Schools of Tomorrow...

Schools of Tomorrow...

San Jose Unified called it Schools of Tomorrow, but in the end it meant closing five elementary schools, so I sat down with three parents to understand how it happened and what it means for our community. In this episode, I talk with Nigel Jahn, Michael Melillo, and David Friedlander about the San Jose Unified school closures that came out of the Schools of Tomorrow process. We explore how all five schools closing are Title I schools serving predominantly Latino and low-income students, the district's long-standing communication and transparency problems, and how a handful of engaged parents turned a quiet process into a standing-room-only fight. Nigel, Michael, and David each got pulled into this from different starting points, and they offer a grounded, honest perspective on how we build the kind of sustained community engagement that holds a district accountable, not just in a crisis but all year long. This episode's What I'm Learning covers how Schools of Tomorrow became five school closures, what it means that San Jose Unified is a basic aid district funded by property taxes rather than attendance, and what the 2024 civil grand jury report found about trust and leadership. Our Community Spotlight features Pride Month across San Jose and Santa Clara County, including 17-year-old Nova Jayaraj's year-long effort to raise a Progress Pride flag in Los Gatos for the first time. For Take Action, I encourage you to pay attention to this fall's school board race and to support an organization doing LGBTQ+ work in our community this month. LINKS & RESOURCES What I'm Learning Sources: * District Adrift: Leadership Issues at San Jose Unified School District (Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury, June 2024) - Read the report (PDF) [https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/civil/district-adrift-san-jose-unified-school-district.pdf] * San Jose Unified votes to close five elementary schools (San Jose Spotlight) - sanjosespotlight.com [https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-joses-largest-district-school-closes-five-schools/] * San Jose Unified plans to close 5 schools (KQED) - kqed.org [https://www.kqed.org/news/12078479/san-jose-unified-plans-to-close-5-schools] Community Spotlight: * Los Gatos raises first-ever Progress Pride flag after student-led push (KTVU) - ktvu.com [https://www.ktvu.com/news/los-gatos-raises-progress-pride-flag-first-time-after-student-led-push] * Silicon Valley Pride 5K and 10K, Saturday June 20 at Hellyer County Park, 9 a.m., ages 8+ - svpride.com/events [https://www.svpride.com/events/3rd-annual-5k10k] * Silicon Valley Pride Festival and Parade, August 29 and 30, downtown San Jose - svpride.com/festival [https://www.svpride.com/festival] Guest Information: * Nigel Jahn-Hansen - parent of two in San Jose Unified, Thousand Oaks Neighborhood Association president, and a candidate for the San Jose Unified school board * Michael Melillo - 10 years working on public education in San Jose, former San Jose Unified board member (appointed 2018), chaired the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, co-chaired the Measure R bond campaign, and a school board candidate this fall * David Friedlander - parent of two in San Jose Unified, school site council chair, and an advocate for equitable public schools Mentioned in the Episode: * Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury (independent watchdog body, currently recruiting members) - santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ [https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/CGJ] * Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, 938 The Alameda, celebrating 45 years - defrank.org [https://www.defrank.org/] * Silicon Valley Pride (501c3 nonprofit, 51 years) - svpride.com [https://www.svpride.com/] * BAYMEC, Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (LGBTQ+ political action since 1984) - baymec.org [https://www.baymec.org/] Take Action: * Look up your trustee area and the candidates, then vote in November (Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters) - sccvote.sccgov.org [https://sccvote.sccgov.org/] * Have a story from the closure process you want to share? Email connectioniskeypodcast@gmail.com. This is part one of a series * Pick one LGBTQ+ organization to support this month with your time, dollars, or presence: the Billy DeFrank Center, Silicon Valley Pride, or BAYMEC

Finding your Civic Joy with Councilmember Pamela Campos

In this episode, I talk with San Jose Councilmember Pamela Campos about what civic joy means, how young voters are showing up for our community, and what it takes to represent a diverse district with real people's real challenges. We explore childcare access, housing, immigrant communities, and what it means to have leaders who are thinking about the person waking up at four in the morning to get to work. Councilmember Campos shares her journey from working with immigrant communities to running for office, and offers a powerful vision for what San Jose can become when we tap into the spirit that's always been here. This episode covers the June 2nd election, the ICE detention facility near Gilroy, and San Jose's budget crisis. And most importantly - a reminder to find your civic joy. LINKS & RESOURCES Election Information: - San Jose City Council Districts Map [https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments/city-clerk/city-council-districts] - KQED Voter Guide [https://www.kqed.org/voterguide] - (Comprehensive guide covering all Bay Area races and measures) - Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits Voter Guide [https://files.constantcontact.com/8296877f901/98519b5a-4df0-4de0-9262-635a5bd8fc38.pdf] (they represent the interest of nonprofits and community) ICE Detention Facility: - San Jose Spotlight - ICE Detention Facility Report [https://sanjosespotlight.com/federal-detention-center-planned-in-south-county/] - ICE Detention Facility Protest - May 30th, 3 p.m. at Mexican Heritage Plaza [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYmvvo4p6hK/] and more [https://actionnetwork.org/letters/fci-dublin-environmental-assessment/] Budget Information: - City of San Jose Budget Information [https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments/office-of-management-and-budget] - Mayor Mahan Budget Town Hall (June 9th City Council Vote on proposed budget) COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT EVENTS Village Fest - Councilmember Pamela Campos Sunday, September 20th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Village Oaks Shopping Center District 2, but all community members welcome Live music, food trucks, community partners, activities for kids and families San Jose Women's Professional Hockey Team New professional women's hockey team coming to San Jose before 2024 Futura Fest - Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley May 30th, 9:30 a.m. Santa Clara University Career summit open to whole community - employers, workshops, keynote speakers Viva Calle June 14th Six miles of open streets from Japan Town to St. James Park and Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Walk, bike, roll - community celebration of shared space Women's Equality Day - Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women August 26th - Neon Exchange in Gilroy Annual celebration of women's equality and community power GUEST INFORMATION Pamela Campos is the youngest woman to serve on San José City Council, elected in 2024 to represent District 2. The proud daughter of immigrants and the eldest of four daughters, Campos worked as a preschool teacher and later at the Low Income Investment Fund to support economic opportunities for families. Her priorities as an elected official are rooted in support for early childhood education and expanding economic opportunities for families. She currently serves on San José's Neighborhood Services and Education Committee and Transportation and Environment Committee. Campos is also a member of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Executive Board and Housing Committee, as well as the Joint MTC ABAG Legislation Committee. TAKE ACTION 1. Vote on June 2nd - Know your district and the candidates running 2. Learn about and connect with your San Jose City Council member    - Contact your representative with your concerns    - Attend city council meetings 3. Show Up on May 30th - ICE Detention Facility Protest    - 3 p.m. at Mexican Heritage Plaza    - Stand up for what's right    - If you can't attend, read about it and share information with neighbors 4. Find Your Civic Joy    - What makes you feel like you belong in this community?    - What issue or area of civic engagement calls to you?

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