited. damian: thank you very much. it's the annual latino leadership summit happening on may 14th. where at on the standford campus? i thought i had it at the faculty club, right? frank: yeah, it's may 14 at the stanford faculty club. it's a beautiful facility and i also want to mention that on that day there's going to be a coders summit in collaboration with the hispanic heritage foundation. so, at stanford on may 14th there will be 700 latinos that are, you know, not only building the future but are the future. damian. that is great. hey, nice job. frank: thank you so much. damian: and thank you so much for coming and enlightening us. manny: pleasures all mine. thank you so much. damian: feel free to drop some dime on your way out. that's also fine too. you can invest in this show anytime. manny: okay. damian: thank you very much. and if you need--here's our contact information. you can follow me on twitter. my handle is @newsdamian. also, pick up a copy of "el observador" newspaper and support your bilingual weekly all across the bay area. we thank you, once again, for sharing a part of your sunday with us. you know we lost pepe martinez, who was a leader of mariachi vargas.

he was on this show back in 1997 celebrating their 100th anniversary. pepe was the life of mariachi vargas, we lost him last week. so, this is to him. [music] damian: they've been performing with the best of the best simply because they are the best. they are mariachi vargas de tecalitlan. joining us now to talk about the history of mariachi music and the history of mariachi vargas, it's pepe martinez and mario santiago, the coordinators, i guess you could say of mariachi vargas. buenos dias y bendecido dia. both: buenos dias. damian: [speaking spanish] mario santiago: [speaking spanish] damian: pepe, how does it feel to be playing for the best? you guys are the best, obviously, but you guys have played for the best. pepe martinez: well, it's a great responsibility because we

don't think we are the best. we are the best for loving the mexican music because we have been all over the world playing our music. that's one of the reasons we are the best but we love more the music. damian: [speaking spanish] mario: [speaking spanish] mario: [speaking spanish] damian: [speaking spanish]

pepe: [speaking spanish] pepe: [speaking spanish] damian: how does it feel that there are people all over this world, literally in japan, in canada, in europe, who are requesting mariachi music? pepe: well, it feels just wonderful to be playing

for all kinds of people. by the way, we're going to japan next week, so, hello. [laughing] we're going to be there for 10 days. and what i think, it feels very, very wonderful that all the people like mexican music. and most fun mariachi vargas is playing, you know, make you feel like you are in the clouds, you know. [music] [singing in spanish]

thank you so much. did you say honey? hey, try some? mmm that is tasty. is it real? of course... are you? nope animated you know i'm always looking for real honey for honey nut cheerios well you've come to the right place. great, mind if i have another taste? not at all mmm you're all right bud? never better i don't know if he likes that. yeah part of the complete breakfast

nbc sports, home of the 2016 rio olympics, the nhl, premier league, nascar sprint playoffs and sunday night football. only on nbc. welcome to the honda "nbc sportsdesk." >> and hello, liam mchugh. coming up in a minute, surfing from the north shore of oahu. the volcom pipe pro. le