Varrio Voices

On this special episode of Varrio Voices, host Arturo "Velaz" Muñoz brings you stories straight from the heart of Hollister, CA, recorded on A Day Without Immigrants—a powerful demonstration highlighting the essential role of immigrants in our economy, culture, and communities.

On January 25th, Salinas' Digital Nest transformed into a powerful space of storytelling, poetry, and community as Brown Issues hosted an unforgettable Poetry Night. Voices from across the region gathered to share palabra, weaving together experiences of resilience, culture, and identity. This episode brings you highlights from the event, where the power of spoken word connected us all. Featuring performances from Jose Cordon, Brown Issues' Kimberly Gudino, Velveth Legglew, Marco Osorio, Nathalie Guillen, and Varrio Voices' own Arturo "Velaz" Muñoz, this night was a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and unify.

Let's put representation at the forefront, especially in leadership positions like college district trustee, city councilor, and county supervisor. We can draw inspiration from the three remarkable Latinas, Pamela Campos, Lisanna Dominguez, and Corina Herrera-Loera, who are paving the way for Latinas to hold influential roles. Take action today by supporting these candidates through the links below.  Pamela Campos: https://pamela4sj.com/ Lisanna Dominguez: https://lisannadominguez.com/ Corina Herrera-Loera: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/corinaforsupervisor2024   To contact and support the podcast: Email: velaz@varriovoices.com Social Media Platforms: @varriovoices @velazporvida Donate: https://bit.ly/vv-donate

Tune in to learn about California recognizing lowriding as a holiday.

Brenda Martinez Salcedo is a first-generation Xicana and the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at SOMOS Mayfair with a passion is to promote social justice and advocate for immigrant rights in the East San Jose community. Brenda was a part of the founding Dreamer Resource Center team at Sacramento State, and she was also the first Dream Center staff at Cañada College and Evergreen Valley College.   Learn how Brenda uses her role and passion to contribute to the resilience, perseverance, and advocacy within the community.   To contact and support the podcast: Email: velaz@varriovoices.com Social Media Platforms: @varriovoices @velazporvida Donate: https://bit.ly/vv-donate

Vecinos Activos, an advocacy initiative from SOMOS Mayfair, have experience in housing policy within the city of San Jose. This month, they are counting down the days before the city council's vote on the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA). Learn from Javier, Olivia, and Mat, about the benefits of COPA and how you can get involved. To learn more about COPA, go follow @SOMOSMayfair or visit SOMOSMayfair.org To contact and support the podcast: Email: velaz@varriovoices.com Social Media Platforms: @varriovoices @velazporvida Donate: https://bit.ly/vv-donate

South Bay Community Land Trust's mission is to take land and housing off the speculative market, making it permanently affordable for community benefit beyond housing. To tell us more, Varrio Voices is featuring Delma Hernandez, SBCLT Co-Organizing Director, and Liz Gonzalez, SBCLT Board President. To learn more about SBCLT, go follow @SouthBayCLT or visit SouthBayCLT.org To contact and support the podcast: Email: velaz@varriovoices.com Social Media Platforms: @varriovoices @velazporvida Donate: https://bit.ly/vv-donate

Omar Rodriguez is the Owner and Marketing Director of Kooltura Marketing. His work centers around offering opportunities for the community to celebrate their heritage and culture through mediums such as EASTSIDE Magazine, created to capture the heart of East San José. The magazine is published by Kooltura Marketing, which specializes in multicultural MARKETING and BRANDING. To learn more about Kooltura Marketing, go follow @koolturamarketing or visit Kooltura.com To contact and support the podcast: Email: velaz@varriovoices.com Social Media Platforms: @varriovoices @velazporvida Donate: https://bit.ly/vv-donate

Councilmember Raul Peralez speaks on what does it take to lift the ban on cruising in your community. Donate: https://bit.ly/vv-donate

Timeless Art Collective shares their thought process behind the mural, who they chose to highlight, and what did it mean to gift San Jose a historical, timeless art piece.

Daniel Santos speaks on what does it mean for San Jose to have lifted the ban on cruising.

Peter Ortiz shares his journey which led him to run for San Jose City Council - District 5. Unlike traditional politicians, Ortiz comes from a system-impacted, single-mother home, influencing his mission to ensure East San Jose has proper representation and the adequate resources needed to flourish.

Roberto Gonzalez and Mariana Mejia, both President and Vice President of the Berryessa Flea Market Vendors Association come to share their efforts to ensure the longterm existance of la pulga. To learn more and be involved, follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjfleamarketvendors/

La Tropicana-Lanai neighborhood in East San Jose has been seeing some great changes in recent years, and part of that change is credited to Victoria Partida, President of the local Neighboorhood Association.

