C1 >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THE DISCUSSION AROUND CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

JADE EXAMS HOW THIS BECAME PART OF THE CULTURE WAR.

READY FOR THE FIREFIGHT.

AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO ITS ARSENAL AS WE ENTER THE TRADITIONAL PEAK OF WILDFIRE SEASON.

>> AND A PLACE TO FOREFORM, IN THE SOUTH BAY GIVING ARTISTS SPACE TO THRIVE.

>>> WE START WITH THE STORY THAT HAD ALL YAYS ON CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK.

VOTERS VALIDATED GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM.

LOOKING INTO WHAT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY.

>> Reporter: THIS RECALL ELECTION IS A REMINDER OF JUST HOW COSTLY IT IS TO STAGE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS.

THE FINAL ESTIMATE CAME IN JULY FROM CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE SHIRLEY WEBER PUTTING THE KORS OF THIS ONE AT $276 MILLION THE WITNESS MORE THAN $243 MILLION BORN BY THE COUNTIES BUT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, THIS WILL LIKELY COST TAXPAYERS UPWARDS OF $300 MILLION.

MESA COLLEGE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE SAID THE STATE'S RECALL ELECTION LAW DATES BACK TO 1911 MEANT TO KEEP POWERFUL INTEREST GROUPS LIKE RAILROADS FROM PICKING THE GOVERNOR AND REBELTURE.

>> THIS KEEPS CITIZENS A CHANCE TO REPLACE PEOPLE WHO THEY THOUGHT WERE BEING MORE RESPONSIVE TO SPECIAL ININTEREST.

IT IS A REFORM TO HELP THE PUBLIC.

>> IT REQUIRES 12% IN THE LAST ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR.

IP THIS CASE THAT WORKED OUT TO NEARLY 1 1/2 MILLION PEOPLE.

BUT LUNA SAYS POWERFUL WEALTHY PEOPLE HAVE FIGURED OUT WAYS TO WORK THE SYSTEM.

>> REMEMBER, ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT IN THE FRONT OF THE TRADER JOE'S SIGNING PEOPLE UP ARE BEING PAID TO BE THERE.

THE MORE MONEY YOU HAVE, THE EASIER IT IS TO QUALIFY SOMETHING FOR THE BALLOT.

>> Reporter: DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN HAS PROPOSED NUMEROUS CHANGES INCLUDING BANNING PAYING SIGNATURE COLLECTORS AND UPPING THE THRESHOLD TO CALL FAY FOR A RECALL ELECTION.

BUT LUNA IS SKEPTICAL OF THOSE PROPOSALS GOING ANYWHERE.

>> EVERYONE IS UPSET ABOUT IT AND THEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND THEN THE PRIMARIES AND BY THE TAME YOU GET BACK TO THINK ABOUT IT, IT WILL BE THE NEXT EVENT, THE NEXT RECALL.

>> Reporter: OR THE NEXT ELECTION WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AWAY WHEN GAVIN NEWSOM WILL RUN ONCE, AGAIN TO KEEP HIS JOHN.

>>> THE STATE RERESPONSE WAS THE BACKDROP TO THE ELECTION.

SAN DIEGO IS APPROACHING 4,000 DEATHS CAUSED BY COVID-19.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER TELLS WHY THERE ARE SIGNS THE LATEST SURGE MIGHT BE SLOWING.

>> Reporter: OVER A RECENT SEVEN-DAY PERIOD, 57 CORONAVIRUS RELATED DEATHS WERE REPORTED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> WE HAVE HAD HIGHER NUMBERS IN THE PAST BUT THE DEATHS TYPICALLY LAG A LITTLE BEHIND THE CASES, SO I AM NOT SURE WE'RE OVER THE WORST OF IT YET.

>> Reporter: THE DOCTOR IS AN IN FISH SHUS DISEASE SPECIALIST WHO ADVISES THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

THE DEATHS COME AFTER INCREASED CASES IN JULY AND INTO AUGUST BUT WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, DAILY CASE NUMBERS AND HOSPITAL SPACES ARE TRENDING DOWN.

>> I'M HOPEFUL WE'RE OVER THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM, BUT YOU KNOW WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER SURGE UNLESS WE GET A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF OUR POP LACE IN MOON NIZED.

