damian trujillo: hello and welcome to "comunidad del valle." i'm damian trujillo. we hope you're enjoying your easter sunday. we have another spectacular show. the mexican museum of san francisco returns on your "comunidad del valle." male announcer: nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. damian: we begin today with cancer carepoint. cecilia carranza is back to tell us all about the new program, new endeavors underway there at cancer carepoint. welcome back to the show. cecilia carranza: thank you. damian: well, tell us about--i mean, tell us first of all about cancer carepoint, and then you have a special initiative for the spanish-speaking. cecilia: so, yes, cancer carepoint provides non-medical support services to cancer patients, families, and caregivers. the "care" in cancer carepoint stands for counseling, assistance, resources, and education. so, we have nutrition classes, we have yoga classes, we also have free counseling support group, meditation classes.

so, we do a little bit of everything to support the patient, the caregiver, and the family going through the cancer journey. damian: because i would imagine--you know, and i lost my father to cancer, but when you get the news, you wanna get into the fetal position, and you don't wanna talk to anybody about it, and you start thinking of people or things to blame for that. so, i mean--so, it's critical when you have this type of counseling, maybe peer support from those who've been there and those who know how to maybe walk you through perhaps the most difficult time in your life. cecilia: correct, yeah. when they started cancer carepoint, it was important to provide the whole care of the patient. there was something lacking than just going to your doctor's appointments and going home and dealing with all the information on your own. cancer carepoint is there to support you, help you with education. if you have a question about the diagnosis you have, we either have the answer or we can help you find the answer. and just the one-on-one support, you know, having human interaction and being able to talk to someone about everything that you're going through.

damian: and tell us about the new endeavor that you're-- cecilia: so, we're expanding our services to the spanish-speaking community because we do know that there is a need. and we are going to have a nutrition class in east side san jose on april 23 at our lady of guadalupe parish. it's gonna be in spanish from 2 to 3 p.m. and then in english from 3 to 4 p.m. on sunday the 23rd. damian: why nutrition? talk about the role that nutrition plays in the care. cecilia: so, nutrition is very important because when you are diagnosed, you start the treatment and you kinda--some people kinda stop eating because the treatment is very intense. and because you do lose a lot of weight, sometimes they do stop the treatment because you're not in a healthy weight to be able to continue, 'cause it is a very intense treatment. also, there's a lot of things that you should eliminate, and you should probably eat more things that you're not used to eating because you do need a lot more things to be able to withstand the treatment. damian: plus, at the same time, i know that your appetite changes completely, so some of the things that you're

used to eating, your stomach can't hold it down. cecilia: right, nausea is a very common side effect with most cancer treatments. so, the nutritionists that we have kinda have tips for the patients on what to eat if that does happen, and also how to make meals more appetizing and nutritious, 'cause you definitely have to have more nutritious meals. damian: because you don't have anything to do with the cure for cancer, but you're there to help those who have been diagnosed to better deal with it as they're going through the process. cecilia: yes, it's all to reduce the stress of going through cancer. either have someone to talk to, find other people that are going through the same thing you are through the support groups, and just have information that you don't necessarily get or receive at your doctor's appointments or even from your doctor themselves. damian: and so, the event at guadalupe church, is that more about nutrition, or can i just go in case i have questions and i'd like to get--maybe sign up for counseling or whatever? cecilia: yeah, so, we will have--we now have

a spanish-speaking social worker. her name is barbara richmond and she will be there the day of the nutrition class. she will be there to take people's information if they wanna set up an appointment with her. and also, you can come pick up our schedule of classes that we have at our center. and we can also arrange to speak to another counsel-- social worker for counseling. damian: good, all right. well, there is the information on your screen. if you'd like more information, there is the web address and phone number for the bilingual social worker, that way you can get--counselor or social worker? cecilia: social worker who offers counseling. damian: there's the number, her direct line there for more information. well, thank you so much for the work that you're doing. cecilia: thank you. damian: thank you very much. and up next here on "comunidad del valle," the mexican museum of san francisco. stay with us.

