Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?”

For this episode of “You’re From Where?”, we visited with the California Angels Spanish Language play-by-play announcer Marco Peralta about his growing up in El Centro, and his strong connection to Central Union High School and the Imperial Valley.

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CREDITS

Episode 109: You’re From Where - Marco Peralta

You’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon.

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Making music in high school is something that a large percentage of the population has experience with. At Central Union High School, making music happens in more ways than just band and choirs. In “Valley Music Makers” students of CUHS will share why they are involved with the various music programs and how it is part of the overall culture of the school.

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CREDITS

Episode 107 - Valley Music Makers

Valley Music Makers was written by Johan Gamez Aguirre, Jorge Villa- Quevedo, and Dr. Thomas Tacke

Hosted by: Samantha Denmon and Ethan Gonzalez

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Johan Gamez Aguirre, Jorge Villa- Quevedo, and Dr. Thomas Tacke

Music by: SpartanSound Productions, DAZE! and Johan Gamez Aguirre, and Jorge Villa- Quevedo

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?”

For this episode of : You’re From Where?”, we visited with smooth jazz recording artist and professor Walter Beasley about his growing up in El Centro, and his strong connection to Central Union High School and the Imperial Valley

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CREDITS

Episode 106: You’re From Where? Featuring Walter Beasley

You’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon.

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon

Music by: Walter Beasley and SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Being a homeless family in America is difficult for any family. But if it is in the Imperial Valley, additional challenges are added with the extreme summer temperatures and a lack of affordable housing. Heat & Hope is the story of one family’s fall into the homeless ranks. It is the brutally honest story told by a sister and brother of how they became homeless for four years with their mother.

CREDITS

Episode 105 - Heat and Hope: A Valley Story of Resilience

Heat and Hope was written and hosted by: Mia Lozano Madrid and Marley Lozano Madrid

Edited and produced by: Dr. Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Mia Lozano Madrid

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

The Imperial Valley is a place that is said to be a great place to raise kids. It has a small town feel and it is common for families to have been here for several generations. But when a family moves to the Valley from places like San Diego, Los Angeles, or other places that don’t have the stifling heat of the summers here, kids meet the “new kid” with the question of “What are you doing here?” This isn’t meant in a challenging way, it is just that Valley kids see places outside the Valley as the better, more desirable places to be.

In this episode of Voices del Valle, we visit with four students that moved to the Imperial Valley and attended, or are attending, Central Union High School. In the discussions, it becomes clear that our small town feeling community is actually a special place where students create great friendships and a strong bond to this place we call home.

CREDITS

Episode 104 - What Are You Doing Here?

What Are You Doing Here was written and hosted by: Ismael Peraza, Destiny Garibaldi, and Mitzel Martinez.

Edited and produced by: Dr. Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Ismael Peraza, Destiny Garibaldi, and Mitzel Martinez.

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?” For this episode of :You’re From Where?”, we visited with film and TV celebrity Donal Logue about his growing up in El Centro, and his strong connection to Central Union High School and the Imperial Valley.CREDITSEpisode 103: You’re From Where? Featuring Donal LogueYou’re From Where was written and hosted by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha Denmon. Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas TackeTheme by: Dominick Ramos Felix, Felipe Castro, Evan Harper, and Samantha DenmonMusic by: Spartan Sound ProductionsTechnical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Small towns love their high school sport teams, and the Imperial Valley, this love is unconditional regardless of how well the teams records end. But when championships are won, there is always stories to be told of how that happened. During the 2024-25 season, two of Central Union High School’s teams took the quest for championships all the way to the CIF State final levels. The Spartan Cheer Team repeated as CIF State Champions and the Boys Soccer Team went further than any Valley team in history and won the CIF Southern Section and ended their season as Runner Up at the CIF State competition.

Credits:

Episode 102: Championships

Championships was written by Dr. Thomas Tacke, Joshua Ahumada and Lilyana Morquecho

Hosted by: Joshua Ahumada and Lilyana Morquecho

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Dr. Thomas Tacke

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.