>> 2 POINT 1 MILLION ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND WITHIN THE MOST RECENT DEATHS, 80% UNVACCINATED AND ALL HAD UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

>> THE VACCINE IS KEEPING YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND DYING SO THERE ARE SUBGROUPS OF OUR POPULATION THAT REMAIN UNDER IMMUNIZED AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE GETTING SICK.

>> Reporter: HE IS PART OF A PANEL ADVISING THE FDA ON BOOSTER SHOTS.

>> THERE IS A THIRD DOSE, A BOOSTER DOSE, IS IT SAFE AND EFFECTIVE?

>> WHILE THEY ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THE IMMUNO- COMPROMISED AND UNHEALTHY, IT IS UNCLEAR IF THEY WILL BE FOR EVERYONE.

>> ONCE YOU HAVE A PRIMARY VACCINE, YOU'RE PRETTY WELL PROTECTLED FROM GETTING INTO THE HOSPITAL AND DAIJ BUT YOU CAN TRANSMIT THE CORONAVIRUS.

WE MIGHT GIVE THEM TO EVERYBODY SO WE CAN GET OVER WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

>>> SINCE MARCH, COUNTY DATA SHOWS 96% OF CORONAVIRUS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND 88% OF DEATHS HAVE BEEN AMONG THOSE NOT FULLY VACCINATED.

>> MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> BOOSTER SHOTS MIGHT BECOME A BIGGER PART OF THE COVID-19 DISCUSSION BUT FOR FOU THEY ARE ON HOLD FOR MOST AMERICANS.

A PANEL RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE 65 AND UP OR IN A HIGH RISK CATEGORY.

THEY STOPPED SHORT OF EXPANDING TO ALL 16 OR OLDER.

MEMBERS OF THE PANEL SAY THE TWO-DOSE REGIMENT IS STILL GOOD AGAINST SEVERE ILLNESS.

>>> COVID MASKS ARE THE LATEST FLASHPOINTS AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

THEY STUDIED AWAY TO SEE ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM BUT NOW IT IS HERE AND EXPLORING WHAT STUDENTS ARE WACK LILLY LEARNING AND HOW CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BEING MISUNDERSTOOD.

>> Reporter: SCHOOLS ARE BACK IN SESSION AND TENSIONS CONTINUE TO BOIL OVER AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS WHEN CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS MENTIONED.

>> WE DON'T WANT OUR CHILDREN TAUGHT THAT AMERICA IS SESSION STEM CLY RACIST.

>> IT IS FED BY SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES AND REPLACING THE TEACHING OF HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

IF YOU'RE TAKING A CLASS ON CRITICAL RACE TEARY, YOU'RE PROBABLY IN HAW SCHOOL.

>> SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY, A PREM MORE.

>> NO KINDERGARTENER THAT I KNOW IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND IN FACT NO 12th GRADER THAT I KNOW HAS A BASELINE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE TO ENGAGE WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY SO IT IS NOT BEING TAUGHT IN K-12 SCHOOLS.

>> IF CRITICAL RACE THEORY ISN'T BEING TAUGHT IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY.

>> AS MANY SCHOOLS INCORPORATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACTS OF RACISM AND BIG TROY, THER ARE PUSHING TO SUPRESS EDUCATION ABOUT RACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> ANY CONVERSATION THAT PROPOSES THAT RACE STILL MATTERS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.

THAT RACE HAS AN IMPACT ON WHETHER YOU LIVE OR DIE, WHETHER YOU'RE SICK OR HEALTHY, WHETHER YOU'RE EMPLOYED OR UNEMPLOYED.

WHETHER YOU GET IN COURSE CRATED OR NOT, ANY TALK ABOUT RACE THAT IS LESS THAN CELEBRATORY, THAT SAYS WE TRY UMED.

WOE ABOLISHED SLAVERY AND THEN WE PASSED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND WE FRY UM CHED OVER OUR RACIAL HISTORY.

ANY TALK THAT CHALLENGES THAT NARRATIVE THAT SUGGESTS WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, THAT IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY ACCORDING TO THESE CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST AND THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF THE K-12 SCHOOLS.

>> THE BOARD BANNED WHAT THEY CALLED TEN CONCEPT ABOUT RACE FROM BEING TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM.

AS REPORTED BY THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, THE SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT SAID THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE LESSONS FOCUS ON AMERICAN EXCEPTION FALLISM.

>> THE GOAL OF BEING IN CRITICAL RARE THEORY OR BANNING ETHNIC STUDIES IS, INDEED, TO MAINTAIN THE WHITE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS WHAT IS SO DANGEROUS ABOUT THESE BANS.

