damian trujillo: hello, a"comunidad del valle." i'm damian trujillo, and today we have a new mexican consul general in san jose in our studio, plus wreaths across america on your "comunidad del valle." male announcer: nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. damian: we begin today with the lean in latinas. with me are the co-founders of this organization. anna dapelo-garcia is on our show, and also jenny salinas are the co-founders. welcome to the show. anna dapelo-garcia: thank you. damian: tell us first all about lean in latinas. you've been on this show before, but tell us about the organization and where you've come from. anna: yes, so lean in latinas is part of the lean in organization that's led by sheryl sandberg. so, it's a group of women that come together around how we can make our ambitions become real in our work, and how we can close the wage gap, how we can support each other.

when i was last here, we had about 100 members, and we are now, 2 years later, at 650 members. damian: wow. anna: yes. damian: and i mean, a lot of community events that you organize, you've empowered a lot of women since. anna: yes, and we've supported not only the national equal pay campaign, but most recently we supported latina equal pay day, which was on november 2. the reason for that, on average women make about 20% less than men. latinas, on the other hand, we make 46% less, so we're very passionate about closing this wage gap. we worked with over 60 businesses nationwide. many of them supported us in mountain view, so the chamber of commerce, like to give them a shout-out for supporting us and really bringing awareness to this wage gap among latinas. damian: all right, that's very interesting. and i mean, it takes a lot of work, and y'all are doing it. jenny, how proud are you just of the accomplishments, being one of the co-founders? jenny salinas: tremendously proud. i think--we share this story with our members that, honestly, i didn't even want to sign up the first time anna

asked me as co-founder. and i laugh at myself now because i was the one that turned out to be, you know, the naysayer, and it was because i didn't connect to the word "latina." but now that i look at the girls and i look at what we represent, we're not just one type of latina, we're so many different types. we're students, we're professionals, we're doctors, we're administrative directors, we're in healthcare communities. so, i've just seen such a growth and expansion with the girls, and i'm really proud of all of them. damian: i know that in a lot of these organizations, people who come in as introverts are developed into extroverts. talk about do you see that in your organization? jenny: absolutely, we have an example of one latina that actually came to us and said, "you know, i really think i'm ready. i'm ready to ask for a raise." and we were like, "let's do it, let's support you." and we helped coach her, practice interviewing. the return on your investment, just writing the documentation and saying, "yes, you are an asset to your company, and you should ask for a raise," was something that, you know--and

the truth of it is she got her raise. damian: that's awesome. does that coincide with equal pay? i mean, you're constantly having to fight to be at par. anna: right, so, there is research to support that women don't ask for a raise or ask for more money as much as men do. so, really lean in latinas is leaning to how we can get more comfortable with asking for more money, how we can get more comfortable in taking risks, in getting to the c-suite. but what i really love about the group, it's a support group. so, we have members that are even in high school. and really the work there is to help to prevent teenage pregnancy. latinas, we still have the highest rate of teenage pregnancy all the way to executives, as jenny mentioned. and so, we're really leveraging the diversity of this group that really brings a lot of experience and passion towards what we're doing.

and essentially, we've become a movement. to go from a couple of people in my backyard 2 years ago to over 600 members, and not just here in the bay area. we've got a group of 100 in new york city, north carolina, texas, and soon new mexico. so, we are experiencing a lot of success, but it's really because of the passion that we have to help latinas in the current and future generation not just to get to the c-suite, but maybe even the president of the united states. damian: that's great, it's a force to be reckoned with. they're called lean in latinas. there is their web address for more information. jenny, any final thoughts before we let you go? jenny: i would just say join us. i think that, you know, like i said, my story was that i struggled with does the word "latina" fit me? and i found out that it does. our group really is just a support group for all of us. and so, you know, if you're worried, if you're fearful that i don't have the experience or i don't look the part, just come and join us, and you'll see that we're a bunch of fun girls to connect with.

damian: i think just by your message and your work, you're empowering latinos as well, so thank you for what you're doing. jenny: thank you so much. damian: and up next here on "comunidad del valle," wreaths across america. you want to stay tuned, stay with us.

