AN EASTSIDE STORY
AN EASTSIDE STORY
When gente who have never heard of EASTSIDE Magazine ask about the impact on the community, this story always comes up.
During the School of Arts and Culture’s vibrant event, Avenida de Altares, a touching encounter unfolded at the EASTSIDE Magazine booth. A gentleman, who had never heard of EASTSIDE before, was drawn in with a curiosity akin to a child spotting their favorite action figure in a store window. The gentleman explained how he lived in ESSJ his entire life and landed a job working for a tech giant in the valley.
He would often share with his colleagues that he was a San José native when they asked what there was to do in the area as many were not from the Bay Area or California in general. What bothered the gentleman the most was the expressions he received when he would share his pride about being from EAST San José.
““He never knew EASTSIDE Magazine existed and immediately approached the booth, expressing his excitement.””
More often than not, these expressions centered around the narrative: “You’re from the ghetto? “Isn’t East San José dangerous?” “Wow, I never knew someone from that side of town could find work here.”
It disheartened him to hear the quick assumptions of his home from folks who probably never ventured outside the bubble of wherever they resided. East San José was more than just his home, it was his pride and joy; the mold that shaped him into the person he was today. It warmed his heart when he saw EASTSIDE Magazine because he was able to walk away knowing that those narratives were changing.
There’s a space for the EASTSIDE familia to advocate for themselves, share their experiences, and paint a completely different picture of their home on their terms.
““There’s a space for the EASTSIDE familia to advocate for themselves, share their experiences, and paint a completely different picture of their home on their terms.””