In the Spotlight

Welcome to In the Spotlight.

These stories spotlight the people who make San Jose a remarkable place to call home. From unsung heroes to community leaders, we catch up with San Joseans who are doing amazing things — and we share the awe-inspiring stories behind their struggles and successes.

We are telling the unique, ever-changing, diverse story of San Jose. One person at a time.

Who should we feature next? To nominate someone for our next In the Spotlight profile, email [email protected].

Gay Crawford champions the fight against cancer in Silicon Valley

Gay Crawford is Silicon Valley’s most renowned cancer advocate. As a cancer survivor herself, Crawford knows how isolating one can feel when diagnosed with cancer. Before she began her cancer advocacy, Crawford was a journalist. She learned the basics of the trade working for newspapers around the East Bay, but Crawford felt she hadn’t found...

Mason Fong breaks barriers as a South Bay councilman

At 27 years old, Councilmember Mason Fong is believed to be the youngest person elected to the Sunnyvale City Council. His captivation with politics started at a young age as his parents fostered the importance of civic engagement, taking him to rallies like the ones held against the Iraq War. The grandson of Chinese immigrants, Fong’s political voice...