Arts Consortium Community Meetings

THIS IS HOME; A VISALIA DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES ON YOUTUBE, A PERSONAL JOURNEY OF A HOMETOWN’S FOOD, COMMUNITY AND CHALLENGES

VISALIA, CA February 28, 2025 – A new documentary, This is Home, premiering on YouTube on March 24, 2025, explores Visalia through four meals and four conversations, offering an intimate look at what makes a hometown feel like home. 

The 30-minute documentary produced and presented  by local Visalia filmmaker, Niccolo Go, considers the question, “What makes your hometown a wonderful place to live?” 

Filmed in 2019, “This is Home” begins with a meal and goes into a deeper discussion around what makes a hometown special for its residents. Go visits his favorite local eateries, starting with breakfast at Component Coffee Lab, followed by stops at Bangkok Noy, The Vintage Press, and Tacos Lucha. He also takes a break from dining to visit Sequoia Kung Fu and Yoga for a mid-morning Yoga flow.  

“Through food and conversation, I wanted to capture what makes Visalia more than just a place on a map,” said Go. “It’s the people, the flavors, and the stories that turn a city into a home.”

As a Visalia transplant, Go joins his guests in reflecting on the opportunities and challenges of putting down roots in this growing Central California city. This is Home explores what makes a community truly feel like home. While Go and his guests celebrate Visalia’s vibrant culture, tight-knit community, and opportunities for growth, they also address the city’s challenges, including homelessness and the impacts of rapid expansion. The documentary invites viewers to reflect on how a hometown shapes identity and belonging.

“Visalia is a city full of contrasts. It’s rich in culture and community, but it faces the challenges that come with growth,” said Rosalinda Verde Alexander of Green Rose Productions. “ ‘This is Home’ doesn’t shy away from these complexities. It’s an honest look at what makes our city special, while also acknowledging the work still to be done to ensure it remains a great place for everyone.”

The documentary features an engaging lineup of local voices, including Chef Chris Gonzales, known for his pop-up Tacos Lucha;, Mary Jo Eastes of The Arts Consortium; Marina Rojas of the Fox Theater; artist Antonio Cuellar, Maya Rodriguez of Sequoia Kung Fu and Yoga; Rosalinda Verde Alexander of Green Rose Production;, and journalist Paul Myers of The Sun Gazette. 

“This is Home” will premiere on Youtube at 6PM on March 24, 2025, just in time to celebrate the  return of the highly popular pop-up Tacos Lucha by Chef Chris Gonzalez, running March 30-April 5, 2025. You can catch a preview screening at the Arts Consortium at 5:30pm on March 11.

For updates, follow @gocreativegroup and @joaquin.around on Instagram

Youtube premiere on www.youtube.com/@gocreativegroup