05/02/2026
I grew up in downtown San Jose. This is home for me. I’ve seen the good, the struggle, the people trying to make it through each day. I’ve lived it. There was a time in my life when I didn’t have stability and experienced homelessness. That changes you. It makes you understand how important it is to have support, to have someone believe in you, to have access to resources when you need them most.
The Cinco de Mayo Festival 2026 is not just about celebrating. Yes, we’re bringing people together through culture, music, and community, but it’s also about creating something that gives back. Something that actually makes a difference.
These last 3 years we’re working alongside Second Chance to Life(José Badillo) and Lighthouse of Hope (Michelle Grays) a nonprofit that provides mental health support and free therapy to underserved communities across the South Bay. It reminded me of the people just like me who were carrying things you would never know just by looking at them. Stress, trauma, loss. And sometimes all it takes is one conversation, one resource, one moment where someone feels seen to start changing their path.
If we can all be a small part of that, then we’re doing something right.
To everyone who has supported me, believed in me, and been in my corner over the last three years, thank you. You’ve helped turn something personal into something that can impact a whole community.
We’re here to bring mental health awareness to the forefront. To remind people that it’s okay to ask for help and that resources exist right here in our community. I’m grateful to be a part of the city I know and love, and to give back in a way that truly matters.
Let’s keep showing up for each other ❤️
