damian trujillo: iblanexclusively on yournorable lblan"comunidad del valle."w,, ♪ damian: we begin today with fiesta de las americas, a great festival on the independence day, mexican independence day in san francisco. with me on "comunidad del valle" is rodrigo duran of calle 24 latino cultural district. welcome to the show. rodrigo duran: damian, thank you, thank you for having me here. this is an honor. damian: yeah, well, tell us about the--first of all, about your organization, calle 24. rodrigo: yeah, so i'm the marketing coordinator of calle 24 latino cultural district. and our mission is to preserve and enhance the latino culture, small businesses, and culture institutions in the barrio of the mission district in san francisco.

damian: boy, and the culture there is so rich. i mean, it's been for decades. rodrigo: yes, yes, and it's the reason why we want to preserve a lot of the beautiful assets that we hold near and dear to our hearts, and fiestas las americas is one of them. damian: i saw some images, you sent us some images, and lucha libre is part of it as well. rodrigo: i know, mexican wrestling. it's always fun. damian: well, i mean, in the mission, there are so many cultures within the culture of the mission. tell us about the diversity within that diverse community there in the mission. rodrigo: of course. you know, a lot has changed, but however, the essence of the mission district is very strong. and that essence is mexican, is nicaraguense, puerto rican, filipino, african-american. so, all that created this beautiful melting pot of what is the mission district and why it's so, so cherished in san francisco and the bay area. damian: let me ask you this. there's been kind of a tug of war with gentrification there, but it seems like the-- are holding strong there. rodrigo: you know, we're up in the forefront, always

advocating for our traditions, our language, and our space. you know, we created this beautiful corridor on 24th street specifically that people from all over the world gravitate to. and so, it's our responsabilidad, our responsibility to make sure that those traditions are kept alive. damian: all right, well, tell us who's coming and who's headlining and who's will be performing at the fiesta de las americas. rodrigo: yeah, so fiesta las americas also highlights the central american independence, so we have nicaragua, we have guatemala, salvador, honduras, and of course mexico on the 16th. and we're going to have great artists from the bay area. los kimberos going to play wonderful salsa and charanga music. we're going to have, of course, the lucha libres on a different wrestling ring doing all their beautiful summersaults. and you can't forget the wonderful lowriders of the mission district. so, they're going to come, in lines and lines of lowriders so you can just enjoy.

and it's all free on sunday, september 15. damian: that's awesome. now people, you talk about lucha libre, do people mostly root for los rudos or the limpios? rodrigo: can we explain what los rudos-- damian: yeah, the good guys and the bad guys. rodrigo: the good and the bad guys. well, you know, it depends how you're feeling that day. so, on september 15, depending on how you're feeling, you might be going for the good guys, sometimes you go for the bad. but at the end of the day, they're artists, and they're putting on a really great show for the community. and more than anything, it's for the children. they love it, you know? and they get an opportunity to just see something live, something beautiful for free. damian: and i mentioned that it was mexican independence day, but no, it's independence day for a lot of latin american countries. rodrigo: yes, yes. and even more so is to highlight the latino culture in san francisco, right? because we pull in--we're influenced by the brazilian community there, by the cuban, by the trinidadian, you know? and caribbean, of course. and so, we're pulling all those culturas together

in this fiesta de las americas. damian: all right, well, you won't want to miss it. it's right in the heart of the mission in san francisco, there is the information on your screen. it starts at 11 o'clock, and there is the web address for more information. fiesta de las americas, what a great name. any final thoughts, rodrigo? rodrigo: that's all great. i just invite everyone to come out and enjoy themselves, it's a family free event. damian: all right, thanks for coming down. all right, and up next here on "comunidad del valle," la madrina, the honorable blanca alvarado, stay with us.

daon the show the honorableback "wblall across the bay area.on welcome back to the show. nice to have you here. [speaking foreign language] damian: gracias, gracias. so tell--update us, what have you been doing? you're still--people may not know, but you're still active in a lot of-- blanca alvorada: actually, there's a lot to do. community engagement is an ongoing process. you never, never stop. and so, since i left the board of supervisors, there have been multitude of engagements that i have been involved in.

