Darrell Cortez retired more than a decade ago from the San Jose Police Department, so he isn’t fighting crime in the streets anymore. But he is working on preventing crime before it starts — by investing in children’s education. Since 2007, Cortez and his wife, Alicia, have operated the Shop with a Cop Foundation, which...
Welcome to In the Spotlight.
This monthly feature spotlights the people who make San José an incredible place to call home. From unsung heroes to former city leaders and politicians who’ve disappeared from the public eye, 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 José. One person at a time.
Who should we feature next? To nominate someone for our next In the Spotlight profile, email [email protected].
In the Spotlight
In the Spotlight
Welcome to In the Spotlight.
This monthly feature spotlights the people who make San José an incredible place to call home. From unsung heroes to former city leaders and politicians who’ve disappeared from the public eye, 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 José. One person at a time.
Who should we feature next? To nominate someone for our next In the Spotlight profile, email [email protected].
Jim Salata is helping build San Jose’s future while saving its past
While Silicon Valley is obsessed with everything shiny and new, Jim Salata has an unapologetic love affair with the old and nostalgic. “I’m a sick person,” said Salata, owner of Garden City Construction in downtown San Jose. “I always look at (these objects) and I have an idea… So I don’t throw it away.” His studio at...
Jolene Smith’s passion for children shines at First 5 Santa Clara County
When she was young, Jolene Smith dreamt of being a teacher. Growing up in East San Jose in the 1950s she would often play school with the neighborhood kids and take the position at the front of any makeshift classroom. Today, Smith plays a critical role in helping children succeed as the chief executive officer...
Charles Davidson’s contributions to Silicon Valley are unparalleled
Charles Davidson arrived in San Jose a broke 21-year-old in 1952 seeking a way out of poverty and he’s spent the last 67 years forging his own lucrative path in the world. But he’s also quietly become one of Silicon Valley’s most unsung philanthropists. Davidson sat down with San José Spotlight for a rare interview to...
Jay MacIntosh aims to build ‘The Village’ that will help foster youth
Listening to Jay MacIntosh talk about Silicon Valley’s foster care system is like strapping in for a ride that is known for twists and bumps, but finding oneself plunging lower — and then rising higher — than anyone could have warned. The onetime tech worker and longtime foster child advocate wants people to know about...
Wiggsy Sivertsen, an icon in the struggle for LGBTQ rights, is still a force to be reckoned with
When Wiggsy Sivertsen started working at San Jose State University, the Vietnam War was raging and the Bay Area was a hotbed of political activism — especially on college campuses. Back then she also worked as the head teacher of a school for autistic children. Until they fired her for being a lesbian in 1968....
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...
From undocumented teen to powerful leader, David Campos redefines American Dream
He went from being a frightened teenage boy crossing the border to one of the Bay Area’s most influential politicians — an embodiment of the American Dream. As a Latino, a gay man and former undocumented immigrant, Santa Clara County Deputy Executive David Campos has stayed close to his roots, upholding the rights of the...
Trailblazer: Cynthia Guerrero breaks boundaries in tech lobbying
As one of California’s top tech lobbyists, Cynthia Guerrero has been a driving force for nearly two decades in bridging the gap between public policy and tech companies to make an impact in her community. She’s one of few Latina women to mount a successful career in tech lobbying, an industry often dominated by men and one...