Don Nacho, an elotero from South San Jose, shares his gratitude for the community and Lisette Robledo who launched a GoFundMe to support him with his medical expenses, a prime example of how we, as a community can support our local vendors. GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/432u5-help?qid=2fc9d3e52580c093647ea9aa754771da

Celebrating LUNA's advocacy within Eastside San Jose as well as the legacy of their founder, Chava Bustamante, who will share his journey, leading to the creation of the organization. To support LUNA's work, please consider donating and following their social media accounts: Donate: https://www.lunalatinosunidos.org/donate.html LUNA's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatinosUnited2013 LUNA's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunalatinossj/

Eastside San Jose continues to be poisoned by the lead-based fuels of the aircrafts flying from Reid-Hillview Airport. Let us not forget, planes have also crashed on the houses and public parks of the Eastside community. This is your chance to give public comment on the issue on August 17th's Board of Supervisors meeting of San Jose. Join via Zoom: https://sccgov-org.zoom.us/j/96612349693 Join via phone: (669)900-6833, meeting ID 96612349693# Instagram @close.the.rh.airport

This episode featuring Dueñas Car Club serves as a reminder of how many lowrider car clubs function as nonprofits, actively providing for our community. Dueñas CC will be sharing their vision on how they give back to the community as a mujeres-only car club.   Our Varrios' Voices poetry e-book will be available on April 1st on our website: VarrioVoices.com

An empowering mujer within the community of Oxnard, Leslie Madrigal, follows her siblings steps towards becoming an elected official, bringing more representation among politicians who have a crucial say on our wellbeing.

Tune in to some Valentine's shout outs, talks about love, and some appreciation for all the work our community is putting forward for the future generations. Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g0GPNr Donate: https://varriovoices.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5d24d65f2886320001192653

Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley shares the amazing scholarship now open on their website linked below. Along with supporting students, HFSV continuously provides resources and opportunities for our community to benefit from. Latinos In STEM scholarship: https://hfsv.org/news-events/whats-new/2021-LITSI-Application-Now-Available Stay connected with HFSV: https://hfsv.org/get-involved/stay-connected https://www.facebook.com/HispanicFoundationSV https://www.instagram.com/hispanicfoundationsv https://www.linkedin.com/company/3038971?trk=tyah

Join Investing Latinas as she shares tips on how to save, invest, and strengthen our financial well-being in the year 2021. Feel free to use Investing Latina as a resource and contact her "Ask Me Money Things" #: 9176364049 For further information, visit her website: https://beacons.ai/investinglatina

Empowering environmentalist and community organizer, Mayra Pelagio, has been focusing her masters thesis on understanding our community values and connection to nature. If you are from San Jose and would like to support Mayra with her research please complete the 10 minute survey below. Thank you! English: https://sjsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7VUsfClzant65cp Spanish: https://sjsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cOah01B7heJZUJT

Be sure to support your varrio and local artists like José Flores Chamalé, known as Sangre Indigena Art, who are constantly pushing for representation of our communities of color. Please, hit up your local vendors. Support local and small business these holidays. Invest in our gente.

Jesus, @heysus94 on IG, goes to share how he continues to give back even in times of wild fires and distress. This episode was recorded in early September, when there were wild fires all across the west coast. We are grateful to have individuals like Jesus who is a constant source of light for our communities.

Taking a hike with a homie of mine, reflecting on the importance of connect nature to the significance of our history, identity, and our well being. In addition, this episode is full achievements to celebrate. Congrats to Richard for receiving the Environmentalist of the Year award. Varrio Voices celebrates one year of weekly podcast episodes, highlighting our gente. And lastly, but not least, we celebrate Velaz's birthday. Show some love and rate this podcast, give it a like, and continue to share these episodes with your homies.

Today is Dia de los Muertos and we wanted to take a minute and talk about the new mural in Chicano Park, which acts as an altar to those who have been died at the hands of ICE and immigration customs. Let's continue to remember them and continue to fight for their justice.

Jesus gifts us his palabra on learning about our raza and his way of continue planting seeds within the community using murals and art. To support Varrio Voices and purchase merchandise visit, VarrioVoices.com/store

Rebeca Armendariz shares her experience running for City Council, and provides words of encouragement for other homitas to also take on roles of political power. To support Varrio Voices and purchase merchandise visit, VarrioVoices.com/store For early-access to Varrio Voices episodes and to support the podcast, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices/

Lucia Gonzalez Ippolito, a local muralist, educator, and author, goes to share the empowering messages of her art and resiliency stemming from the streets of the San Francisco Mission District. For early-access to Varrio Voices episodes and to support the podcast, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices

LUNA - Latinos United for a New America - from East San Jose go to share resources for these times of Covid. To support Varrio Voices and purchase merchandise visit, VarrioVoices.com/store For early-access to Varrio Voices episodes and to support the podcast, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices/

