damian trujillo: hello "comunidad del valle." i'm damian trujillo, and today, my tocayo, charley trujillo from chusma house publications is back on our show. he's bringing another new author with him on your "comunidad del valle." male announcer: nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. damian: we begin today with some great things happening at the silicon valley education foundation. muhammed chaudhry is ceo of this great organization. welcome to the show. we're talking about how pleasant it is for you to be on this community show, given that you've been all over network news the last couple of months. thank you for being here. muhammed chaudhry: thank you for having me. this is more fun! damian: right! so, talk about the foundation. tell us what the goal is and the mission. i mean, it's been some great work, especially in some of the pockets of this valley that really need that help. talk about that work.

muhammed: so, at silicon valley education foundation, we are absolutely obsessed with preparing students for college and career readiness. too many of our students are not on that track, and that's not fair, and when you look at the achievement gap, it even gets worse. california--silicon valley has done better in california in many subgroups, but with the hispanic subgroup, we were below the average relative to the state. so, we do have a lot of work to do, and the good news is through a lot of our work and a lot of great school district leadership, we are seeing some results, particularly in east san jose. damian: and it includes not just the 9 months of the school year, if that's what it is now. you're on it throughout the entire summer, and so these kids aren't getting a break because--i guess because we're so far behind. muhammed: absolutely, so, just to put it in perspective, in japan, they go to school for 241 days a year. in europe, they go 211. we barely went from 175 to 180 days. so, time on task matters. that's where we developed the elevate math program, which is a summer intervention for students and great professional

development for teachers, so we can get students a full year ahead in math and change their trajectory in math over the summer. and what we've seen is students dislike math so much, they'd rather take out the garbage than do the math homework, and on the other side, math predicts everything, from kindergarten to 12th grade education. it's the language of kindergarten to 12th grade education. so, elevate math is our effort to be in every district, from 6th grade all the way to 10th grade, every summer. we want students to get that booster shot, 75 hours of instruction, in order to get 'em a full year ahead in math and be ready for college and careers. damian: how does that not make them hate it more when they're getting more of it? or is it being taught in a way that is fun, and interactive, and maybe not the traditional way that you and i learned it? muhammed: that's a great point. you know, rather than sitting on the beach and playing on the xbox, you're not inside a classroom. you know, first few days it's hard to get 'em there and the parents really help, but once they finally understand math--a lot of us were not good at math.

but once they finally get it, and we change their mindset, and we help them understand why they're doing what they're doing, and they understand it, they start falling in love and they're like, "oh, i can do this." it's a huge confidence boost actually, 'cause once they get focused on it, understand it, and this is something they haven't been good at for years and now they finally get it, they actually come back for more. they actually go home and work on it as well online. we've seen a lot of mindsets shift on math, and they can actually be good at math. damian: and is elevate math just a summer program, or is it year-round? muhammed: we have a year-round component as well. most of it is done in the summer, but we have a during the year component as well. the underlying issue here is that math achievement predicts if a students gonna graduate from--go to college or graduate from college. it predicts lots of other things, and what we've seen is that if we can get them on the right track and get them ready that they will be successful in it. and what ends up happening is students take math, they fail, and we have 'em take it again, again, and again.

and what we've seen is they take it three times, they fail all three times. what we're doing is front-loading the content. we make sure they nail it the first time, and they get on the right trajectory, and they have that growth mindset to be able to get on track. and we've seen incredible results where students who had no thoughts of going to college and now they're taking engineering courses in high school. they're really on that track. damian: i mean, are school districts now taking on your lead, the foundation's lead, in, "this is the track that we need to put our kids on," or is it just--i mean, you'd love to help every child in the valley, but you can only do so much. is it the few who are benefiting or can every school district now start implementing these kids of processes? muhammed: so, we have this in over 30 school districts now, and the magic of this program is not only is it for kids, we help math teachers become better math teachers. with the change to the common core standards, the new standards, teachers needed help adapt to that as well. so, in the summer, we give teachers 36 hours of professional development or training so

