Connection is Key

Gini
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  • Updated Weekly

Connection is Key is where neighbors come together to learn, connect, and take action. Hosted by Gini B, this podcast makes civic engagement accessible and meaningful by blending real stories, local issues, and opportunities to get involved. From housing and land use to neighborhood history and community organizing, we break down what’s happening in San Jose—and how we can shape its future together. Because an engaged community isn’t just stronger—it’s more joyful, more empathetic, and more connected.

  1. 5d ago

    What Does a School Board Actually Do?

    What does a school board actually do, and why should it matter to you? I sit down with East Side Union High School District candidate Mer Curry Nuñez to find out. This week I'm digging into something a lot of us think we understand until we're actually asked to explain it: what a school board does, and where their power starts and stops. Mer Curry Nuñez joins me for the conversation. She's spent years in college and career access work and is now running for her first elected office as a candidate for the East Side Union High School District board. We talk through the difference between governing and managing, why board seats are structured in a way that can actually shrink who gets to run, and how she's come to believe that tracking outcomes instead of just intentions truly ripple out into something bigger than any one classroom. After our conversation, I sit with what stuck with me most: that a board's job is to advise and set vision, not to do the day to day work, and that the vision should actually show up in the budget if you know where to look. I also get personal about something Mer and I both circled during the interview, the way board pay (or the lack of it) can quietly narrow who's even able to run. For Community Spotlight, I'm highlighting Californians for Justice, the youth led San Jose organization behind the AI workshop Mer mentioned during our talk. This is the first of two conversations with Mer, the second digs into college and career readiness. Stay tuned for another great conversation with Mer next week. What I'm Learning Sources: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, Look Up Your District toolList of Candidates (find "Unofficial List of Local Candidates")East Side Union High School District, By-District Trustee Elections Community Spotlight: Californians for Justice, San Jose Guest Information: Meredith "Mer" Curry Nuñez is a dedicated community leader advancing college and career access and equity through coalition building and youth centered programs. This year she is running for office for the first time to serve as a board member for the East Side Union High School District. A 2023 East Side Hall of Famer, Mer grew up in the Philippines and East San Jose, graduated from Piedmont Hills High School, and is a product of the CA Community Colleges, California State University, and the University of California. Website - meredithcurry.com Advanced Consulting - advancedconsulting.org Mer for Eastside - merforeastside.com LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Mentioned in the Episode: California School Boards Association, "What It Takes to Lead" San José Spotlight, "Editorial: South Bay school district boards should move to term limits," April 2026 Melissa Got-Lopez, Trustee, Mount Pleasant Elementary School District, credited by Mer for helping her understand how school boards work Patrice Berry, Board Director, Oakland Unified School District, referenced by Mer as a model for keeping the public informed through regular updates Ballotpedia Take Action: Look up your own trustee area and see who's running near you: vote.santaclaracounty.gov/look-your-district Attend or livestream your local school board meeting Look up your district's official vision statement and compare it to the budget to see if they actually match Election Day is November 3, 2026. East Side Union High School and San Jose Unified both have trustee area seats on the ballot

    What Does a School Board Actually Do?

  2. Jun 3

    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) San Jose Unified votes to close five elementary schools (San Jose Spotlight) - sanjosespotlight.com San Jose Unified plans to close 5 schools (KQED) - kqed.org Community Spotlight: Los Gatos raises first-ever Progress Pride flag after student-led push (KTVU) - ktvu.com Silicon Valley Pride 5K and 10K, Saturday June 20 at Hellyer County Park, 9 a.m., ages 8+ - svpride.com/events Silicon Valley Pride Festival and Parade, August 29 and 30, downtown San Jose - 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 Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, 938 The Alameda, celebrating 45 years - defrank.org Silicon Valley Pride (501c3 nonprofit, 51 years) - svpride.com BAYMEC, Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (LGBTQ+ political action since 1984) - 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 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

  3. May 27

    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 - KQED Voter Guide - (Comprehensive guide covering all Bay Area races and measures) - Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits Voter Guide (they represent the interest of nonprofits and community) ICE Detention Facility: - San Jose Spotlight - ICE Detention Facility Report - ICE Detention Facility Protest - May 30th, 3 p.m. at Mexican Heritage Plaza and more Budget Information: - City of San Jose Budget Information - 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?

