Connection is Key

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 fiv...

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...

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...

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...

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 communi...

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 s...

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 episo...

Building community isn't just about physical spaces—it's about creating connections that make our whole city stronger. In this special episode, the tables are turned as Alex Shoor, Executive Director of Catalyze SV, interviews me about my community-building journey in San Jose. We discuss my passion for bringing neighbors together, how privilege influences community, and why overcoming fea...

In this episode, I talk with Erika McLitus about how the spaces we live in shape whether we can actually connect with our neighbors. We explore the stoops, sidewalks, parking lots, and ground-floor spaces that either bring us together or keep us apart—and what San Jose is doing (and could be doing) to build a more connected city. Erika shares insights from their work at SPUR on downtown revitaliza...

In this episode, I talk with Alex Shoor about community-led development and creating more inclusive civic engagement in San Jose. We explore how housing policy connects to community building, why the people in the room at city meetings matters, and what it really means to "build community" in both the physical and social sense. Alex Shoor shares insights from his work with Catalyze SV, w...

How playgrounds became a pathway to community connection and civic engagement. In this episode, I talk with Kristin from Silicon Valley Toddler about how documenting playgrounds led to building community and discovering the power of advocacy. We explore how shared spaces create connection, why accessibility matters in community building, and how personal experiences can spark systemic change. Kris...

Housing instability affects more of us than we realize - and the solutions that work best are being cut just when we need them most. In this deeply personal episode, I close out our three-part housing series by sharing my own story of housing instability at 17. I explore essential housing definitions, dive into the data showing prevention works, and reflect on how my experience with my mom's chron...

Housing isn't just about having a roof over your head—it's about belonging, community connection, and creating a place where everyone can thrive. In this episode, I talk with Claudine Sipili, Director of Lived Experience and Innovation at Destination: Home, about how housing challenges affect our entire community. We explore what real community looks like, the tension between temporary and...

How do we build compassionate solutions to homelessness while creating true community connections? In this episode, I talk with Elizabeth Colorado, an advocate with the Lived Experience Advisory Board at Destination: Home, about housing, homelessness, and what real community solutions look like. Elizabeth shares her personal journey through homelessness, domestic violence, and incarceration, and e...

Sometimes building community takes resources that aren't equally available to everyone. In this solo episode, I explore the uncomfortable reality that access to meaningful community connection isn't equal for everyone. I reflect on my own journey building community in San Jose as an extrovert with time and resources, and examine how barriers like time poverty, cultural differences, and eco...

In this episode, I explore what it means to grow up in San Jose with local author Hannah Jayne. We discuss the tension between preserving what makes our city special while embracing necessary change. Hannah shares her childhood memories of "The Valley of Heart's Delight," from backyard creeks to apricot orchards, and offers insights on building authentic community connections in our...

In this solo episode, I explore why civic engagement isn't just for policy peeps and lawyers—it's for all of us who want to make our community better. I'll share how small actions can create meaningful impact, introduce you to organizations making civic participation more accessible, and give you practical tips for getting involved without it taking over your life. Resources from the E...

In this episode of Connection is Key , I chat with Janikke Klem about what it really means to grow up in San Jose - both then and now. We explore how our city has transformed from agricultural hub to tech center, and what that means for building community here. I share some fascinating stats about San Jose (did you know we're ranked the 2nd happiest city in the US?) while also diving into the chal...

In this solo episode of Connection is Key , I dive into the big question: What makes a city feel like home? Is it the people, the places, or something we create ourselves? I share how getting involved in community events and connecting with those around me helped me truly feel at home in San Jose. Plus, I offer simple ways you can start building those connections and make your own city feel like h...

What makes a city feel like home? Is it where you were born? The people? The history? Or is it something you create? Welcome to Connection is Key —a podcast about building stronger, more connected communities, starting right here in San Jose, CA . I’m Gini, and in this first episode, I’m sharing why I started this podcast, how connection shapes our happiness, and what you can expect from future ep...