Category: Multimedia

Journalist and author Fariba Nawa shares her journey through Afghanistan with the book Opium Nation.

Block2Block Radio talks with Kathleen Krenek the executive Director for "Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence" the South Bay's leading non profit devoted to helping women and their families deal with issues of abuse.

Fernando J Pérez produced this video for the Poverty Forum held on November 3rd at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in downtown San Jose. He profiles the experiences of four young Bill Wilson Drop-In clients.

Yul Witherspoon taught himself how to play piano as a young child, and kept learning as he got older. Now known as DJ Lipz, Yul is producing innovative beats that is turning ears all across the Bay.

Jean Melesaine reviews the film "Pariah" directed by Dee Rees. The film is based on a Brooklyn teenager who juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression.

This exhibition showcased photos taken from cameras from the 50’s and 60’s allowing film photography to be showcased as an art form. Take a look.

When people got sick in East Palo Alto, the most they could do without insurance was "pray, drink tea and hope," says some residents. All that changed with the development of the Ravenswood Family Health Clinic.

A photoslide by Jean Melesaine of the Pacific Voyagers ceremony on Treasure Island in San Francisco. The Pacific Voyagers have traveled on vakas (canoes) all the way from Aotearoab (NewZealand) stopping on the Pacific Islands (Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tahiti, and others) on the way and have made their way to Treasure Island.

After foreclosure, homeowners pick up the pieces and re-imagine the California dream of homeownership.

Shortly after the publication of his tell-all essay in the New York Times revealing his undocumented status, Filipino-American journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize winner, sat down for a one-on-one interview with New America Media.

The annual free concert event series is back in full swing in San Jose, and now De-Bug is bringing live art, silk-screening, and other activities to supplement the events.

Jeysson Minota, a permanent legal resident, faced deportation, stemming from a vandalism charge due to graffiti. After four years of being in and out of detention, he was able to beat the deportation order, and stay with his family in the US.

A 20-city tour organized by the Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) aims to energize and refocus immigrant rights supporters.

Jean Melesaine interviews Aquene Aquetzalli Olmeka -- a medicine woman, smoke carrier and drummer who is an organizer for the Azteca Mexica New Year event held every March at the National Hispanic University. It is the largest celebration of its kind in the nation.

Susana Ruiz, artist/video game designer and co-founder of Take Action Games, presented her work at the Euphrat Museum of Art in Cupertino, California. Her games take on social justice issues such as criminal justice and gender violence.

AD Avila was selected as one of a handful of community leaders from around the country by the Knight Commission to present a digital story of his immigrant experience. Through his artwork and advocacy he breaks down the fear of the American immigrant.

Read the digital version of De-Bug's print magazine. Entitled "Under the Skin of San Jose," this issue features articles from downtown hustlers, homeless youth and a new generation of cultural entrepreneurs.

David Madrid of Block to Block radio interviews Bea Mendez of the Coalition for Justice and Accountability on the recent selection of the new San Jose Police Chief.

San Jose has already registered seven homicides in 2011, nearly matching half of the total killings from the previous year. The victims are often young and brown. Marcos Reyes, who lives in the same neighborhoods where sidewalk memorials are springing up, describes what it feels like to be a part of a community in peril.

Filmmaker La Mar Williams profiles the lives of video game creators who are crafting out new media platforms.

In an unprecedented collaborative effort, the two agencies have developed an approach to help inform and assist the Latino community learn about their rights to file complaints against police officers.

Cannery Park, located near Japantown, has emerged as a hub for a generation of new, innovative cultural business owners. De-Bug attended a collective showing to discuss their local businesses.

Since the 1930's the underground scene of black gay culture voguing down a runway has inspired the high fashion industry. The tradition continued this year here in the Bay Area. Photographer Jean Melesaine documents the Winter Ball.

As 2010 winds down, we asked members of De-Bug to reflect on their most memorable moments of 2010. Through writing and video, they share the moments that defined their year.

Sacred Heart Community Services, one of the largest basic needs provider in the county, held a forum on the selection of the police chief. The agency also presented the findings of their survey project on community/police relations in their surrounding immigrant neighborhood in West San Jose.