with me here on "comunidad del valle" are lieutenant-colonel jason noble from santa clara university rotc, and nicolas lozano landinez, a cadet also at santa clara university. welcome to the show. jason noble: thanks for having us. nicolas lozano landinez: thank you. damian: well, tell us, first of all, about your role in rotc and what you're trying to accomplish. jason: yeah, absolutely. so, i'm the professor of military science at santa clara university. and that consists of cadets from santa clara, san jose state, stanford, and uc santa cruz. so, young men and women that want to join the army and come in as new lieutenants, new officers, come to our program. and we produce them, and commission them, and they go off and do great things. damian: is your goal to one day be a lieutenant-colonel as well? nicolas: absolutely, absolutely. damian: well, we have a great event. we have--our brothers over at msnbc

shot some great video of this endeavor. it's called wreaths across america. talk to us, lieutenant-colonel, about what this is all about and what you're doing here locally to honor our fallen veterans. jason: so, at los gatos memorial park on december 16, we're going to have a great opportunity to lay out wreaths of all the veterans that are buried there. and this is going to be the first year that we do it there. we currently have 1500 wreaths that people have donated their money to, to purchase, and the community's going to really come together on the 16th. we're going to have a beautiful ceremony, and different organizations and people are going to place these wreaths throughout the los gatos memorial park, and just really turn it into just a beautiful setting to honor these veterans. damian: are not enough of these ceremonies taking place, in your opinion, to honor our fallen veterans? jason: in my opinion, i think, one, it serves--there's so many facets to this. we get to remember, we get to honor, and we also get to teach the next generation about what these americans from all ethnicities, from all races came together

to accomplish for our nation. right now, this is going to be the first year that we do it at los gatos. but we've gotten a great amount of support in the number of wreaths that we already have purchased. but we'd like to see more, we'd like to see more folks come out and join, and have the community come together. damian: all right, what inspires you, nicolas, one to wear the uniform, and to maybe be an officer one day? nicolas: absolutely, so, what most inspires me is my parents. they came from colombia, and i grew up in florida, and so the amount that the united states has given me as a country, and the amount that it has done for my family and families all across the nation over hundreds of years is really outstanding. so, that's what inspires me. and you know, the wreaths for america, what they talk about is remembering, honoring, and teaching. so, that's what our goal is with this event is to remember the fallen--honor the people who are currently, you know, living, and our veterans, and to teach the los gatos population,

but also nationwide about what the military does for our communities and the nation. damian: personally, is west point right now an option for you, or what are you looking at right now? nicolas: no, no, i'm almost--i'm graduating at stanford, yeah, i'm a senior. so, i'm almost done. damian: so, what's next for you? nicolas: i'm commissioning as an infantry officer in june. damian: your thoughts on the fact that your training has developed a gentleman like this? jason: well, i couldn't be more proud. we have over 80 cadets from all across the nation that come here to the san jose community to get their education, to become part of the community, and then to eventually serve our nation. it's a wonderful job. they inspire me, they give me energy. i have to get up and run with 18 to 22-year-olds every morning, so it's definitely-- damian: that's inspiring. jason: it's keeping me in shape, especially after thanksgiving. damian: all right. jason: but it's a great experience, and it really--it re-energizes your confidence in our nation when you see these young men and women.

damian: you mentioned the next generation, and that fascinating video that we saw. do you see that the next generation is embracing maybe more the service that you've provided for this country? jason: you know, i do. and i think there's a lot of skepticism out there until you do a job like this. and we also have high schools where we have junior rotc. and we get to see those young men and women. so, sometimes we listen to the news, or we listen to the things that are going on, and we lose a little bit of our confidence. but i would just invite people either to come down to the university, or to come to this great event on the 16th. and you'll see, i believe, that the american spirit, and the spirit of giving, and the spirit of serving is still alive and well, especially here in san jose. damian: i don't know what it is, but when i see images like that, the video we showed and those similar to that, i get a lump in my throat, you know. is it the american in you, or is it the fact that you're honoring someone who laid it on the line and, in some cases, paid the ultimate sacrifice for their flag?

jason: no, it's thinking about what they went through, some of these--not by choice, some drafted from all walks of life, like i said earlier, all ethnicities. you know, men, women, they came together for a common purpose. and it does, i get the same reaction. and when i see the young men and women in our rotc program out there in the field training, you know, doing as well as they can in the classroom, i get that same lump that you do. and it kind of just reaffirms that confidence that i have. damian: i bet, again, your parents came from colombia, nicolas? nicolas: yes. damian: what are their thoughts on the fact that their son is wearing the american uniform? nicolas: well, there's definitely that level of, you know, being scared about the possibilities. but they also understand that this is what i want, and that it's a representation of what we're thankful for as a family. so, they're not skeptic in terms of my service, but they are definitely just nervous.