they can teach math better. and that really helps the school district because each one of those teachers, they'll teach 30 kids in the summer, but during the school year, they're teaching 150 kids. so, we really get the leverage with the school districts. so, we really sit down with the district and say, "let's look at your data. let's look at the kids who we can really get a year ahead. and how do we shift the thinking?" and working with districts, i mean, people aren't in education because they wanna hang out. they actually wanna make an impact, so we're seeing lots of districts come on and look at their policies, look at their teachings, look at their professional development and training to really change that trajectory. and most districts in silicon valley are now part of elevate math. damian: oh, that's great. well, it's put on by the silicon valley education foundation. they're here in san jose. you can log on to that website for more information or call that number to find out about elevate math, or maybe if your school is not implementing elevate math, maybe you'll find out why not and see if maybe you can roll up your sleeves and help. we'll be back with muhammed after these messages. stay with us.

of the silicon valley education foundation. we talked about math, but i mean, we talk about stem. technology is a big part of where we want our kids to go. talk about your efforts on a technology side. muhammed: so, we have a three-part plan in making sure that technology can really help elevate student achievement. first is how do we get school districts money for technology? and we work with east side union high school district and the great leadership there for them to pass the first education technology bond in california to fund technology. the second piece is we've done a paper on, what does the technology look like? the boring stuff. there are still schools in silicon valley where 30 computers watching a video will crash their wireless infrastructure. so, really helping districts figure out, what does your infrastructure look like? and we've put out a white paper on really outlining it for them so it makes it easier and it costs them a lot less. the third piece of the puzzle is, how do we introduce great education technology companies that are in the valley and beyond?

we're working with companies in australia and all over the world that are trying to help kids increase their achievement. and how do we match them with schools where we have this learning innovation hub with lots of great leaders involved, in terms of, how do you bring those tools inside the classroom, test them, scale what works, and help improve what doesn't? that's our way--there's a lot of promise, damian, in how technology's gonna improve student achievement. we've gotta realize that in a way where it works for kids and we at the silicon valley education foundation can be a trusted advisor to the school districts and the tech companies who wanna bring great technology to the classroom. and we're seeing incredible results in schools across the valley. damian: my kids are very fortunate. they have laptops at home, they have ipads, but you go to their school--they go to alum rock school. it's a dual language immersion school. they don't have a computer lab, maybe a couple of computers inside the classroom. my guess is that's not good enough. muhammed: that is not good enough. i think we're going to have to go to one-to-one in terms of technology, and we're getting there.

more and more schools are realizing that the hardware--but the hardware is just the easy part. i think over the next few years alum rock and lots of other great school districts, their superintendents are really working on, how do they get the hardware and one-to-one? how do they take it home? how do they log on at home as well? but the hard part is, what do you do when you have it? where do you log on? how do you do this? how does a teacher get the data to help you realize? if you take a look at a classroom right now, we need to personalize education, and a teacher really becomes a coach in getting every child to come up, and technology has lots of promise. but "what do you do with that hardware?" is a question we're trying to solve as well, so there's a need for the hardware. nothing beats a great teacher. you know, that's step one. but once you have the great teachers there, how do you use the technology to really help personalize instruction and help all students realize their full potential? damian: and your strategy seems to be working? the grades are going up. their scores, latino scores, are going up. that achievement gap, you're narrowing that.

muhammed: absolutely, and give you one example of that. you know, the statewide scores just recently came out, and silicon valley hasn't been number one when it comes to the achievement gap, which is the caucasian students versus the hispanic and african american students. and you look at that number, both were going up, but it wasn't closing. for the first time, what we've seen in east side union high school district and the feeder k-8 districts is the hispanic number jumped 7 points, 7 percentage points. that's a huge jump, so we're closing that for the first time. and what we're seeing is what works is, you know, passion by the school district to focus on resolving that, making sure the right training and professional development is there, and the right tools are there for students, like elevate math program where these students are getting the tools they need to be successful, and that's where we're gonna close this thing. we're gonna make sure all students are performing well, and particularly latino students. damian: it sounds like the school districts have been receptive to your strategies and, i mean, the programs that you have in place to make sure they close this that way.