    Finding your Civic Joy with Councilmember Pamela Campos

  4. Apr 24

    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 $200M+ in VAWA funds unspent - The 19th, April 2026 Proposed 30% cut to Office on Violence Against Women - Senate Appropriations Committee, June 2025 NNEDV 20th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report - 84,000 survivors served in one day, 13,000 requests unmet Cesar Chavez allegations: NYT investigation - March 18, 2026 NPR coverage of allegations Eric Swalwell: Swalwell resigns from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations - NPR, April 13 2026 CNN investigation - four women, allegations of assault and misconduct Local data - Santa Clara County and San Jose: 2025 Santa Clara County Latino Health Assessment City of San Jose Study on Community-Led Solutions to Domestic Violence - May 2025 - Battered Women's Justice Project report to City Council DENIM DAY - APRIL 29, 2026 Denim Day - wear your jeans, tell someone why - denimday.org Peace Over Violence - the organization that founded 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 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 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 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 Nurtured First Body Safety Toolkit and parenting courses to help you have these conversations with your kids Follow @nurturedfirst on Instagram nurturedfirst.com

  5. Mar 10 ·  Bonus

    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 (find your district) San Jose FY2026 Budget information and town halls Community Spotlight: Janet Gray Hayes / San Jose feminist capital history - SCU Historical Perspectives, 2019 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Seeds of Peace monument by sculptor Mario Chiodo Women's Heritage Day at History San Jose (annual - mark your calendar for next year!) Assemblymember Gail Pellerin’s Women of the Year honorees Supervisor Sylvia Arenas Women’s Conference at Evergreen Valley College National Women’s Monument campaign (Washington DC) 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.

  6. Jan 22

    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.orgGrail Family Services - grailfs.orgAmigos de Guadalupe - amigoscenter.comSchool of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza - schoolatmhp.orgVeggielution - veggielution.orgWhat I'm Learning Sources: Mayfair Cultural District Celebration - January 29, 2026 event: LinkedIn postCivic Commons - National initiative: civiccommons.usCity of San José Children Youth Master Plan - sanjoseca.govCommunity Spotlight: SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network) - siren-bayarea.orgRapid Response Network - Know-your-rights resources RRNImmigration Legal Resource Center - ilrc.orgMentioned in the Episode: AB 816 - California legislation requiring 10% of affordable housing units in cultural districts go to artistsCésar Chávez - Labor leader whose motto "Sí Se Puede" inspired the collective's nameCultural New Deal Silicon Valley - Coalition advocating for arts and culture policiesTake Action: Visit Si Se Puede Collective organization websitesAttend a know-your-rights training with SIREN or Rapid Response Network partnersExplore collective models in your own communityShare this series with someone working on community buildingPrevious Episodes: Episode 13: Cast the Net - The origin storyEpisode 14: The Test - COVID-19 and interdependence

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

  7. Jan 9

    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 - The Test

  8. 11/13/2025

    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 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 Individual Organizations: Amigos de Guadalupe - Housing support, immigration legal services, education programs, and community organizing (Maritza Maldonado)Grail Family Services - Early childhood education, parent support, workforce development, and family engagement (Veronica Goei)School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza - Arts education, cultural programming, and development of San Jose's first cultural district (La Avenida) to prevent displacement (Jessica Paz-Cedillos)Somos Mayfair - Community organizing, leadership development, and resident-led solutions for youth success and family wellness (Victor Vasquez and Saúl Ramos )Veggielution - 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 highSecond Harvest Food Bank serves 1 in 6 Santa Clara County residentsIn 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 Support the Nourishing Neighbors Food Drive - Visit Safeway and add $10 at checkoutPractice Interdependence - Identify one area where you typically go it alone and ask for help instead. Notice what shifts.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

    Hyper-Individualism vs Community Interdependence - Cast the Net
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About

Connection is Key is where neighbors come together to learn, connect, and take action. Hosted by Gini B, this podcast makes civic engagement accessible and meaningful by blending real stories, local issues, and opportunities to get involved. From housing and land use to neighborhood history and community organizing, we break down what’s happening in San Jose—and how we can shape its future together. Because an engaged community isn’t just stronger—it’s more joyful, more empathetic, and more connected.

Information

  • Creator
    Gini
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Gini
  • Show Website
    Connection is Key