Connection is Key

We Keep Fighting: Sexual Assault Awareness Month, My Story, and What We Do Now

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Gini is not pulling punches. In this Season 2 opener, she shares her own family's history with sexual abuse, the college story that still stays with her, and her honest rage at a system that keeps asking survivors to stay silent to protect powerful men. From the federal dismantling of survivor services to Cesar Chavez to Eric Swalwell, Gini connects the dots - and then brings it home to what's actually happening in San Jose and Santa Clara County. She closes with the case for prevention as the only real path forward, local programs doing the work right now, and the story of Denim Day. Wear your jeans on April 29th. WHAT I'M LEARNING - SOURCES Federal cuts to survivor services: * HHS fires CDC Division of Violence Prevention - NPR, April 8 2025 [https://www.npr.org/2025/04/08/nx-s1-5349529/hhs-layoffs-sexual-assault-rape-prevention] * $200M+ in VAWA funds unspent - The 19th, April 2026 [https://19thnews.org/2026/04/doj-federal-funding-domestic-violence-sexual-assault] * Proposed 30% cut to Office on Violence Against Women - Senate Appropriations Committee, June 2025 [https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/senator-collins-presses-us-attorney-general-on-cuts-to-programs-that-support-survivors-of-domestic-violence] * NNEDV 20th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report - 84,000 survivors served in one day, 13,000 requests unmet [https://nnedv.org] Cesar Chavez allegations: * NYT investigation - March 18, 2026 [https://www.nytimes.com] * NPR coverage of allegations [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/18/nx-s1-5752253/cesar-chavez-sexual-assault-dolores-huerta-united-farm-workers] Eric Swalwell: * Swalwell resigns from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations - NPR, April 13 2026 [https://www.npr.org/2026/04/13/nx-s1-5784030/eric-swalwell-resigns-from-congress] * CNN investigation - four women, allegations of assault and misconduct [https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/13/politics/eric-swalwell-congress-resignation] Local data - Santa Clara County and San Jose: * 2025 Santa Clara County Latino Health Assessment [https://publichealth.santaclaracounty.gov/health-information/health-data/population-health-assessments/speak-latino-health] * City of San Jose Study on Community-Led Solutions to Domestic Violence - May 2025 - Battered Women's Justice Project report to City Council [https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14209697&GUID=FB127D3E-3572-4AF8-BAA5-D08F2AF12F1A] DENIM DAY - APRIL 29, 2026 * Denim Day - wear your jeans, tell someone why - denimday.org [https://denimday.org] * Peace Over Violence - the organization that founded Denim Day [https://www.peaceoverviolence.org/denim-day] CRISIS RESOURCES - LOCAL * Next Door Solutions - 408-279-2962 - 24 hours, free, confidential - nextdoorsolutions.org * YWCA Silicon Valley - 1-800-572-2782 - 24 hours, bilingual - yourywca.org * Maitri - 1-888-862-4874 - South Asian community - maitri.org * Children's Advocacy Center of Santa Clara County - 669-299-8800 - da.santaclaracounty.gov/victim-services/childrens-advocacy-center-cac * SafeChat SV - online chat support - safechatsv.org * Santa Clara County Gender-Based Violence resources - desj.santaclaracounty.gov/ogbvp/resources CRISIS RESOURCES - NATIONAL * National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 - thehotline.org * National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) - 1-800-656-HOPE or chat at rainn.org PREVENTION PROGRAMS - LOCAL YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley - Violence Prevention Education * In-school workshops kindergarten through 12th grade - healthy relationships, consent, safe bystander engagement * Teens Ending Abuse (TEA) Club for high school students * Community workshops available for organizations, schools, and parent groups * To request a workshop at your school or organization: communityoutreach@yourywca.org * yourywca.org/our-services/violence-prevention-education [https://yourywca.org/our-services/violence-prevention-education/] Next Door Solutions - Coaching Boys Into Men * Evidence-based program that trains coaches to lead 12 weekly discussions with male athletes * Topics: healthy relationships, respect, the fact that violence is never strength * Open to coaches, athletic directors, administrators, and educators * nextdoorsolutions.org/cbim [https://www.nextdoorsolutions.org/cbim/] SCC Fatherhood Collaborative * Services for fathers and men across Santa Clara County * Phone: 408-641-1323 Santa Clara County Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention * desj.santaclaracounty.gov/ogbvp [https://desj.santaclaracounty.gov/ogbvp] RESOURCES FOR PARENTS The Surprise Birthday Party by Tarhata Brazsal * Children's book teaching body ownership and consent for ages 3+ * Written by Tarhata Brazsal, a sexual assault forensic nurse in San Jose and a survivor herself * The Surprise Birthday Party [https://www.worldofbooks.com/products/the-surprise-birthday-party-book-tarhata-brazsal-9781981459674#CIN1981459677G] Nurtured First * Body Safety Toolkit and parenting courses to help you have these conversations with your kids * Follow @nurturedfirst on Instagram * nurturedfirst.com [https://nurturedfirst.com]