muhammed: you know, school district leadership, they do so much with so little and they are so passionate about this that they're great partners. they're one of the best partners we have in achieving the results that we're helping them get. if you give 'em good stuff, if you help them achieve it and work with their policies, their direct programming with summer interventions, and innovation and technology, we're seeing lots of districts achieve new heights. damian: so, your recommendation. the school year just started for parents out there, because their child might come home and say, "i finished my homework." is it that, that you don't wanna overburden them with more homework, or is it, "okay, go on. get ahead, start the next chapter"? what would you recommend? muhammed: you know, if there's any research that works, damian, with your kids, my kids, any kids, is the more time you spend on something, the better you get at it. and the great thing about using technology at home is it's self-paced, so it allows you to keep getting ahead. i would recommend, if they don't have a device, think about figuring out a way to get 'em a device at home, not just to play

video games on there but to actually look at tools. there's lot of free tools out there. if you go to our website, svef.com, we have some of those tools available there as well that students can log on and get ahead. i mean, math is the language of kindergarten to 12th grade education. i mean, it's the best predictor if your kid's gonna graduate from college. so, the more time they spend on it, the better they get, and i think we just need more students to be focused and passionate on that. damian: all right, well, i'm excited. it's silicon valley education foundation, doing some great things out in the community. and we are narrowing that achievement gap by some good strategies. any final thoughts, muhammed? muhammed: you know, i think silicon valley is a great place, and what we need to all work together is to make sure that we can bring silicon valley to be known for more than just transistors, and silicon, and websites, and cars, but be known for education innovation, and i think we're on that path. damian: all right, thanks for what you're doing. muhammed: thanks so much. damian: all right, thank you muhammed. and up next here on "comunidad del valle," charley trujillo. stay with us.

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it's called, "soledad and the sea." with me here on "comunidad del valle" is charley trujillo, the publisher of chusma house publications. and there is a shot of that book. welcome to the show, charley. no relation, but i think you were--we mentioned last time that you're from the chulo part of the trujillo family. charley trujillo: yeah. yeah, that's pretty accurate. damian: [laughing] so, talk about your endeavors. i mean, you started back with "soldados" when you decided to publish your own work, but you've come a long way since then. tell us--give us an update on chusma house, if you will. charley: well, you know, there's my latest book that i've published. i hadn't published in awhile 'cause i'm busy trying to make documentaries, but this is the first book i've published probably in a couple years. and i'm really excited about this book for many reasons, but one being that he's a very gifted writer and he's so young. he's only 26 and he's actually very precocious for being a writer, i think.

most of the writers that i have published have been at least in their middle 40s, the youngest ones, yeah. josé antonio burciaga, victor martinez who won the national book award, josie mendez-negrete, a lot of professors. so, this is the youngest guy and this is a really good novel. it's about mental illness and alienation. and he writes in the style of, like, the existential of, like, albert camus and john paul sartre. and yeah, well, if you read it, you'll see there's similarities there. damian: how do you pick the authors who you want to publish? i mean, i'm sure you get a lot of requests. "here's my--read my transcripts and let me know what you think." charley: well, i'm looking for, you know, of course talent and originality, and with emmanuel, i just--when i first read this book, i says, "yeah, we need to publish this book." and i also publish books that are hopefully socially relevant.