but i also believe that they're very proud. damian: and i mean, the military doesn't lie to you when you're enlisting, when you sign up. and i mean, i was at camp roberts when they were deploying national guardsmen and women to the middle east. i was shocked to see that there and then, they're signing their last will and testament. and that's a reality, right? i mean, that's something that you know that is a possibility, it's something you have to do, and it's something you're willing to do. nicolas: absolutely, and it's something you think about often. but just like many things in life, you know, what can you do about those types of situations? you know, you hold the people that you have in your life close, and you do what you want to do with your life. and if you can do that then--and that's what you want to do, then you know, there's really nothing else worth living for. damian: that's great, well put. again, it's wreaths across america, it's happening here in the south bay. there's the information, december 16 at 11 a.m. at los gatos memorial park. there is the web address for more information. i'll be there in honoring our veterans as well.

any final thoughts, lieutenant-colonel, before we let you go? jason: no, i just want everyone to come out. i want it to be a chance for the community to come together. and i want to keep this tradition going. so, hopefully we'll see you this time next year, and we'll be talking about all the wreaths we have out there. thank you so much for having us. damian: thank you very much. and up next here on "comunidad del valle," the new mexican consul general right here in san jose. stay with us. hi, we're alaska airlines. but we're all over california. so you can power lunch in la. ink the deal in san jose. and bask in the glory in palm springs. over 90 daily non-stops in california.

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over 90 daily non-stops in california. of san jose and surrounding counties. juan manuel calderón is my guest here. [speaking in foreign language] a graduate of unam. welcome to the show, sir. juan manuel calderón: thank you very much. damian: and welcome to the south bay. your thoughts, first. you've only been here a few weeks, what are your thoughts on-- juan manuel: i have 3 weeks in san jose, the city of the silicon valley. it's a beautiful city. and we have many, many things to do in this beautiful city. we cover four counties. this is the mexican consulate, but you know, we have 15 mexican

consulates around the united states. in california, we have ten mexican consulates, but i am proud to be in this beautiful city. damian: and you've--i mean, your diplomatic duties have taken you across this country. you've been in seattle, you've been in different parts of this country. juan manuel: yes, and my first assignment was in seattle, washington, in 1992, long time ago. my son was born in seattle. damian: is that right? juan manuel: my second was in san bernardino, california, my little daughter born in california. and then i was in mexico city, i was in caracas, venezuela; miami, florida; chicago, illinois, and the last assignment was in tucson, arizona. damian: are they the same needs, the same needs in those different parts of the country, or is every region a little different? juan manuel: well, every mexican consulate has similar

characteristics, but it's a different work. for example, if you are at the border, at the mexican consulate, the border in tucson, it's different work that you have in san jose. it's more protection at the mexican border, and here it's more issues of consular service. damian: and so, the president says, "i need you to go to this other city," and the senator approves your assignment. you don't have a choice, you're going. juan manuel: yes, i have to. i belong to the mexican foreign affairs. damian: okay, office of foreign affairs. juan manuel: yes, if--i don't know, if the president says, "you have to go to china," i have to go to china. but they decided to send me to san jose, i think it's a very good decision. damian: i think it's for both of us. how much do you miss mexico, though, to live there and to smell the smell? 'cause it's a--i mean, you land at the benito juarez airport,

and it's a completely different smell, it's a smell of culture, it's a beautiful scent. juan manuel: we miss many things. i miss my little granddaughters. i have two granddaughters. but you know, my job is to be here, i have to be here. i enjoy everything in mexico, but also i enjoy it in any place in the world. if you belong to the mexican foreign affairs, you have to, how do you say, to enjoy your job, to help the people, to give the best for the mexicans as a mexican citizen. damian: what is your vision for your office here? i know, again, it's only been 3 weeks and you're still trying to look around and assess and see what's working and what might need a little tweaking. but what's your vision for your office? juan manuel: my vision is to cover all the mexican consular services for my community, to give the quality service to the mexican community and the foreign community.

like, the american citizen, they want to go to mexico to do some business, or to work or study, to give the best that we can do at the mexican consulate. damian: you've sat around, i've seen a lot of pictures, you were getting around. you've been to radio stations and newspapers, and you've met news directors and everybody else. how important is that to be able to hit the ground running and meet the people who you're going to be dealing with? juan manuel: and what's important is they have to know that the mexican consulate is in san jose, and we have to work with anybody, in any ways, political, tourist, do commercial promotion, and for the most important to give the protection to the mexican citizen in this special area. damian: all right, well, the mexican consulate is in south san jose. there is the address and the phone number for more information. we'll be back with the señor consul general. stay with us.