Women's History Month - San Jose, Elections, and Showing Up

San Jose has a remarkable history of women leading. This episode is a reminder of that - and a call to show up right now. In this solo episode, I dig into Women's History Month through the lens of our city - because San Jose has a real, documented history of women who led the way. I also get into what's happening right now in our city politically; we are in the middle of an election season that matters and I want to make sure you know about it. This episode's What I'm Learning covers some important details on election and budget season here in San Jose. Our Community Spotlight features San Jose's feminist history, the current makeup of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and the Seeds of Peace public art installation coming to our city. Plus Women's Heritage Day at History San Jose and the Women of the Year celebration from Assemblymember Gail Pellerin. For Take Action, I'm encouraging you to sign up for your council member's newsletter and show up to events! Whether a budget meeting - because June is coming fast - or a fun community event, showing up matters. Join me at the Picnic & Play with Council Member Mulcahy’s office on March 21st and register for the WG5k! LINKS & RESOURCES What I'm Learning Sources: * San Jose City Council District Map [https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/mayor-and-city-council/council-district-maps] (find your district) * San Jose FY2026 Budget information and town halls [https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/office-of-the-city-manager/budget] Community Spotlight: * Janet Gray Hayes / San Jose feminist capital history - SCU Historical Perspectives, 2019 [sccgov.org] * Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors [sccgov.org] * Seeds of Peace monument by sculptor Mario Chiodo [https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-approves-peace-monument-for-arena-green-west] * Women's Heritage Day at History San Jose (annual - mark your calendar for next year!) [historysanjose.org] * Assemblymember Gail Pellerin’s Women of the Year honorees [https://pellerin.asmdc.org/women-year] * Supervisor Sylvia Arenas Women’s Conference at Evergreen Valley College [https://www.evc.edu/events] * * National Women’s Monument campaign (Washington DC) [womensmonument.org] Mentioned in the Episode: * District 6 Councilmember Michael Mulcahy - Picnic and Play event, March 21st at Arena Green East * * Willow Glen 5K - registration available at the March 21st event Take Action: * Find your San Jose City Council district and sign up for your council member’s newsletter * Attend a budget town hall - budget vote is June 9th * Check your voter registration * Know your races: June 2nd is the primary A note on episode timing: This was recorded after International Women's Day, but the history and the action items are just as relevant. Mark those annual events on your calendar now for next year.