with this one, it's about alcohol abuse and depression in youth, which i think is a big problem. and you know, also since he's so young, i think he'll inspire young writers saying, "hey, i can write. you know, this guy, he does it too." and it has--it's got to be socially relevant. damian: do you--when you first started chusma house, i mean, that was quite awhile ago-- charley: 1990. damian: was it something that you thought, "well, maybe a couple of books here and there, and that's as far as i'll get." charley: yeah, yeah. but then i started publishing. i said, "wow, i might as well start publishing other people." i think i published, like, 25 other books in the past. so, yeah, this is--also, i make documentaries and i'm starting an ethnic studies learning channel so people can have access-- damian: tell us about that. charley: yeah, i got that idea because i've given a lot of presentations at the universities and colleges around the country, so i just thought, "why don't i start videotaping

these, or videotape one, and people can have access to them, of what i'm talking about?" and then, other professors, and writers, and community activists. so there'll be an archives and people, instead of having a guest lecturer come to their classroom, they can have it online. damian: before they start eliminating ethnic studies programs, verdad? you don't know where we'll be. charley: yeah, well, they're trying to, but i don't think so because there's too--demographics, for one, but also, for example, there's a big push here in california to have ethnic studies courses mandatory in high schools. it didn't pass the first time. there's some legislation, but it should. it should sooner or later, so i want to be on the forefront of that. and you know, as i said, it's not just about me. you know, it's other topics and other people. damian: then what is it about the last 26 years that has kept you going and kept you pushing?

charley: well, there's a big need. i mean, there's very few chicano mexican publishing houses and i give people opportunities to publish that probably wouldn't get published in the mainstream. damian: you know what that feeling is like. charley: yes, oh yes, that's another thing, yeah. damian: and so, your advice for maybe some young, or some up-and-coming, or some veteran writers who want to get something in print, something like this? charley: yeah, well, they can--i get a lot of enquiries, and at the very least, i consult people. i don't wanna discourage them and do not--so they can continue writing. and it depends on where they are and their work, but i always consult people at the very least. damian: so, again, what can readers expect when the read "soledad and the sea"? i mean, the title i think is self-explanatory. charley: well, it's about depression, so it's not the best subject but it's very real. you know, it's about suicide and things of that sort, which it's a problem in our communities and nationally. damian: it's not something that should be swept under the rug.

charley: right. damian: well, hopefully people who read it might be able to learn something and take it to the next level. charley: yes, i think it will do very good. there's no profanity in it, so it's very good for high schools. it deals with a young person's angst. damian: good, all right, well, charley trujillo. again, the latest book he's published is "soledad and the sea." you can call that number for more information. that's for chusma house publications. we'll be back with the author of this book, emmanuel cervantes mejia, here on your "comunidad del valle."

this is the new comfort food. and it starts with foster farms simply raised chicken. california grown with no antibiotics ever. let's get comfortable with our food again. it's called "soledad and the sea." with me is the author of this novel, emmanuel cervantes mejia. welcome to the show. emmanuel cervantes mejia: thank you. thank you for having me. damian: again, charley talked about what your book is about. briefly explain to us. take us through your novel and why you decided to touch on this topic. emmanuel: all right, so, my novel is about an alcoholic--or a depressed alcoholic writer named johnny espiritu, who takes

one last walk around town on the night he decides he wants to commit suicide. and in that walk, he actually runs into a girl who takes interest in him, and her name is soledad. and he pretty much talks about the human instinct of survival and he ends of falling in love with her, but finds out that the trenches of infatuation are as deep as, you know, his depression and his alcoholism. what really got me to write it was i was going through something similar. i was drinking a lot and it just wasn't helping my state of mind. and at first, i was just writing a short story, then i just couldn't stop and i just kept going. damian: that's usually how it works. what do you want the reader--who do you want to read your novel and what do you want them to get out of it? emmanuel: i want--the people i want to--or the readers i want to read are of all ages, but people that understand when they

