Articles Published in November, 2010

When a teenager came to the US as a refugee from Mexico, he landed in Santa Clara County in need of assistance. A Catholic Charities program was there to connect him with a family and community that welcomed him.

Despite widespread community concerns, an officer involved death, and a viral video of a police beating all last year, San Jose City officials say the police department has no problem with use of force.

Phở soup is a San Jose favorite, and customers may be protecting their health as they slurp down the Vietnamese specialty.

The African American Services Community Service Agency held a forum that brought the African-American community together with leading San Jose city elected officials to discuss the selection of the next police chief. The effort was done in collaboration with the Coalition for Justice and Accountability.

The alcoholic energy drink Four Loko has generated national controversy after a repudiation from the FDA and has been banned in several states. Critics say the drink targets underage youth and offers a dangerous mix of caffeine and potent amount of alcohol. In this article, San Jose youth give their opinion on the drink that has been called "blackout in a can."

In San Jose, diversity is king, even on the ice. With hockey season about to begin, writer Elisa Demuro profiles San Jose Shark star Devin Setoguchi, a Japanese-Canadian playing in a league that features few players of color.

Sri Lankan American singer creates music in the folk/blues/reggae tradition.

Vinh Pham, father of Daniel Pham, who was shot to death by police last year, shares his hopes for the future in police/community relations. The Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA) has initiated this multimedia project featuring San Jose residents' experiences to inform the police chief selection process.

Bay Area non-profit AchieveKids uses drama to teach special needs kids social skills.

Hidden from view in East Side neighborhoods are Vietnamese restaurant bars frequented only by those in the know. De-Bug writer Patrick Thanh An Ngô gives us a rundown of what these establishments are and who goes there.

Why are people surprised about a recent Vanderbilt University study that shows paying teachers extra money doesn't improve student performance?

A dance theater performance by the Shree School of Dance will explore how Tamil Women poets interpret love and conflict.

Duniya Dance & Drum Company and Ensambles Ballet Folklorico de San Francisco will give a bhangra-folklorico performance commemorating Punjabi-Mexican fusion heritage at the Brava Theater in San Francisco.

In Episode 2 of "Message to the New San Jose Police Chief," Alex Gutierrez shares the experiences of homeless youth's interaction with the police. The Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA) has initiated this multimedia project featuring experiences from San Jose residents about police relations to inform the San Jose Police Chief selection process.

Writer Rebecca Solomon profiles Alianza News editor Gerardo Fernandez and the challenges he faces in representing the Latino community to mainstream media and culture.

Californians voter kept the state’s climate change law, only to pass another law that could disable it.

The Bay Area was draped in orange and black this week as it celebrated the Giants winning the World Series. Videographer Jean Melesaine documented the spirited Giants parade, while Fernando Perez recalls his experience of rooting for the new world champs.

South Asian politicians won political offices in California and the rest of the nation in this recent election. Commentator Vijay Das reflects on what these victories means for the South Asian community, as well as how the passage of proposition 20 is a step towards political accountability.

In late October the Service, Immigrants Rights and Education (SIREN), in coordination with the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, held an open forum at the Tully Library. The dialogue, held in Spanish, brought together Latino immigrant families to discuss their concerns with the police and offer selection criteria for the next San Jose Police Chief.

The number of Indian Americans seeking to enter political office is on the rise, though community engagement with grassroots politics is still a challenge. New crop of polticians say they want to be role models for future generations.

Silicon Valley De-Bug's Block2Block Radio talks with J. Manuel Herrera, who is running for Eastside Union School Board. Herrera talks about his family history on the eastside, school test scores, and his view on charter schools in the district.

Experts answer questions on how the new health care law affacts children.