and now, with things spiraling out of control across the country, the need to be more connected to each other, and to reexamine our values, and to pursue justice and equality and attention to the wrongs of the world is-- keeps us all very busy. damian: you were mentioning off camera that the mayans predicted this, they knew this was coming. blanca: there is a legend that speaks to the mythology of the mayans. and thousands and thousands of years ago, they predicted that there would be a change in the human consciousness and that the change was going to start in 2012. so, how much anybody wants to believe about that is certainly an individual or an intellectual argument or discussion. but it is amazing, amazing. i don't think any of us ever felt so amazed at the constancy of change that is going on around us, and it's difficult.

change, it is violence from mother nature to manmade. and the pursuit of peace and calm and tranquility is just eluding us because we're confronted by so many tragic things around us. but we must keep faith. and in keeping faith, one remembers the resilience of humanity and that there are still lots of good things in life to pursue and to love. damian: on the local level, where do you see the situation that we're in as far as latino leadership goes in the valley? you were one of the pioneers and a lot of people model themselves after you, but where do you-- how do you think we've done since you-- blanca: you know, we've come a long way in a very--we're in a very different place than we were when i began my advocacy in the '40s, '50s, and the '60s when we had cesar chavez and renowned leaders like ernestina garcia

and esther medina, sofia mendoza, bea robinson. we were all a community unified together to seek justice for our people. today, there are many activists around us, but i do think that the time has come for us to somehow put out a call-- put out a call of unity. we can no longer speak in isolation of each other, but we must come together to confront the dangers that are facing us. and i mentioned specifically what happened in el paso. the targeting of mexicans is a very alarming situation. we've always fought for equality in our society. we've had to deal with racism and discrimination. but the enemy is much more harsh today, and it really requires all of us in unity to speak to each other, to connect to each other, and to try to find solutions to the magnitude

of problems that only human beings can deal. you know, we've got a lot of political leaders, but the leadership has to come from the community directly as well. and that's what we're looking for, we're looking for community engagement of the utmost, utmost responsibility and obligation. damian: do you find it frustrating that at this stage, you're not able to pound the dais and propose legislation that might improve things or make things better? you think they're doing things the way they should be doing it here at the local level? blanca: i try not to be judgmental about it, but one of my-- damian: try it once. blanca: yeah, but let me just say that i can speak for myself only. and i always remember the wisdom of mother teresa, who said, "i may not alone be able to save the world, but i can toss a coin, toss a stone across the waters and create ripples." and that is what gives me so much optimism about my own life

today because we're always casting stones for equality across the waters. and it is amazing to me as i look back on my 50 years of activism how much those ripples have engulfed many, many people, including the new generation that is providing leadership that those of us from the past are trying to connect to the present and to the future. damian: without naming names, do you think here at the local level that our latino leaders are also casting those stones and creating those ripples that you hope to create? blanca: the people that i know are creating those ripples. somos mayfair. out in the mayfair district, there are people that are doing remarkable work. lulac, there are organizations and leaders within those organizations that really, really speaking up and speaking out with outrage sometimes, but with persistence to call attention to the needs of the constituents that they advocate for. damian: you're talking about the backbone of this community,

those who don't seek the attention and they very well deserve it. well, we have the honorable blanca alvarado here because we're celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the founding, the ribbon cutting of the mexican heritage plaza here in san jose. there is their website for more information, it's now the school of arts & culture. we'll be back with the former supervisor. and then later on in the show, also the new leader of the school of arts & culture, stay with us.

come try my really big chicken two patties for $4.99, or three for $5.99, or four for $6.99. that's an amazing deal, jack! hey, thanks, stanley. ow. ...wait, what's happening? stanley! you're deflating! hold me, jack! only at jack in the box.

two breaded chicken patties plus fries and a drink for $4.99. three patties for $5.99. or even four for just $6.99. four patties? well, tickle my elbow! no thank you. try my really big chicken sandwich combos. starting at $4.99. you miss those days of pounding the dais and being called out on certain issues and you calling people out on other issues? blanca: well, the besthing at i can say, damian, is that there was a time when i was in an elected position where i had to listen very carefully to what others were saying, where i had to organize my thoughts, and be able to be persuasive for things

that i was advocating for. today, i have the great privilege expressing my opinions and not having to be held accountable for what i think and what i say. because my actions will always speak louder than my words. and i continue to be a very active person, very committed to doing what i can as long as i live to have a better society. damian: we'll talk about the plaza in just a bit, but just one more question. again, without naming any names, do you think that we're doing our job as--we're talking about elected leaders. now, you said somos mayfair, they're doing the good job that they always do, the great job. but as elected leaders, there's a lot of us, a lot of latinos in elected office. are we doing what we're supposed to be doing? blanca: well, you know, it's remarkable, remarkable because there were times when we just desired the presence at the table at city hall. now, we've got five latinos elected to