>> SHE IS A PROFESSOR OF ETHNIC STUDIES AND ANTI RACIST RESEARCH AND POLICY CENTER.

SHE SAYS THE BAN AND THOSE LIKE IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ACTUALLY SEEKING TO REMOVE ETHNIC STUDIES FROM THE CLASSROOM TO MAINTAIN THE MYTH OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM.

>> I THINK WE CAN THINK OF IT AS JUSTIFYING ANDREW JACKSON'S CRUSADE AGAINST IN DIGIT NUS PEOPLE AS SUGGESTING THAT AFRICANS WHO ARE KIDNAPPED AND ENSLAVED WERE BEG SAVELED FROM THEIR DARK LIFE IN AFRICA.

ALL THESE DEEPLY OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS HAVE THEIR ROOT IN AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM.

>> THEY SAY THEY CORRECT THE MYTH OF IT BY HIGHLIGHTING THE UNTOLD STRUGGLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED.

>> ONCE WE CAN DIAGNOSE A SITUATION, AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN IT, THEN WE ARE THEN OBLIGATED TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO CHANGE THE PARTS OF IT THAT WE DON'T LIKE.

THAT IS WHAT ETHNIC -- HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN CHANGE IT?

THAT IS THE GOAL.

NOT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT -- >> TO THAT POINT, SHE SAID IT IS TIME TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION BEYOND IRR ERRONEOUS TERMS AND THE CONFLICT OVER CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

>> DO YOU WANT OUR KIDS TO LEARN THE FULL SCOPE OF AMERICAN HISTORY?

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY, THE UNFINISHED?

>> DO YOU WANT OUR KIDS TO LEARN EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COUNTRY OR DO YOU WANT THEM TO LEARN A MYTH ABOUT THIS COUNTRY?

I THINK THAT MOST SOBER THINKERS WOULD SAY, LET'S TEACH THEM EVERYTHING BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY SORT OF WEAPON WE HAVE AGAINST REPEATING THE MISTAKES OF OUR PAST.

>> SUMMER ENDS IN A FEW DAYS AND IT WAS CALIFORNIA'S HOTTEST ON RECORD.

WE'RE GETTING SOME RELIEF THIS WEEKEND, BUT THE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH EXTREME HEAT ARE TRENDING UP.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER LOOKS INTO WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THOSE WHO WORK OUTSIDE AND OUR ECONOMY.

JORY WEBRAND JOSH SCANS A PROJECT BREW PRINT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TOWN CENTER.

>> WE HAVE TO RUN A PIPE FROM HERE TO HERE.

HE RUNS THE SUBCONTRACTOR ON THE MID COAST TROLLEY EXTENSION, ONE OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S LARGEST PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

THEY ARE UP IN A CHERRY PICKER UNDER A TRACK PLATFORM.

THEY ARE DRILLING HOMES INTO THE UNDERSIDE AND INSTALLING LECK CAM LINES TO A BOX JUST ACROSS THE STREET.

>> I DON'T SEE IT ON THIS COLUMN HERE.

>> Reporter: ONLY SELECT COLUMNS UNDER STATIONS CAN BELIT SO THEY CAN FIND THEM AT NIGHT.

HE SAYS THIS WORK IS FORTUNATELY IN THE SHADE.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR EVERY JOB.

IN FACT, SUN AND HEAT CAN BE A BRUTAL WITHOUT SPECIAL GEAR.

>> NEIGH MAKE CERTAIN VISORS JOBS SUNGLASSES, DIFFERENT TYPES OF COOLING PACKS.

>> GEARS SOMETIMES ISN'T ENOUGH AS HOT SPELLS GET MORE INTENTION, HAPPEN MORE OFTEN AND LAST LONGER.

>> HE SAID THE KEY IS FINDING WAYS TO COPE.

>> THIS BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE JOB ENVIRONMENT, WE WOULD INCREASE WATER INTAKE AND WE WOULD PROBABLY ALLOW MORE TIME FOR BREAK PERIODS.

>> UNION RULES REQUIRE EXTRA ATTENTION FOR PEOPLE WORKING IN HOT CONDITIONS.

MIDDLETON MAKES SURE THEY HAVE PREPTY OF SHADE AND AT LEAST TWO GALLONS OF THE WATER PER WORKER.

THEY WARN MAKING SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.