have--or are going through an existential crisis or trying to find the meaning in things and not really finding an answer. and i want them to read it and also understand that almost everyone goes through that kind of thing, and it's totally okay, and they'll survive. they'll get past it. damian: what--i guess, what would your advice be to get past it at this point? i mean, because it--once you hit that stage, it could go either way. what is your advice to survive it, and to get back on track and start climbing again? emmanuel: my advice would be, really just from my experience and what i did, is i put all of my energy into writing, or into painting, or into music. really something creative. i felt that creativity or just art in general helped tremendously with bouts of depression or trying to find meaning in things. and i would say that is get out there, write something, even if it's poetry--i don't mean to say it that way, but if it's poetry,

whatever, what have you, i believe that's actually what really helps us. it helps us grow and it helps give meaning to things that, you know, don't really have a meaning. damian: do you think that, at the end of your novel, when you wrote the last chapter, you kinda took a deep breath and said, "phew. that was heavy. that was a lot. i'm glad i got it out on print and now i can move on"? emmanuel: i did have that moment. i think when i finished, i typed in "the end" at the very end and i was kind of relieved that i wrote something, especially because this is my biggest work so far, is a novel, a book. and i did have that, but then when i read it, i was like, "what did i write?" almost feeling like--i was like, "whoa," 'cause i had a different state of mind towards the end than i did in the beginning. damian: did you--do you find that, as you wrote it, you were a different person at the end than you were at the beginning? emmanuel: yes, mainly because, towards the end,

when i wrote, like, the last--maybe the last fourth, i actually did it sober. i got sober. i've been sober since. and so, in the very beginning, i was using, and drinking, and whatnot. but then, at the end, i just--i couldn't take that anymore, stopped, or got help with that, and then i finished writing it. damian: that's great. your thoughts on the fact that charley said, "come on board with chusma house and i'll publish this for you." emmanuel: well, i was--i still remember the phone call. i was kind of in shock, 'cause i met charley and originally gave him the manuscript just to get notes, you know, to tell me some direction, maybe, like, you know, get an agent or another publishing house. and that phone call of like, "hey, i wanna publish your novel," and i was just kind of relieved, but also still in shock. i kind of--i thought he was messing with me. i thought he was just playing with me, because i read some of the publications, or books that he's published when i was in middle school and high school. and when i met him, i didn't really know who he was until he

handed me some of the books and i was like, "i read this in high school. oh, i read this one as well." like, that kind of thing. damian: do you hope that maybe somebody who's at the beginning stages will pick up "soledad and the sea" and read it, and then rethink about maybe what's going through their minds at that time? emmanuel: that would be great. for me, it's like, there's a lot of--hopefully a lot of humanity in the book, because that's a topic no one really wants to talk about. everyone--no one really wants to talk about alcohol abuse, or depression, or, like, suicide, which a lot of times those three go hand-in-hand. and you know, i hope someone can read it and just know, like, those feelings are okay and there's no shame in having those, going through that kind of, i don't wanna say crisis, but like, that kind of episode. and things actually do get better, and especially through things like literature, art, anything. damian: yeah. what's next for you? is it more along the same lines, your next novel, now

that charley's opened his doors to you? or what do you think is next for you? emmanuel: yeah, right now, i'm sitting on a couple ideas. one i've already started working on is a collection of short stories in response to, kind of, like, another writer that charley mentioned, albert camus. "an absurd life." and it'd be split into three sections and those three sections are a response to that kind of a life without meaning. that's what i'm working on. damian: all right, well, congratulations and good luck. i don't know if you mind signing this for me since you're right here. again, this is called "soledad and the sea." it's by chusma house publications. there is the number to call for more information. some great reading here by emmanuel cervantes mejia. thank you so much and good luck. and now, here's what's happening in your comunidad on "que pasa." [music] [music]

[music] damian: and our saludos for those celebrating a special day. felicidades. [music] damian: and 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 weeklies all across the bay area. also, watch us on telemundo canal 48, every sunday at 11 a.m., "comunidad del valle" en español. pase usted-- [music]

welcome to the honda nbc sports desk. >> hello. hope you're having a great sunday. coming up next, the pga tour 2016, the final act as we chronicle the tour season and the drama of the fedexcup playoffs. starting on