“I Have a Voice”

I Have a Voice: Daniel Raya- Ruiz

Daniel Raya- Ruiz is a 14 year old football player, his passion and dedication to the sport is slowly changing the stereotype that Latinos only play Fútbol (soccer) and not Football. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Maria Valdovinos

Maria Valdovinos is the instructor of the Ballet Folklorico “Raíces Mexicanas” (roots of Mexico), and a dancer with over fifteen years of experience. Continue reading »

I Have A Voice: Dr. Gene Bigler

Dr. Gene Bigler a visiting professor of International Relations at the University of the Pacific, and retired member of the U.S. Foreign Service; is a passionate man about Latin America’s culture and history. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Gabriel Alfaro

Gabriel Alfaro is an Outreach Educator of Fathers and Families of San Joaquin and is dedicated to help young adults in the community. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Vidal Navarro

Born in Guadalajara, México Navarro settled in California when he was 15 years old. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Mirna Juárez

“I am Passionate about Change” 

Mirna Juárez is the Co-founder of the non-profit GRASSROOTS and a passionate Aztec dancer. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Ileana Pérez

Iliana Pérez is a doctoral student at Claremont Graduate University; her story is the voice of millions of undocumented students in the country that fight day by day to accomplish their dreams. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Erika Flores

Erika Flores: Motivated Latina with clear goals and aspirations for the future.

Flores is the daughter of the owner of the Miracle Mile Casa Flores in Stockton. She’s currently working towards her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

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I Have a Voice: Gold Championship with Engineering Vision

Brenda Perez, a San Joaquin Delta College student, wants to be a civil engineer.  She is the President at SkillsUSA Region for the college division in California. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Jeremy Terhune

Peace Corps Volunteer continues to advocate for community

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I Have a Voice: Nicole Gonzalez

Nicole Gonzalez, an anatomy teacher at Edison High School, is the recipient of the 2012 Michael McKibbin Outstanding Educator Award.

Raised in San Mateo, California, Gonzalez, as the oldest daughter, helped her dad raised her six younger siblings. “It was very hard, but I will not change it for the world because that’s what made me who I am today,” stated Gonzales.

Nicole Gozalez, recipient of the 2012 Michael McKibbin Outstanding Educator Award

“My dad always pushed education; my dream was to become a doctor to take care of him.”

After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, she began to work as a substitute teacher. Little did she know that she was about to discover her passion for education. “I was lucky to find something that I truly loved.”

After teaching at Edison High for only three years, she was nominated and won the state level educator of the year award.

“I am very shocked to receive such an honor,” said Gonzales.

“Gonzalez embodies the skill and commitment of all Teacher Corps teachers, more than 55,000 educators who work tirelessly day after day in underserved communities and high-need subjects to serve California students. We know that the right teacher makes all the difference and Gonzalez is the right teacher for the Stockton community,” said California Teacher Corps Founding President, Catherine Kearney.

Gonzalez believes that when Latino students see their own people as teachers, they identify with them and that encourages them to pursue their dreams, which is her motivation for translating information for her students that are in the process of learning English.

“I think it is very important that people from my culture get involved and become teachers.”

For Gonzalez, the key to being successful in the classroom is to collaborate with other teachers to work across subject matters and create engaging lessons to make school not just educational but fun at the same time.

Gonzalez also helped develop the Edison Health Program with the University of the Pacific and Delta College, a pathway for high school students that choose a career in the health industry to graduate both college and career and ready.

INTERVIEW: I’m a romantic musician

Andres Gutierrez is a passionate musician and member of the Rondalla Presencia de Amor in Stockton.

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“I Make People Laugh”

“My dream is to fill the Stockton Arena… better yet to have the Astrodome in Huston Texas full,” shared Thuggdork, also known as Reggie Galindo, Stockton based comedian.

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