A RECENT REPORT TOO HOT TO WORK, FINDS THEY FACE HIGHER RISKS OUT STATEWIDE AS EXTREME HEAT DAYS GOES UP AND INTENSITY OF HEAT SPELLS INCREASES.

>> BETWEEN NOW AND THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY, OUT DOOR WORKERS ARE GOING TO INCREASINGLY LOSE WORK TIME, BECAUSE IT IS TOO HOT TO WORK AND THAT WILL MEAN THAT THEY WILL LOSE OUT ON POTENTIAL EARNINGS AS WELL.

>> THE GROUP'S CLIMATE RESEARCHER SAID THOSE LOST EARNINGS COULD BE MORE THAN $55 BILLION A YEAR BY THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WILL SUFFER MORE.

>> PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS BLACK, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC OR LA FINO MAKE UP ABOUT 32% OF THE POPULATION IN THE U.S., BUT THEY MAKE UP ABOUT 40% OF OUTDOOR WORKERS.

IN SOME DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS, THOSE NUMBERS ARE EVEN HIGHER.

>> THE ANALYSIS CONCLUDES MORE THAN 7 MILLION WORKERS COULD LOSE UP TO 10% OF THEIR PAY.

THAT KEEPS THEM FROM DOING THEIR JOB.

NAME YEARS CAN PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION AND MORE BREAKS BUT SHE SAYS AVOIDING WORK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY DOESN'T ALWAYS HELP.

>> CHECKING WORK SCHEDULES CAN IN AND OF ITSELF HAVE IMPLICATIONS THAT ARE NEGATIVE FOR OUTDOOR WORKERS SO NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK NIGHTTIME SHIFTS.

>> SHE SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE ACTION TO KEEP WORKERS FROM SUFFERING IN THE HEAT AS IT PROTECTS THEIR POCKET BACKS.

SHE SAID ALL THOSE LOST WAGES COULD HAVE NEGATIVE AFFECTS ON LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES.

BUT SHE SAID SLOWING CLIMATE CHANGE REMAINS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR AVOIDING EXTREME HEAT.

>> WE COULD SAVE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO D SOMETHING NOW.

THESE ARE MEASURES LIKE INVESTING IN MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES.

WE CAN GET OFF FOSSIL FUELS.

>> AND AS THE CHANGING CLIMATE CHANGES THE WORK OUT DOORS, COMPANIES WILL HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXTRA SAFETY CONCERNS AND EXTRA EXPENSE.

ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE MORE RESOURCES, THE BETTER AS WE ENTER WHAT IS OFTEN THE PERIOD OF HIGHEST RISK FOR WILDFIRES.

A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT A NEW TOOL THAT WILL HELP PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S FIRST IS ACCESSIBLE TO FIREFIGHTING HELICOPTERS TO COMBAT WIRED FILES.

THIS CAN BE CONTINUOUSLY REFILLED AND RENOTELY CONTROLLED BY HELICOPTER PILOT.

JUST THE WAY FIRE TRUCKS HOOKUP TO HYDRANTS ON THE STREET.

>> DO HAVE A DEAD CATED WATER RESOURCE LIKE THIS IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE AND WE CERTAINLY WILL BE USING IT HOPEFULLY NOT TOO SOON, BUT I'M SURE IT WILL SEE SOME USE.

>> THE DISTRICT CHIEF SAYS THERE ARE A LOT OF DEVASTATING WILDFIRES IN THIS REGION.

HIS DISTRICT PARTNERED WITH THE RAINBOW WATER DEPARTMENT AND CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO TO BUILD THE HELI HYDRANT.

THIS IS KNOWN AS THE RAPID AREA WATER SUPPLY STILL TO COME BAT WILDFIRES AND PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

HE IS WITH CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO.

>> WE DEPEND ON OUR AERIAL FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES AND THEN WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE GROUND TROOPS.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THE DROUGHT HAS INTENSIFIED IN CALIFORNIA.

THE USUAL PLACES WE DIP WATER FROM, THOSE PONDS ARE STARTING TO DRY UP.

>> HOE HOPES THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY.

A HALING THESE FACILITIES IN LARGE NUMBERS WILL BE AN INVESTMENT AND PAY DIV TENDS AND LIVE NOT LOST AND PEACE OF MIND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

>>> THE WORK BEING DONE BY FIREFIGHTERS TO SAVE SEQUOIA TREES IS AMONG THE TOP STORIES AT KPBS.ORG.