with me from the mexican museum of san francisco on "comunidad del valle" is edgar de sola, the coo of the museum. welcome to the show. edgar de sola: thank you. damian: so, we have the beautiful images that you provided. tell us about "tramas urbanas" and what the exhibition is about. edgar: well, "tramas urbanas" is an exhibit by paloma torres

that we just started about 2 weeks ago. she's a mexican artist. she's been all over the world. she has more than 100 collectives which she has participated and she specializes in tapestries and sculptures, abstract sculptures. they're all made of felt material. most of the felt material is really left over from other artists. she's very creative in the way she puts it together. so, she's a very unique artist and she's been practically all over the world. damian: that's awesome. and this is a collaboration with the secretaria de relaciones al exterior and the mexican consulate in san francisco. edgar: that's very correct. damian: tell us about that collaboration, why it's vital in bringing, you know, items such as this. edgar: well, let me give you an example. the collection has been all over the world, as i said before. it was last time in thailand. so, thanks to the secretaria of mexico, it was possible for us as a museum to bring it from thailand to san francisco. they were very important in the way to make all the transactions and all that is involved to get this collection.

it's about 40 or 60 pieces, and you know, it requires special crating, and permits, and customs, and so on. and thanks to the mexican consulate, we could achieve these. damian: so, it's not-- edgar: put it available for the people. damian: yeah, but it's not like going on amazon and saying, "i wanna order this collection." edgar: absolutely not. absolutely not. it's difficult. damian: you know, talk about the classy material exhibitions that the museum is used to bringing, because you don't just bringing whatever exhibition and display it there. it has to do with class and it has to do with style and a lot of cultural artifacts, if you will. edgar: yeah, well, the mexican museum, as you know, we try to expose what the mexican culture has to offer, not only from mexico but also for the mexican-americans. so, we have a lot of chicano art there. we have contemporary art there. and also, we have a very significant pre-colombian collection. but it's quite unique. so, we just had one before paloma torres and it was very successful. damian: and the fort mason center, that's treated you--

i mean, i'm sure it's going well there for you guys at the fort mason. edgar: yes, yes; it's well for us at fort mason, but we're excited about a new facility. we plan to have a new building by 2019. damian: wow. edgar: it's gonna be right there in the yerba buena area, along with the jewish museum, moad, and sfmoma. and will really will catapult the museum internationally. damian: talk about the importance of having the museum in a centralized location like the one you're mentioning. i mean-- edgar: well, it's very simple. the traffic of people that just walk by yerba buena. it's right next to the moscone. it's gonna increase--it's gonna be exponentially. you know, now people that wants to go to our museum needs to really look it up, find out what it is, and get the information. traffic will explode and we'll be very proud. we're very excited about having this new location. damian: what do you want, when you're looking at "tramas urbanas," what do you hope that the viewer or the visitor goes

home with after witnessing the artwork? edgar: well, the viewer will walk away with a sensation that they saw something unique. it is unique, you know? you don't see that type of art often. it's not common in many museums. so, it's very, very unique, very particular, and i invite everybody to see it. we'll have it open 'til may the 28th, and please come. it's free. damian: yeah. edgar: admission is free. damian: is it a special--not that you're an artist, but is it a special talent to produce that kind of art? you mentioned, i don't wanna say scraps, but using the leftover material from other artists. edgar: well, just, i'm telling you, manually, the talent--i've seen her working. manually, the talent is tremendous. it's extremely labor-intensive. on top of that, she can became creative by using leftovers from other artists. so, what other artists would toss away, she would rescue them and put them together, and that's where the creativity comes in. and so, it's a lot of merit and a lot of--it's very special. just look at the images.

it's all done that way and labor-intensive. i saw her at her studio in mexico. it's tremendous. damian: are you in partnerships with any museums in mexico? edgar: well, we're affiliated to the smithsonian museum. we're very proud of that affiliation. you know, the smithsonian museum is one of the largest museums in the country. and also, we are starting more connections with museums all over the world, but mostly in mexico. damian: okay, all right. well, this is called "tramas urbanas." it's going on for the next few weeks over at the mexican museum of san francisco. there is the web address for more information. thank you very much for bringing this to our local. edgar: you're welcome, damian. thanks for the interview. damian: gracias. edgar: gracias. damian: and we'll be back with more after this. stay with us.

called "project ñ." with me on "comunidad del valle" today is denise soler cox on the show. you know, denise, welcome to the show. denise soler cox: thank you. damian: i know that i belong--i'm a member of the national association of hispanic journalists.