In 2006, Art Calderon's father, who was 68 at the time, was beaten by SJPD officers. The Calderon family was given a $97,500 settlement by the city of San Jose as a result. In episode #5 of this series, Art Calderon Jr. speaks about how the new chief can create new positive relationships in the Latino community.

Participants at a recent press conference by SIREN — the largest immigrant rights advocacy organization in Santa Clara County — discuss the DREAM Act, scheduled for a congressional vote before the turn of the year.

In episode #4 of Message to the New San Jose Police Chief, Richard Babcock, an artist and mental health client, shares his experiences with SJPD, and his hopes for a new training protocols. The Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA) has initiated this multimedia project to inform the police chief selection process.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Silicon Valley De-Bug and the Coalition for Justice and Accountability presents a "Message to the New San Jose Police Chief" — an ongoing multimedia project profiling a diversity of San Jose residents offering their advice and hopes for the next San Jose Police chief. This week's feature is on David Madrid, an East San Jose community member.

This October the Coalition for Justice and Accountability began a forum series to bring input from impacted communities to the selection process for the next San Jose Police Chief. The following multi-media coverage is highlights from the Youth and Families Forum held at De-Bug.

The Festival Paises Unidos/United Countries Festival will take place at San Jose's National Hispanic University this Sunday, October 17. This mini-preview shows what one can expect in the multicultural celebration.

San Jose helds its 19th Annual Mariachi Festival from Sept. 15 to 26 at the Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown. The event also celebrated Mexican heritage in California which spans over five centuries of art, culture, tradition and great music.

We did it! SJ Beez held its first mixer and celebrated being the only multicultural media network in San Jose.

The ancient stories of the Mahabharata are being brought to American and Indian audiences — even interacting with modern pop-culture icons — through the comic illustrator eye of Sandeep Sood.

In downtown San Jose, the Mexican community and friends celebrated the 200th year of Mexican Independence. There were parade floats, dancing, and food, but turnout was unexpectedly low due to the high entry fee for spectators.

Block2Block Radio host David Madrid talks with Bernie Kotlier, an East Side San Jose parent and Co-Chair of the Community Association for Supporting Summit High School. Summit High is an acclaimed college preparatory charter school from Redwood City that is proposing to open up two sites in East San Jose.

When Judge La Doris Cordell took office as the new San Jose Independent Police Auditor this Summer, distrust between communities of color and police was at an all time high. In this two-part radio segment, Demone Carter sits down with the newly appointed San Jose IPA to talk about civilian oversight, Oscar Grant, and her plans for the future of the office.

The San Jose Jazz Festival brings some of the most beloved jazz musicians for across the country to downtown San Jose. Photographer Gail Noble was there on the weekend of August 13th to capture this year's vibe through images.

The 5th Frida Kahlo Fundraiser, organized by Cihuatl Tlatocan and Maíz at the Washington United Youth Center, celebrated the famed artist's legacy and gave local artists and Frida fans a way to get in touch with an important part of their cultural heritage while raising money for the community.

Artist Huong Nguyen was born and raised in San Jose. Her life and art has fused her Vietnamese culture with her American context. In her gallery, she displays the mixing of form, history and identity.

In North San Jose, a unique taco truck is quickly developing a fan base with its green chorizo tacos. The tacos served by Cuauhtemoc Lopez are inspired by his youth growing up in the world capital of chorizo in the city of Toluca in Mexico. Mr. Lopez talks about the difficult times he faced before becoming a successful and outstanding Taquero.

On August 4, a sellout crowd of 48,000 fans came to see the first appearance of the top Mexican soccer team Real Madrid to the Bay Area since the 1980's in a game with Club America, native club of Mexico City.

Soccer stars from Tottenham Hotspurs and San Jose Earthquakes mix it up with kids at two Kidango elementary schools in Eastside San Jose.

For the second year in a row, San Jose residents were able to experience the colorful dances, diverse foods and friendliness of Oaxaca in the Guelaguetza celebration on the Eastside of San Jose.

The theme of this year's annual Queer Prom held by the Billy DeFrank Center was "The Gender Bender Ball." Silicon Valley De-Bug writer Kaisha Covington reports on the event and her own experiences going to dances as a gay teen.