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in san jose, señor juan manuel calderón. you're having a saturday conference coming up, jornada sabatina. tell us what the purpose of that is, what you're trying to accomplish. juan manuel: well, this we call jornada sabatina, we are going to give all services, the consular services that we have. for example, if you have a son or girl, they're born in the united states, they want to get the mexican citizenship, they can get it in this, in the mexican consulate. either you want to get a mexican passport or mexican matricula id, we can get it done. we have many, many things to do the 16th, the saturday. i am going to give some information about all the services that we have in this occasion. damian: your office is very busy because i see the twitter posts, i see the facebook posts.

you're working early in the morning, late in the evening, you're working on saturdays. how vital is it to be able to provide that service? because i mean, a lot of our paisanos, they're working until, you know, the late hours, they're working on saturdays sometimes, so i guess you're trying to extend those hours to services. juan manuel: well, let me say that, for example, we have what we call consulado mobil. we go to, like, salinas. we go until saturday, on sunday, we give you the service to provide the mexican community. we have to work, we have to give all services to the mexican community to know that we can-- they can reach us to get the consular service. damian: talk about your commitment to your conacionales, your paisanos, and the fact that maybe if they come into your office, your office as a consulado, they're the priority, they're first. it's whatever their needs are, and your staff is there to assist them. juan manuel: yes, of course. yes, the idea is if you went to the mexican consulate, you are

a mexican citizen or you are american citizen, you go for something. the idea is if you want to get something from the mexican consulate, like matricula consular, a mexican passport, or you want to know how to do business in mexico as an american citizen, we can help you. the idea is to give the best service for everybody who goes to the mexican consulate. it's my vision, it's my target to give the quality service to the people who go to the mexican consulate. damian: we talked to--we've had your predecessor here many times before. and his duties kind of changed after the presidential election in this country. it was more invigorated. talk about maybe how busier the consulates across the nation have been since the election of our new president here in this country.

juan manuel: well, i think that all the consular--mexican consular in the united states, we keep it busy all the time, especially when we have a new-- a new administration in the united states, for everybody, for anything, but especially for protection of the mexican community. we have to go to where the people work, we have to work where the people study, we have to work for anything. we have a program to visit mexican citizens in jail or at the hospital. but we keep busy all the time, but especially when we have a new--the new administration. we have to see what happens our people. damian: how important is it to get that message from the mexican president to the different consular offices and say, "here's some money you need to--for your legal defense, if you will, of our conacionales in the united states"?

i mean, because what the president did--what the mexican president did after our election here, he threw resources and he ordered the consulates that don't forget about their mission is that the mexicanos are foremost. juan manuel: yes, we have this kind of special program, but before we have similar programs, but today we give you more budget for covering this kind of service that we have already. damian: you have--is your family here? because i know that since you're traveling and all, you say your grandchildren are still in mexico? do you have some family here, or how does that work? i know it's difficult. juan manuel: not right now. my wife is in mexico city. i live in san jose alone, but they are going to come in to visit, and maybe they are going to live in san jose. damian: all right. what is it that you miss most? is it tacos ola, is it el tenampa, or is it cicero, what is it that-- what restaurant do you miss most in mexico city?

juan manuel: my house. damian: ¿verdad que sí? well, it's great. any final thoughts from you in being in this new assignment as a new mexican consul general here in these four counties that you cover? juan manuel: i say--would like to say thank you, damian, for this kind invitation, and to explain to the people that we have to work very hard for them. damian: all right, again, the mexican consulate is on enzo drive here in south san jose, right next to el queso mexicano. you see that big building over in south san jose, and there is the web address for more information, the phone number so you can call so you can get a hold of el consulado general de mexico right here in san jose. is it--i know it's not up to you, is it like a 2 or 3 year assignment, or does that all depend? juan manuel: well, let me say my last assignment was in tucson, arizona. i was there for 9 years. damian: nine, wow. juan manuel: yes, but usually there are in between 2 and 4 years.

damian: all right. well, bienvenido. juan manuel: gracias. damian: welcome here, gracias, okay. and now, here's what's happening on your comunidad on que pasa. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

damian: and our saludos to 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, watch us on telemundo canal 48 every sunday at 11 a.m., your "comunidad del valle" in español on telemundo channel 48. we thank you once again for sharing a part of your sunday with us on "comunidad del valle." we'll see you once again here next week. pase usted--

and super bowl lii on nbc. ♪ >> announcer: welcome to the u.s. bank nbc sports report. we will get you out to the hero world challenge in a moment on this championship sunday. star-studded field. eight of the top ten in the world. should be a fun and exciting final round. hey there, i'm brian bird. get you out tot bahamas in just a moment but first let's get caught up to date on everything elha