Assemblymember David Alvarez kicks off his new podcast, Dreaming Big, Working Hard, with an intimate and inspiring conversation about the power of education—especially for first-generation students. His first guest? Longtime educator and wife, Xochitl Alvarez.

Together, they reflect on their personal journeys from low-income households to college and careers in public service and education. Xochitl shares her work at Nativity Prep Academy, where she mentors students from 6th grade through college graduation—and sometimes beyond. She outlines how early exposure to career goals, mentorship, and culturally relevant support systems can reshape outcomes for students who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

David and Xochitl also explore broader topics like the impact of technology on student learning, the need for community-based universities like the Chula Vista campus in development, and why California’s education system must evolve to meet the needs of today’s diverse student body.

The episode is a heartfelt call to action for educators, parents, and policymakers alike to invest where it matters most: our kids.

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