OTHER POPULAR STORIES, NEWS AGAINST THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID- 19 AND HOW NEARLY 2,000 LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF TAKING THE VACCINE.

ALSO REACTION TO THE RECALL RESULTS.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR GAVIN NEWSOM NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN FOCUS ON GOVERNING?

AND A BIT OF FUN IN THE SOUTH BAY.

A NEW "SESAME STREET" THEME WATERPARK IS COMING.

HERE IS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: SESAME PLAY SAN DIEGO IS THE NEWEST THEME PARK BY SEA WORLD PARKS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND SESAME WORKSHOP.

IT WILL BE AT THE FORMER SITE OF AQUATIC WATERPARK.

THE PARK WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO ASSESS ME STREET WATERPARK THAT INCLUDES 11 WATER ATTRACTIONS, 7 THEMED JOYRIDES, A THEATER SHOW AND PARADE PACKED WITH POPULAR CHARACTERS FROM THE SHOW.

PRESIDENT OF THE PARK JOHN DUNLAP SAYS IT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WEST COAST.

>> THE FUN, LAUGHTER AND LEARNING FROM SESAME VIET WITH STREET WILL COME TO LIFE.

>> SHE SAID IT WAS A STAPLE IN HER CHILDHOOD AS IT WAS FOR MILLIONS OF KIDS.

>> SESAME VIET WAS ONLY ONE OF TWO SHOWS THAT MY PARENTS ALLOWED ME TO WATCH.

>> THIS WILL BE WHERE FAMILIES CAN COME WHETHER YOU HAVE YOUNG KIDS OR TEENS CH >> THE PARK IS EXPECTED TO BRING 800 JOBS.

>> ANOTHER ECONOMIC BOOM AND BAST TO THE CITY IN THIS PARTICULAR REGION AND LOCAL JOBS FOR OUR YOUTH WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

>> IT WILL HAVE THE ICONIC ONE TWO THREE STOOP, PHOTO OP.

IT WILL OPEN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.

>>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE HAVE HAD AN IN-PERSON COMIC-CON AND SOON PEOPLE CAN GET THOSE LONG AWAITED BADGES.

ORGANIZERS SENT OUT AN ALERT LETTING EVERYONE NO BADGES WILL GO ON SALE SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25th AT 11:00 A.M.

DONE ONLINE.

YOU HAVE TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR AN I.D.

CH THE THREE DAY EVENT CALLED COMIC-CON SPECIAL EDITION WILL BE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>>> SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE NOW HAS A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT WILL ALLOW A NEW JEN RACE OF ARTISTS TO THRIVE.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER WENT TO SEE HOW IT IS BEING PUT TO GOOD USE.

>> Reporter: SCHARA WHITE MAKES EVERY MOVEMENT WITH MEANING.

SHE IS A DANCER LEARNING HOW TO EXPRESS HER ARTISTIC TALENT AND DEVELOP TEN NASTY.

>> YOU CRAVE ATTENTION.

YOU FEED OFF THE AUDIENCE.

IT IS AN UNREAL FEELING.

>> IT IS AMAZING.

>> Reporter: SCHARA IS ONE OF THE FIRST STUDENTS TO TAKE CLASSES HERE AT THE NEW 41,000 SQUARE FOOT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ON THE CAMPUS OF SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE.

THIS BRAND-NEW COMPLEX IS STATE- OF-THE-ART.

VETERAN DANCE PROFESSOR IS DETERMINED TO USE HER MODERN CLASSROOM STUDIO TO TRAIN AND CULTIVATE THE DISTINCT AND DIVERSE TALENT COMING FROM THE SOUTH BAY COMMUNITY.

>> SOME ARE COMING IN WITH POLYNESIAN TRAINING, BELLY DANCE, LATIN AND YOU'LL HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE IN A PAL LAY CLASS OR MUSICAL THEATER CLASS.

>> THIS IS A LARGE AUDITORIUM USED PRIMARILY FOR MUSIC CONCEPTS AND ALSO FOR DANCE CONCERTS AND OCCASIONALLY FOR THEATER PERFORMANCES.

>> THE COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ES NOT JUST FOR LEARNING.

IT IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT TOO.

THE SCHOOL WILL MOUNT THE STUDENT PRODUCTIONS HERE ALONGSIDE EVENTS PRODUCED BY PROFESSIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.

>> ♪ ♪ A NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDER WAY WITH THE SAN DIEGO OPERA.

