Barrio Expressions frequently took to the streets to interview people all over the San Francisco Bay Area to capture their thoughts on the most pressing issues facing the Latinx community. Many in the community felt the media misrepresented them, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. They felt overlooked by the mainstream media; Barrio Expressions provided them with a platform to share their thoughts, beliefs, and culture with the world.

In this clip, a KPIX Channel 5 news anchor discussed the progress Chicanos had made in local news media representation, highlighting both the increase in Latinx newscasters and in coverage of stories important to the Latinx community.

Barrio Expressions invited an open dialogue between the show and its community members through in-studio and “man on the street”-style interviews, as well as live call-in shows. This interactive format fostered a sense of connection and immediacy, making the show a vital forum for discussing pressing issues.

In this clip, Isabel Perez Yanez—long-time advocate and mentor in the Chicanx community, and later lecturer in social work and sociology at Cal State East Bay—fielded calls from community members on the effect of racist and discriminatory stereotypes in the media on the Latinx community. Call-in shows are, by their very nature, unpredictable, but Perez-Yanez navigated this uncertainty with grace, listening attentively as callers shared their experiences and frustrations. Drawing from her background in advocacy, she discussed how these stereotypes perpetuate misconceptions and hinder social progress. Perez-Yanez emphasized the importance of media literacy and representation, urging community support for positive, authentic depictions of Latinx individuals in the media. Her engagement with the callers highlights the crucial role of open dialogue in addressing and combating racial and cultural biases.

Barrio Expressions was dedicated to protecting Hayward’s Latinx community and promoting its best interests. The program often covered local city council meetings to encourage Latinx community members to engage in civic and political activism. In this clip, Barrio Expressions broadcasted a city council meeting in Union City, where community members discussed a contentious and still-relevant issue: racial profiling and police brutality. Latinx advocates pushed the council to act, calling for justice for their community and oversight of the police to ensure accountability.

The Barrio Expressions crew often attended public events of interest to their viewers, like this broadcast of a community mural dedication ceremony. The mural, painted by a student at Cal State Hayward (present-day Cal State East Bay), featured many symbols representing the Chicanx community’s Azteca heritage. Its completion publicly showcased what la raza could achieve when it came together to accomplish a goal. The mural was part of a broader movement to share Latinx culture with the wider Hayward community.

Barrio Expressions broadcast a local Latinx youth group removing graffiti in Hayward, countering media portrayals. The program showcased their dedication and commitment to improving and beautifying their community. By highlighting the strong commitment of Hayward’s Latinx youth, Barrio Expressions demonstrated how they gave their time, energy, and resources to enhance and beautify their city.

“It’s just not one territory versus another, it’s something that is very widespread. Hopefully, we are going to try to focus on why the things exist there and how do we deal with them.”

During the time Barrio Expressions aired, Hayward experienced violence between several Latinx barrios, or neighborhoods. In this episode, Juan Espinoza met with several Latinx leaders throughout the state to discuss this issue, believing that Chicanos could settle their differences peacefully and create a generation of leaders. Barrio Expressions consistently spread the message of unity, aiming to make Hayward a safer place.

They rallied and united Hayward’s barrios toward a common goal: peace and belonging