Hyper-Individualism vs. Community Interdependence: The Neighborhood We’re Building

Sí Se Puede Collective Series - Part 3 of 3 In this final episode of our Sí Se Puede Collective series, we explore what these five East San José organizations are building together - and discover their vision is already becoming reality! I talk with Jess at the School of Arts and Culture about how pandemic response opened doors to community development. Shawn from Veggielution explains how community input led to a worker cooperative. Veronica from Grail Family Services shares the hope she still feels after 10 years. Victor paints a picture of Mayfair as an epicenter where the community figured out how not to get gentrified. And Maritza reminds us this was always about creating a replicable playbook. This episode's What I'm Learning covers the incredible developments happening right now—the cultural district that just became official, the $3 million investment in Mayfair, Veggielution becoming a Civic Commons partner, and more. Our Community Spotlight features the Rapid Response Network supporting our immigrant community. For Take Action, I encourage learning about the Si Se Puede Collective, supporting rapid response work, and thinking about your own interdependence. Si Se Puede Collective Organizations: * Somos Mayfair - somosmayfair.org [https://somosmayfair.org] * Grail Family Services - grailfs.org [https://grailfs.org] * Amigos de Guadalupe - amigoscenter.com [https://www.amigoscenter.com/] * School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza - schoolatmhp.org [https://schoolatmhp.org] * Veggielution - veggielution.org [https://veggielution.org] What I'm Learning Sources: * Mayfair Cultural District Celebration - January 29, 2026 event: LinkedIn post [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/schoolatmhp_were-breaking-ground-on-la-placita-a-long-vacant-activity-7419906652549627904-hJMG?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAI0IpUBNVWru4Lg06d-YnkE_XOPopV8thI] * Civic Commons - National initiative: civiccommons.us [https://civiccommons.us] * City of San José Children Youth Master Plan - sanjoseca.gov [https://www.sanjoseca.gov] Community Spotlight: * SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network) - siren-bayarea.org [https://siren-bayarea.org] * Rapid Response Network - Know-your-rights resources RRN [https://www.amigoscenter.com/rapidresponsenetwork] * Immigration Legal Resource Center - ilrc.org [https://ilrc.org] Mentioned in the Episode: * AB 816 - California legislation requiring 10% of affordable housing units in cultural districts go to artists * César Chávez - Labor leader whose motto "Sí Se Puede" inspired the collective's name * Cultural New Deal Silicon Valley - Coalition advocating for arts and culture policies Take Action: * Visit Si Se Puede Collective organization websites * Attend a know-your-rights training with SIREN or Rapid Response Network partners * Explore collective models in your own community * Share this series with someone working on community building Previous Episodes: * Episode 13: Cast the Net - The origin story * Episode 14: The Test - COVID-19 and interdependence

Hyper-Individualism vs Community Interdependence - The Test

In this episode, I continue my conversation with the Si Se Puede Collective - Veronica Goei (Grail Family Services), Shawn Gerth (Veggielution), Victor Vasquez (Somos Mayfair), Jessica Paz-Cedillos (School of Arts and Culture), and Maritza Maldonado (Amigos de Guadalupe). We explore what happens when interdependence gets tested: warm handoffs instead of failed referrals, the power of five voices speaking as one, and how they turned the city's "no" into a vaccination model that got replicated across the region. This episode's What I'm Learning covers reflecting on 2025's federal cuts, new California laws, and what I'm watching in 2026 - including five San Jose City Council seats up for election. Our Community Spotlight features MLK Day events including the 46th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon. ───────────────────────────────────────LINKS & RESOURCES What I'm Learning Sources: • San Jose Spotlight - "What is San Jose's purpose?" editorial • Santa Clara County Measure A information • California minimum wage increase to $18.45/hour (effective January 1, 2026) • New California laws: equal pay protections, gender-neutral restrooms in schools, student immigration rights postings • San Jose City Council elections 2026 - 5 seats up Community Spotlight: • 46th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon - African American Community Service Agency - aaborgsj.org • MLK Day of Service Tree Planting - Our City Forest - ourcityforest.org • MLK Day Cleanup - Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful - keepcoyotecreekbeautiful.org Guest Information - Si Se Puede Collective: • Amigos de Guadalupe (Maritza Maldonado, Founder & CEO) - amigosdeguadalupe.org • Grail Family Services (Veronica Goei, Executive Director) - grailfamilyservices.org • School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza (Jessica Paz-Cedillos, Executive Director) - schoolofartsandculture.org • Somos Mayfair (Victor Vasquez, Co-Executive Director) - somosmayfair.org • Veggielutione (Shawn Gerth, Executive Director) - veggielution.org Mentioned in the Episode: • Mexican Heritage Plaza - La Plaza, site of COVID vaccination and food distribution • Gardner Health Services - partnered on vaccine administration • Martha's Kitchen - marthaskitchen.org • Loaves and Fishes - loavesfishes.org • Hunger at Home - hungerathome.org • Tony and Alba's Pizza (Diana and Al) - free meals for kids during SNAP disruption • 95116 zip code - Mayfair neighborhood, East San Jose Take Action: Connection is resistance. Joy is resistance. Don't let this chaos tear us apart. • Think about who's in your collective • Practice the warm handoff • Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 19th LINKS & RESOURCESWhat I'm Learning Sources:Community Spotlight:Guest Information - Si Se Puede Collective:Mentioned in the Episode:Take Action:

Hyper-Individualism vs Community Interdependence - Cast the Net

What happens when five organizations choose interdependence over hyper-individualism? A radical reimagining of nonprofit work and community care. I was inspired by an ⁠Instagram post⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/p/DGYXnspuoTH] from Erin Spahr from @feminist.mom.therapist. She talked about how we live in a culture that celebrates "doing it alone" - that equates needing help with failure and success with independence. In this episode, I introduce a three-part series exploring hyper-individualism vs. community interdependence through the lens of the Sí Se Puede Collective. I talk with five East San Jose executive directors about how they rejected the nonprofit competitive model and chose to work together instead. Their collective approach proves that interdependence isn't weakness; it's strategy. It's power. We explore the history of the Mayfair neighborhood - from Sal Sí Puedes ("Get Out If You Can") to Sí Se Puede ("Yes We Can") - and how these leaders are building something radically different: a model of community care rooted in interdependence. Si Se Puede Collective [https://sspcmayfair.org/] Individual Organizations: * Amigos de Guadalupe [https://www.amigoscenter.com/] - Housing support, immigration legal services, education programs, and community organizing (Maritza Maldonado) * Grail Family Services [https://gfsfamilyservices.org/] - Early childhood education, parent support, workforce development, and family engagement (Veronica Goei) * School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza [https://www.schoolofartsandculture.org/] - Arts education, cultural programming, and development of San Jose's first cultural district (La Avenida) to prevent displacement (Jessica Paz-Cedillos) * Somos Mayfair [https://www.somosmayfair.org/] - Community organizing, leadership development, and resident-led solutions for youth success and family wellness (Victor Vasquez and Saúl Ramos ) * Veggielution [https://veggielution.org/] - Community farm, food security programs, and food system advocacy for sustainable and equitable food access (Shawn Gerth) WHAT I'M LEARNING * CalFresh registration is at a 10-year high * Second Harvest Food Bank serves 1 in 6 Santa Clara County residents * In East San Jose specifically, some districts have among the highest food insecurity rates in the county, with more than 25% of residents in certain neighborhoods struggling to afford adequate nutrition COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Nourishing Neighbors Food Drive - Happening this weekend and through the holiday season at Safeway locations. Donate $10 at checkout. $10 buys a full bag of groceries when we partner with food banks and grocery stores. TAKE ACTION 1. Support the Nourishing Neighbors Food Drive - Visit Safeway and add $10 at checkout 2. Practice Interdependence - Identify one area where you typically go it alone and ask for help instead. Notice what shifts. 3. Learn More About Sí Se Puede Collective - Visit their websites to discover ways to engage: attend cultural events at Mexican Heritage Plaza, join Veggielution's work days, or support holiday giving with Amigos