Valentina, born and raised from the Mission District in San Francisco,  is the founder of Mission Native where she encourages young homitos and homitas to always remember who they are and where they come from. Embrace your roots, mi gente! To support Varrio Voices and purchase merchandise visit, VarrioVoices.com/store For early-access to Varrio Voices episodes and to support the podcast, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices/

Ray Flores shares his experience growing up around lowriders and going to his first car shows with a camera along with 5 extra rolls of film. He continues his photography as a way to bring positive representation to what lowridering has always been about. For early-access to Varrio Voices episodes and to support the podcast, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices

Reyna Lopez, the executive director of PCUN in Oregon, details her previous leadership experiences and the obstacles that accompanied them. She also provides her reflections on what it means to be a Latina professional, stemming from a family of immigrants. For early-access to Varrio Voices episodes and to support the podcast, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices

Hector Verdugo from Homeboy Industries shares why it’s important to practice healing, enabling us to then provide the best healing space possible for our varrios. For early-access to Varrio Voices episodes and to support the podcast, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices

Victor Ochoa, Cindy Rocha, and Stephen Hajosy speak on the Anastasio mural in Chicano Park which reflects our modern-day hardships of the migration experience, including the murder of Anastasio Hernández Rojas at the hands of Customs and Border Protection personnel. To donate to the mural project visit: https://www.alliancesd.org/fundraiser_anastasio_mural?fbclid=IwAR2mCzd6Z2NAlqVLB8YhjR70nOr8GGmtcCKxBe3iBzQBpCrZA8ET6YXaKRo For early access and to support Varrio Voices, visit: Patreon.com/VarrioVoices

Lucinda, famously known as La Morena Art, provides the perspective to how artist as a critical part to any movement, and how others can seek guidance and mentors to learn how to be begin their journey as an activist.

Lucinda, famously known as La Morena Art, goes to share her tips in how she maneuvers between the corporate world while maintaining a strong connection to her indigeneity as a community activist and artist, ensuring that her artwork is rightfully compensated and goes uncensored. La Morena Art also goes to share about one of her proudest pieces which brings awareness to the #MurderedandMissingIndigenousWomen .

Jully-Alma Taveras from the YouTube channel Investing Latina goes to share her experience of her father opening a bodega (market) in the Bronx, NY during the 90's as a Dominican Republic immigrant family, as well as how she launched her financial professionalism ever since. Visit Investing Latina on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3mqjRKhZCyjWb1yA-BpH3g

Oswaldo Vargas goes to share how poetry has become a prominent part of who he is, and the obstacles our Latinx community faces in publishing.

Velaz is invites you to follow his new page called Varrio Money, a platform for our gente to become familiar with the intersectionality between financial and cultural wealth.

Raul Garcia comes through with a PART TWO and emphasizes how our community goes to reclaim our own cultura, and speaks on how to become more in touch with our indigenous roots.

Raul Garcia from Drifting On Memories goes to share the importance of valuing the experiences of our local lowriders, embracing it as part of our history and community's identity. Support our Varrios' Voices. Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Ana Barrera and Hektor Calderon stress how harmful pesticides have been for our communities of color. They also provided info on how to be involved and address environmental racism. Support our Varrios' Voices. Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Welcome to the launch of a series of dialogues about toxic masculinity in collaboration with Hernan Carvente. We will unpack how we can bring healing into our lives and the community we've once harmed, encouraging other men to hold these conversations within their community. Support our Varrios' Voices. Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Angela Aguirre, known as The Millennial Mija, expressed how one's journey towards self loves goes to heighten the impact one could make on the worth. Support our Varrios' Voices. Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Luis Cortes shares with us some of his experiences as a DACA recipient and as a lawyer, advocate, and movement builder within our communities.  Support our Varrios' Voices! Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Guest speaker, Nate, goes to share his experience being a charro in a very white space, and the obstacles he has to overcome in order to have his cultura represented. Support our Varrios' Voices! Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Alejandro Gonzales goes to give us a glimpse of the profound stories by POC found in their audiobooks, Abantu Audio. Make sure to visit their website and listen to our people's stories: https://www.abantuaudio.com/ Support our Varrios' Voices! Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Angel Martinez provides his opinions on recent protests, and lists systematic and behavioral changes needed in order to further bring change to our communities. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PHxRzlBbB99Kc0pKJKy55rcRi3dC2Xxokw4bK_9sNT4/edit Support our Varrios' Voices! Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices

Kelly Medina-Lopez goes to remind us of how resourceful our gente could be, and that recycling and up-cycling our belongings has been a part of our cultura all along. Support our Varrios' Voices! Become a member of our Patreon community and get exclusive access to: • Sneak peaks • Early access • Deleted OG content • Monthly patreon-only giveaway https://www.patreon.com/varriovoices