♪ ♪ >> AND THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY TO LEASE THE SPACE IN THE FUTURE.

THE COMPLEX COSTS $66 MILLION TO DESIGN AND BUILD.

ALL OF IT WAS PAID WITH BOND MONEY APPROVED BY LOCAL VOTERS IN 2016.

>> WE THAN,THE VOTERS WHO SAW THE VISION FOR WHAT COULD HAPPEN AT THE COLLEGE IF THEY JUST INJECTED SOME FUNDS HERE.

>> THIS CORNER OF THE CAMPUS WHERE THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SITS WAS AN EMPTY LOT FOR 50 YEAR.

GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN FROM THE SOUTH BAY WOULD COME HERE AT CHRISTMAS TO PICK A TREE WITH THEIR FAMILY.

OR ENJOY THE PUMPKIN PATCH AT HALLOWEEN.

NOW THIS OFFERS MUCH MORE THAN JUST FUN, BUT OPPORTUNITY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

>> I LOVE YOU AND I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK, BUT YOU MAKE IT SO DIFFICULT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO A WORD I SAY.

>> THE FRESHMAN TAYLOR WROTE THIS MONOLOGUE.

SHE IS A STUDENT IN THE ACTING 1 CLASS.

SHE WANTS TO BE AN ACTRESS R 0 PLAY RIGHT ONE DAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING SO VULNERABLE.

>> I'M A BIT NERVOUS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SHE IS GRATEFUL FOR HER EDGE CASE AND THE NEW AND IMPROVED RESOURCES SOUTHWESTERN HAS TO IFER HER AND OTHER STUDENTS OF COLOR.

90% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION COMES FROM HISTORICALLY MINORITY AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

ALMOST 70% ARE HISPANIC.

>> IT IS VERY SPACIOUS SO I APPRECIATE THAT AS A DANCER.

>> HE IS ONE OF THEM.

HE WANTS TO BE A CHOREOGRAPHER AND ONE DAY START HIS OWN DANCE STUDIO.

THIS IS WHERE THE DREAM BEGINS FOR HIM.

>> ENGLISH WAS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE.

I LEARNED SPANISH FISH.

I HAVE A LOT OF MEXICAN BACKGROUND.

>> HE HAS BEEN HERE 31 YEARS ON THE FACULTY TEACHING AND CREATING A COMMUNITY OF NEXT GENERATION DANCERS.

SHE PROVIDES THE EDUCATION AND EN KHANMENT THAT TAKES HER STUDENTS MUCH FARTHER THAN THE STAGE.

>> I THINK DANCE GIVES THEM A NEW OUT LOCK ON LIFE.

THEY START TO KIND OF COME OUT OF THEIR SHELL A LITTLE AS THEY GAIN TECHNIQUE AND AS THEY PERFECT THEIR CRAFT.

>> JUST A FEW WEEKS INTO THE FALL SEMESTER, THIS MULTI- MILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT IS ALREADIING-YEAR-OLDING A PROFIT OF POTENTIAL.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

WE'LL END THE SHOW WITH LATEST FROMMENT KPBS SUMMER MUSIC SERIES.

OUR SHOWCASE OF LOCAL MUSIC CONTINUES WITH AN X EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRONIC DUO.

YOU CANNOT FIND THEIR MUSIC ON STREAMING PLAT >>> PHOS.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

♪ ♪ >> WERE FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

WE MAKE CRAZY NOISE FOR YOUR BRAIN.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> ♪ ♪ >> WE MAKE WHATEVER WE WANT.

IT IS USUALLY PSYCHEDELIC, TRIPPY, ABRASIVE, AGGRESSIVE, GLITCH STYLE, WALLS OF SOUND, BIG DRUMS, DIRTY BASS.

ALL IMPROV.

♪ ♪ >> YOU KIND OF LOCK AT EACH OTHER AND WE ALREADY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

IT IS WEIRD.

WE JUST VIBE OFF EACH OTHER PRETTY GOOD.

>> FEED IT OFF THE TELEKENNECKE TICK BRAIN WAVES.

WE HAVE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING ON THE STAGE SO WE KNOW WHAT -- I COULD SEE WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO AND SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO AND THAT IS THE BEST PART.

>> YEAH.

♪ ♪ >> WE LIKE HAVING A NEW EXPERIENCE.

IT IS A DIFFERENT SONG EVERY TIME.

♪ ♪