From his upbringing in the Philippines, Saldy Suriben’s mother gifted him with an understanding of how to make friends easily and the importance of hard work. His father died when he was three months old and it was just him and his mother from then on. He had no brothers or sisters. “I’m proud of...
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].
San Jose native opens doors for immigrant entrepreneurs
Yacanex Posadas grew up mostly on the north side of San Jose. He worked multiple jobs at a young age to help his family, who told him everyone can use a hand. “My dad always taught me about standing up for the little guy,” Posadas said. “My grandma always used to say, be the voice...
FIRST 5 CEO works to support Silicon Valley children
A new CEO aims to bring expertise in whole-child-thinking to FIRST 5 Santa Clara County. Jennifer Kelleher Cloyd, 49, brings her experience as chief program officer and attorney at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley to the youth-focused organization. She takes the helm from former longtime CEO Jolene Smith, who retired in 2021. FIRST 5...