The gathering of poets and musicians under the full moon is an ancient tradition in Mexico. Event organizer Ruben Barron brought the tradition to San Jose, and the community responded.

On July 22, 2010, Hyatt Santa Clara workers and community supporters rallied to push for a contract with the hotel as part of a nationwide series of actions. Nearly a dozen workers and community members were arrested in an act of civil disobedience at the rally.

Salvadoran artist Ana Guardado explains her beginnings in San Jose and how her experiences here are represented in one of her paintings.

Artists and activists gathered recently at the Mexican Heritage Plaza to celebrate the Chicano Movement in San Jose and remember their work in connecting culture and community, art and politics, history and the generations.

Guelaguetza is the most important cultural festival of sharing and celebration for immigrants from the Southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Alianza News profiles a recent "Mini Guelaguetza" and gives us a taste of what to expect at the 2nd Annual Guelaguetza Festival to be held at the National Hispanic University in San Jose on July 25th.

Future generations will know the cultural and political moment of San Jose through the lens of photographer, Abraham Menor. Having had a wide array of influences from Filipino Veterans organizing to San Jose's graffiti artists, Menor is a documentarian for communities who otherwise would go unseen.

A bill introduced by a San Diego Assembly Member would ban the public display of unloaded guns in California. This proposed bill has sparked debates around the state, including the Bay Area. Gun rights advocates are trying to prevent this law from being approved, and at the same time pushing to loosen up concealed arms limitations.

Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fasting growing sports in the country. At the Washington Youth Center in West San Jose, the Norcal Fight Factory has used the sport's appeal as a way to offer at risk youth another choice beyond gangs and the streets.

The organizers of Bike Party tell us, "Everything looks better from the seat of a bike." And that includes the streets of San Jose. The following De-Bug video and writing give a window into the South Bay's new two-wheeled revolution called San Jose Bike Party.

Youth of color from the ages of 16 to 24 are one of the hardest to count populations for the Census. De-Bug asked minority youth from high schools to write a letter to their parents as to why it is important to participate in the Census. The following are excerpts of the campaign, accompanied by video coverage of a youth concert by Voto Latino promoting the Census.

With mariachi music in the background, La Kaliente Radio Station, 1370 AM, celebrated Carlos Duharte, Owner and President. La Kaliente is located in San Jose and has been a staple for Spanish programming in the Bay Area.

Downtown goers may have seen some unusual characters posted up around the Convention Center in late May. This year's Fanime Convention brought to life comic book heroes, video game stars, and thousands of costumed fans to the heart of San Jose' downtown.

National Hispanic University, located in east San Jose, recently celebrated its 25th commencement ceremony. More than 150 students obtained their degrees in the institution that is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for San Jose's Latino community.

Silicon Valley NAACP President Reverend Jethroe Moore II has been a leading advocate for civil rights since he was elected into office in 2007. Moore speaks with The Globe on the NAACP's legacy and the organization's ambition to reach out to other San Jose communities.

The Third Annual SubZERO festival brought over 100 local vendors, street artists, bands, roving performers, high-tech installations, and thousands of people to downtown San Jose. Oh, and plenty of swag.

Ramon Vasquez was facing a life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. Due to his perseverance, he was not only released, but given a “factual finding of innocence” — a rare court order which clears his name.

Local advocacy group People Acting in Community Together, joined by local faith organizations and city council candidates, rallied community members to divest from Bank of America.

In West San Jose, the Washington Youth Center and the Gardener Community Center has been turning lives around for disadvantaged youth.

Block to Block radio host David Madrid chops it up with Reymundo Armendariz of Public Allies, an organization that trains up the next generation of community leaders. Tune in and learn how to get involved.

This short documentary is on popsicle vendors, the people you see pushing carts from sun up to sun down.

"Brown Girls" offers a window into the lives of the younger generation of desi's as they balance the walk of being both South Asian and American.

Sitting on two wheels has never looked so good. Shorty Fatz, a San Jose-based design and manufacturing company owned by two young entrepreneurs, has evolved into the creator of some of the most innovative and sought-after low-rider bicycle frames in the industry.

A comic strip on being South Asian American and female.