of the city of san jose, the first latina elected to the san jose city council, the honorable blanca alvaradoanca, on june 7, of 2022, it was the primaries, and only 10% of latinos in california voted. what's your reaction? honorable blanca alvarado: i'm appalled, and i'm disheartened, but i'm also seriously alarmed because, when latinos don't vote or when other so-called "marginalized groups" don't vote, there are others, other voters intended on maintaining the status quo, who are the ones that are creating laws and making decisions for me that do not align with my values and that, oftentimes, are very hurtful to me and to my family and to our communities. it is a process of not only exercising that constitutional right to a free democracy of voting and selecting your leaders, but it is also a citizen taking responsibility for the ways and the means by which this country evolves and becomes better or worse. and, you know, for people to not vote is to not only shirk their responsibility but to let somebody else be in charge of their lives. i think that's shameful. damian: somebody--they deci

i'm so excited to share my experience at alpha blanca alvarado.n: yeah, thank you for bein' here. well, you know, kids, it seems like they just got out of school, but it's time to start thinkin' about back to school, right? carlota: yes, and i'm happy to announce that i'm transitioning my position to lead teacher. damian: yeah, say that again? i'm sorry. carlota: i'm happy to announce that i am leaving my position as paraprofessional to be the lead teacher this year. damian: oh, well, congratulations. felicidades to you. well, tell us how ready these kids need to be and how they need our help. carlota: well, i know that these, most of these students are first-generation immigrants, and they are in need of supplies and backpacks, and i know these backpacks have crayons, markers, rulers, headphones, and things that they will need by the time they need to start the school year and prep for their homework and all of that. damian: all right, wow, headphones. well, i didn't even think of that, but that's an essential nowadays. so this is a part of colla

nuestros estudiantes; con nosotros en comunidad del valle, carlota parra es de la escuela alpha blanca alvaradoddle school, aquí en san josé, que nos acompaña ahora aquí en comunidad del valle; carlota, bienvenida al programa. carlota parra: hola damián, muy contenta de estar aquí, gracias por la oportunidad de compartir mi experiencia en el colegio. damián trujillo: ya, gracias por estar aquí, platíquenos, parece que se acaba de terminar el año escolar, y estamos hablando del regreso a la escuela, pero ya se está aproximando, ¿verdad? carlota parra: sí, ya casi se nos termina el break de la maestra, ya estamos apuradas para tener todo disponible para nuestros estudiantes en el salón. damián trujillo: qué bueno, mire, la estación nbc bay area y telemundo, están colaborando con family giving tree, otra vez, para proveer las mochilas que tanto se necesitan en las escuelas; platíquenos de ese esfuerzo, y cómo beneficiaron ustedes en alpha blanca alvarado. carlota parra: sí, nuestro colegio recibió 100 mochilas para los niños, y se encargaron en la oficina de preguntarle a las familias, quién neces

i'm so excited to share my experience at alpha blanca alvarado.n: yeah, thank you for bein' here. well, you know, kids, it seems like they just