denise: yes, i love those guys. damian: the symbol is the enye. denise: yes, i love that. damian: talk about the significance of the enye and why "project ñ." denise: so, the significance of the enye, the enye is our letter. when a latino looks at the letter enye, you know-- damian: this is us. denise: that it's for us. right, versus the n. the n is like our american side, and the enye is our latino side. damian: what--we're gonna show you the trailer in its entirety, but right now we wanna show you just some video. what made you decide to do something on us who are latino-born americans? denise: yeah, what made me decide was really a life-long feeling of feeling disconnected and not feeling latino enough for my latino family and friends and not feeling american enough for the mainstream culture that i grew up in. i just didn't know where i belonged and i didn't feel enough for either side. and one night, i had an amazing dinner with my friends where i felt incredibly connected to something and i felt incredibly connected to something right in the middle, the both place,

something that was enough of both. i just felt so, like, connected and i wanted to share that connection with other people. so, that was 20 years ago, and i decided that i would make a movie. but then, i waited 17 years to actually make it because i didn't feel like i was latina enough to make it. damian: isn't that something? what is it that--do you think that makes us latino or latina? is there--do you ever get there? denise: that is an awesome question, and honestly, i think we get there when we say we're there and we get there when we say you know what? i'm not being able to be perfect speaking spanish, like me. that doesn't define my latina-ness. not knowing how to bachata, 'cause i can merengue, i can salsa, i can't bachata. guess what? i'm still latina, you know? i know some of my mother's recipes, i don't know all. i know some of the puerto rican culture where my family's from, i don't know everything. but that does not define my latina-ness. i say how latina i am, and i think one of the most important things for our community right now is to accept each other in all--whether we're, you know, partial speakers, or partial

dancers, or know our culture, you know, just a little bit, i think it's important for all of us all together to accept each other exactly the way that we are and exactly the way we're not, and not to assign enough-ness to each other. and when people watch the film, they start thinking, "hmm, have i done this before or do i empathize with this?" and it creates a healing for the audience that's like nothing i've ever seen. damian: 'cause we're all part of the stew, right? when you talk about boricuas, when you talk about salvadoreños, and mexicans, it's all part of the same stew. and so, you start thinking of the character traits that puertorriqueño might have, hey, i can relate. or salvadoreño, hey, i can relate to that. denise: yes, it's so true. and having the american experience i think is the through line. a lot of people--you know, i might not be able to identify really with a salvadorian, right? that's totally different food. same language, same dancing, same flavor. but the fact that we both are on this kind of american journey, that is the connective tissue and that connects all of us all

together, because we know what it's like to be "ni de aquí, ni de allá." we know that feeling, and once people are woken up to that, there's a connection and a unification among latinos in the audience that's phenomenal, and it's so, so needed right now more than ever. damian: no, right. i mean, los tigres del norte have a ballad that addresses just that, that "they don't want us here. they don't want us there. where do we belong?" denise: yes. damian: do you--is there an answer or are we just kinda creating our own identity here? denise: i think the answer is just self-acceptance and also acceptance of others and not assigning enough-ness to other people because they don't x, y, or z, right? so, like, where do i see myself as disconnected and divided, and then taking responsibility for those areas. like for right now for me, i have a tutor in spanish. so, i'm finishing learning spanish. but whether i did, or whether i didn't, or whether i don't is not an indication of how latina i am, right? so, like, self-acceptance and then a declaration. like, i'm gonna include myself. i'm gonna be here. i'm latina too, and all of this, like, enye-ness

and that's, like--that is what a latina looks like in the united states today. and so, a lot of it is kinda self--comes from here, which is great, because that's what we're in control of, right? damian: so, we kinda challenged you to ask you to be also on the telemundo show, "comunidad del valle," because that requires spanish. denise: ahh! damian: let me tell you what i did. when i first started this show, the telemundo show, about 2 years ago, i had to apologize to the viewers and say, "my spanish is not perfect. it's street spanish. i'll say raite, i'll say garage. i'll say these words that we say on the street. i hope you can accept me for that." and it's been beautiful. it's been so accepting. but i mean, that's just the language we speak. denise: yes, and you know what, that's so true. and i think that that's awesome that they were accepting. there's some other people that have the same experience and they're not accepted, and people use that to judge each other, and i'm so tired of that. i mean, i just really feel like now more than ever, we need to unify, stop judging each other. there's plenty of people that are judging and criticizing

the latino community. the last thing we need is to judge each other. and so, accepting each other for where we are and where we're not is super, super important. and understanding that we're just going through human experience, you know, really that's what it boils down to, and everyone's entitled to their very own experience. damian: exactly, you're my sister. denise: ah, ha-ha, that's awesome. damian: if you'd like more information on this film, it's called "project ñ." damian: how accomplished do you feel after completing this? this is pretty awesome. denise: thank you so much. and i have to say, i feel pretty darn accomplished. i mean, i had an idea and then i did not do a thing with it for 17 years. i talked about it. i talked everyone's ear off about it and i didn't act on it. and then one day, i said, "enough is enough." i am so--this is so not gonna happen if i don't move on this and if i don't do anything about it. and i did, and i tell you, it was a really long road. it's been 5 years since i pitched the concept to my creative partner and we released the film last year. and to--just the idea of taking something like this-- i'm not a filmmaker before this. that i was able to engage enough people, and get excited