the san jose city council. so, that's proof of our resilience, and it's certainly proof that the hard work that we entered into those many decades ago is paying off. now, it's up to those leaders to demonstrate to the world and to their communities that they are worthy of governing. and that in governing, they have to really be authentic and work for the people. that has always been--you ow, in the words of cesar chavez, we are here to do for others, to be of service to others. and i guess for me, i wonder with all of the social media, all of the means of communication, our newspapers not effective as they used to be, what we are lacking is a means of connecting our voices together. and i think that the only way that we could do it is by having rallies, by having demonstrations where publicly we can come together, as we've done for marches in the past.

today, that is the vehicle that we have to really express ourselves in unison with each other. otherwise, we're split by so many social media outlets, by so many different means of communication. and as you and i will agree, the cellphone, while it is a great device and very efficient and effective, it also has served as a detriment to people talking to each other and working with each other. but that's a whole other subject. in the meantime, the fact that you're still on "comunidad del valle," and that you can put forth to the community the word that's going on, your vehicle is probably more effective than the newspapers and many of the other outlets that we have. so, you really need to keep this job going 'cause word about what is happening in the community comes out of "comunidad del valle." damian: and you know i appreciate that. thank you, blanca, but this show is only as successful as people

like you make it, the people that somos mayfair and people at calle 24, people who are, again, the backbone of this community. they're the ones who really make the show. blanca: we all do our part. damian: yeah, absolutely. we have some beautiful images. this is back 20 years ago, blanca. tell us what this--these images bring to mind. blanca: yeah, i get very emotional when i think about those beginning days because it was an accomplishment that we only dreamed of. and to actually experience the opening of the center with our cultura, with our music, with our food, with the presence of so many people is a joyous reminder that will never fade from my memory. i think that we identified with each other culturally and as a community. and that that episode in east san jose, cesar chavez was present.

i mean, i'm just amazed when i look at the audience, remember dolores huerta that was there as well. but the presence of many people at that event spoke to the enormity of our feeling and our aspirations being fulfilled by the presence of a cultural center that reflected who we are, who we were, who we are. and who we--and will continue to reflect that. it was a place of identity, cultural pride, joy, ambition, dreams come true. it was all of that put together. and yeah, to look at it now, hardly recognized myself, but-- [speaking foreign language] blanca: but looking back on it, it was a monumental occasion for east san jose, for santa clara county, for the city of san jose, and it remains today the landmark. you know, in east san jose, you've got the little portugal identified clearly by five wounds church. over in the mayfair district, we are the latino mexican immigrant

community identified by the mexican heritage plaza. damian: absolutely. no, it's a beautiful venue, and there's been a rebirth. we'll talk about that rebirth in the next segment, but again, we're celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the ribbon cutting of the mexican heritage plaza. and there is the web address for the school of arts & culture. well, up next, we'll speak, we'll be joined by the leader of the school of arts & culture here at the mexican heritage plaza, so stay with us.

so, jessica's been onthe mexican the helm for a few months..oolh how would you--let's be honest, how would you assess the work that she's done? you've given--she's been given the reigns, something that you initiated. give us an assessment. blanca: she is the best. damian: right? blanca: she is absolutely the best. she is absolutely just right for the plaza. i'm so happy that she's there. damian: your thoughts on hearing this, jessica, from la madrina.

jessica paz-cedillos: no, it's an honor. so we, right, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the mexican heritage plaza. and i've told blanca and the folks that i meet with and interact with that i stand on the shoulders of giants. the reason i'm here is because women like blanca alvarado broke barriers, right? they broke the barriers actively-- [speaking foreign language] and so to be here, you know, with her to celebrate the significant milestone for the community, especially given the times, is huge. damian: those are big shoes to fill. i had people say that i had big shoes to fill when rigo chacon retired. do you have big shoes to fill here? jessica: no, absolutely. and i think given the times, right, we have destructive rhetoric from the highest office in this nation. given the need that our community is facing, right? we are a community in transition. gentrification is happening. we are the mexican heritage plaza on the alum rock corridor, where properties are being bought up.

