Inteverview

Candy Vargas poses for Bilingual Weekly cover-shoot by Sarah Lippincott.

Candy Vargas,

Born and raised in Lamont Bakersfield, Vargas moved to Stockton six years ago to attend the University of the Pacific.

It was during a study abroad program at Lima, Peru where Vargas renewed her interest in the public service. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Danny Thomas Dunne Ruiz

Dunne-Ruiz is a retired police officer from Tracy, author of the Blue Mexican, a novel published in 2009 and currently works as English teacher at San Mary`s High School and the San Joaquin Delta College.

What started as a part time job at the Tracy Police Department, for the young Dunne-Ruiz turned into a police career of twenty years.

“I went from a dispatcher to a patrol man, to detective sergeant.”

Continue reading »

I Have a Voice:Ramon Medina-Building History

Medina leaves his Stockton home at four in the morning and heads to Oakland, California; the reason of his routine travel? To start a new day of work at a construction site —of one of the busiest bridges in the country— the new San Francisco’s Bay Bridge. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Gina Valadez

Gina Valadez is the director and founder of Bread of Life — a San Joaquin County food program.

“I printed some flyers early in the morning, passed them around the neighborhood letting people know that we were giving away groceries,” Valadez shared her duties during the morning when Bread of Life started in Stockton back in 2008.  “The first time we open our doors, we had 60 people outside our church.” Continue reading »

I Have a Voice:Niki Smith

Born in Glendale California, Nicolette “Niki” Smith moved to Stockton at an early age.  As an adult, Smith has become strong Latina advocate in the community.  She is involved in multiple organizations including the Latina Democratic Club, the Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery, she is an active member of Local Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and works at Head Start. Continue reading »

I Have a Voice: Dr. Noe Mora

Dr. Noe Mora, once a 10 year old immigrant from Mexico is now Dentist running his own family practice alongside with his wife Dr. Edith Mora in Stockton. Continue reading »

INTERVIEW: Gretel Quintero, Immigrant and Immigrant Advocate

(bw) Gretel Quintero poses near Bilingual Weekly office in Stockton California

CALIFORNIA – At 13 years old, Gretel Quintero came across the border from Mexico to the United States without documentation: her single mother had a dream of a better life for her children. Continue reading »

Interview: Vietnam Veteran

(bw) STOCKTON, CA – Tracy Native and Veteran, Richard Soto’s began his life in the south side with his widowed mother and 4 siblings. 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.

Continue reading »