about it, and actually get it done is, next to my children, the pride of my life. damian: and it's serious and funny at the same time, right? denise: right, very typical latino. like, one minute you're crying, one minute you're laughing, you know? it's just--it takes you on this emotional journey. and then in the end, i mean, we just had a screening at a local high school and the kids were just so authentic. and afterwards, the teachers were, like, so surprised at how authentic and honest the kids were after seeing the film, because it really opens the door to a conversation that we don't allow ourselves to have and, like, to address feelings that we had when we were kids but that we didn't think mattered. because as enyes, as latinos, we're trying to be successful. we're trying to make good on the promise of the sacrifices that our parents made to come here. we need to do well in school. we need to be successful. we're not thinking about all of these weird feelings that we're having and we're not giving importance to those feelings. and once we have a chance to see them on the screen, i mean, i always say grown men cry. like, the biggest criers in the audience are men because they're like, "oh my god, like, i feel like this and i can't believe i

haven't experienced these feelings before," or you know, "i'm in touch with feelings i had when i was a little boy," and it really--it heals people. it engages people and it heals people, and we need that right now. damian: and i think everybody recognizes luis, the actor there. denise: yes, luis guzman, yes. and we actually had a chance to interview him in three different cities, and he's a big fan of the project, and i'm just so grateful that he was in the film, along with some other really interesting characters. actually, one of the other characters that's in the film is the guy that wrote "carlito's way," and he kinda makes a quick cameo in and out, yeah. damian: so, luis seems like he's gonna get a tattoo with an enye on. denise: oh my gosh, that would be awesome. damian: well, this is great. again, the film is called--give us the name of the film again. denise: the film is called "being ñ." damian: okay, and there is the web address for "project ñ." it's projectenye.com for more information. it's a film by denise soler cox. any final thoughts, denise, before we let you go? denise: oh, just thank you so much for giving us some attention here in the bay area. we're so thrilled to take this film all over the country, and

it means a lot to us, especially in kind of this infant stage where we are in the project, that communities embrace us. so, i just wanna say thank you so much for doing that for us today. damian: all right, good luck. denise: thank you very much. damian: all right, thanks. damian: "project ñ," what a project. up next here on "comunidad del valle," mariachi vargas returns for mother's day. san jose, stay with us.

in your comunidad on "que pasa." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ damian: and our saludos for those celebrating a special day. felicidades. ♪ damian: here is 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, may 13, mother's day. that's a saturday night at the san jose civic, the city national civic it's called now. mariachi vargas de tecalitlán returns to san jose to celebrate mother's day. that's may 13 at the san jose civic with los mestizos de san jose, so my girls will be dancing with mariachi vargas de tecalitlán. we're gonna leave you now with a little bit of little joe and flaco jimenez. buenos dias. little joe: agua bendita. gracias, flaco.

♪ ♪ ♪ ando borracho de celos y sentimiento. ♪ ♪ ♪ porque ayer tarde a mi prieta la vi enojada. ♪ ♪ ♪ quien es ese amigo que ayer te tenia abrazada. ♪ ♪

♪ pero, ay, que caray. ♪ que retraidora mujer. ♪ ♪ tu tienes la culpa. ♪ ♪ que yo de borracho viva. ♪ ♪ tu tienes la culpa. ♪

♪ que yo de borracho muera. ♪ ♪ sírvame otra copa señorita cantinera. ♪ ♪ ♪ que quiero olvidar la traición de esa mujer. ♪ little joe: dígale, flaco! ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ tu tienes la culpa. ♪ ♪ que yo de borracho viva. ♪ ♪ tu tienes la culpa. ♪ ♪ que yo de borracho muera. ♪

♪ sírvame otra copa señorita cantinera. ♪ ♪ ♪ que quiero olvidar la traición de esa mujer. ♪ ♪ ♪

[music - theme, "george to the rescue"] hi, i'm jason. i'm jillian. and we're from roxbury township, new jersey. jason and i met at hillside church. we both grew up there. we started dating after i graduated high school and dated about 2 and 1/2 years and got married a year and a half later. i would describe jillian as creative, beautiful obviously, a wonderful mother. jason is very trustworthy. he's devoted. he's a great husband and father.