Q&A: A Voice for Unity

"You Are The Art.” This project is a photo journalistic series that features community members in their own words and environments. As an artist, author and educator in San Jose, I have watched countless changes occur over time. Recently, many of those changes have been negative. There are more people who are unhoused. There are greater numbers of our vital immigrant population who are afraid for their safety, their families and their livelihoods. Worse yet, their voices go unheard out of fear. Fear of discovery, fear of apathy or even fear of punishment keep people silent and in the shadows. This series exists in order to elevate the voices of the people at the forefront of these issues. People whose life experience and point of view, when revealed, can help to educate and inspire us all. The more we listen, the more we learn. Learning leads to higher levels of empathy, which can spark the connections we need to move forward together. I am grateful to SV De-Bug for constantly using their platform to stand for justice and speak for the voiceless. Thank you!

-Khalilah Ramirez

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Q: What brought you to the rally today? A: This is where I am. This is where I belong. I was moved to be here by emotion—by the deep need to stand with my community. There’s a fear in the air, a fear of separation and loss. But instead of shrinking away, I want to show up—mindfully and powerfully. I’m here to affirm that we’re not alone, and we won’t be silent.

Q: What message would you give to those shaping laws and policies about immigration and homelessness? A: Quite Simple. Keep it human. Meet people where they are. Share a meal. Sit down and talk—face to face. Look people in the eye and get close, not distant. When we isolate and exclude people, we lose sight of what matters. We are not just statistics or problems to solve. We are creators, not consumers. Ask: How can people contribute? What gifts are we overlooking? The answers come when we truly listen.

Portrait of Isaias Rodriguez by John Dee Jackson

Q: Has immigration injustice touched your life personally? A: Absolutely. The impacts are real and devastating—especially for people of color. We’ve seen lives unravel from criminalization, untreated trauma, substance abuse, and mental health issues—all rooted in systems that deny peace. I remember when a friend’s grandmother self-deported because of fear. That broke something in all of us.

But we’re not staying broken. It’s time to return to hope, to remember our collective beauty and power. We need to take action—and a big part of that is education. Especially around media literacy, because so much of what people believe is shaped by the stories they’re told. Let’s tell the truth—and let’s tell it powerfully.