those are big shoes to fill. and so, how do we, right, as a cultural institution in the east side, the most significant cultural institution in san jose, how do we step up into that role given the legacy, right? damian: any advice, blanca, that you would give jessica on how to do exactly what she says we need to do? blanca: she's facing different challenges than we did 20 years ago, but the biggest challenge is to remember that the plaza was built primarily for the purpose of connecting people through the arts. and i think that we go back to the conversation that we had earlier, connecting people is really at the core of a healthy society. and that's what the plaza has done in the past, and that is for sure what jessica and her team will be focusing on for the future. never, never in the many years that i've lived in san jose has i seen the tale of two cities so profoundly different.

we've got immense wealth in this county. we've got immense poverty. i saw the wretchedness of homelessness with my own eyes over and over again, and it is just unbelievable that in a city as prominent and as wealthy as this that we are witnessing what we are witnessing. but having said that, the plaza is like a pillar in our society. it is a place where we can come together and be who we are together. and it doesn't matter what color you are, what religion you are, what nationality you are. we are human beings first and foremost. and through our art and our storytelling and our presence and our language, we learn to communicate, we share our experiences with other, and hope to enrich the community where it is oftentimes too divided. damian: at the same time, jessica, what is your promise

to blanca who it took her a long time to earn the keys that she held for a long time and now she's passed those keys on to people like you? what is your promise to her? jessica: well, we're going to do right, right by her legacy and by those who came before us. and so i think about, you know, blanca alvarado, and i also think about the people whose names we don't know, right? folks who, you know, may-- community activists who, like blanca, did a lot of the work and then go unrecognized, right? and so it's both, right? it's to honor blanca and her legacy and the barriers that she's broken, right? she's made it easier for me. and it's also for our community, who has fought really hard for what we have. damian: what inspires me is when i drive by the plaza and i see the dad who just got off of work as a painter, as a cook, walking this chavalito, this chavalita by the hand to go to class, whether it's mariachi class or a guitar class, whatever it is.

and then being overjoyed by the experiences they're both sharing at the plaza. you probably see that every day. jessica: oh no, yeah, the best-- so, we during our summer camp had our mariachi classes come together and perform. and they--right, it was ad-hoc, right? and so, just to see them doing that and the family members were there, it brought joy to us, right? this is someone--this is a community that is celebrating their culture, their cultura, and doing it with a lot of pride. damian: there was a lull there, blanca, for a bit at the plaza. we didn't know where it was going to go. it was in limbo, and then sam alvarado came in and kind of resurrected it, and passed the keys on now to jessica. are you proud of-- blanca: you know, damian, institution building is not anything that happens overnight. it actually literally took us ten years on the city council to be able to reach the point where we could open the doors-- damian: it was the first project, right, on east side-- blanca: exactly.

and so, institutions, newborn institutions take a while to transcend and to overcome obstacles and snags in the way. but it's not to be denied that those snags and those obstacles also strengthened and taught us how to do things differently and how to do things better. you know, i spent a lot of years in politics on the council and at the board of supervisors. and i didn't learn overnight how to be an effective leader. it is--and none of us is born with the ability to do what we become. but in the same way an institution like this one has to be preserved, has to be nurtured, has to be supported and held up by people. and this is the one thing that i have told jessica. in the future, we must no longer allow the city council to view the mexican heritage plaza and an institution of east san jose.

it is an institution of san jose. and all of the council, including the mayor, should take ownership and responsibility for it. and i hope that down the road, because up until now, the obligation for the plaza has rested on the district five representative. and that's not right, it really is not right. you know, i go to the hayward theater, i go to san jose opera, i go to other institutions that are supported by the city. and i love the mexican heritage plaza and the things that we do there. by the same token, i need to see all of the city council members take responsibility and nourish and to give nourishment to the plaza in the future. damian: all right. well, wow. can we--can we have you here every week on this show? you be our guest every week? the 20-year anniversary of the mexican heritage plaza is here,

and there's the web address for more information. we have about 15 seconds, jessica. i'll let you say any final thoughts. jessica: no, super excited to be here, right? again, i'll end with i stand on the shoulders of giants, and i am ready to take this on. blanca: and remember, september the 22nd is the day when we commemorate the 20-year anniversary. damian: all right, thank you so much. it's been such a pleasure. blanca: thank you so much, damian. damian: gracias, thank you all. and we thank you for watching "comunidad del valle." feel free to contact us, there's our number for more information. you can follow me on twitter and on facebook, that's the same handle right there. thank you for sharing a part of your sunday with us, we'll see you back here again next week. pasa usted, buenos dias. ♪

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