>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE LOOK FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

COMING UP THE LIFE OF AN ASYLUM SEEKER WAITING FOR ANSWERS.

AS UKRAINIANS ARE ALLOWED INTO THE U.S. -- TALKS WITH WOMEN FROM ONE OF MEXICO'S MOST DANGEROUS REGIONS HOPING THEY WILL GET THE SAME TREATMENT.

>>> CHRISTINA KIM UPDATES HER LET'S TALK ABOUT SERIES ABOUT RACE AND POLITICS AND HOW IT CAN HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER.

>>> ANGIE PEREZ TAKES US INSIDE A CLASSROOM USING THE MUSIC OF SELENA AS A BRIDGE TO LATINO CULTURE.

>>> THIS WEEK SAN DIEGO POLICE RELEASED VIDEO OF THE LATEST SHOOTING INVOLVING ITS OFFICERS.

IT HAPPENED DURING AN OVERNIGHT INCIDENT IN TARA CENTER LAST SATURDAY.

THE DEPARTMENTS THAT RESPONDED TO CALLS OF SEVERAL HOME BREAK- INS.

AT ONE TIME THE INTRUDER TOOK A WOMAN HOSTAGE.

THAT'S WHEN AN OFFICER CLIMBED ONTO HER ROOF AND FIRED SHOTS INTO THE HOME.

THE MAN WAS NOT STRUCK AND LATER SURRENDERED.

THAT INCIDENT INVOLVES SAN DIEGO POLICE.

ACROSS THE COUNTY CHANGES ARE COMING TO THE WEIGHTS SHOOTINGS ARE INVESTIGATED.

>> Reporter: UNTIL NOW WHEN A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY OR A POLICE OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED SOMEONE WHILE ON THE JOB THE DEPARTMENT THE PERSON WORKED FOR DID THE SHOOTING INVESTIGATION.

NO MORE.

NOW THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL DO THE INVESTIGATION FOR DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTINGS AND THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE OF A SAN DIEGO OFFICERS INVOLVED IN A DEADLY SHOOTING.

ALL OTHER OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS WILL BE HANDLED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

IF BOTH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND SD PD ARE INVOLVED IN A DEADLY SHOOTING, CHULA VISTA POLICE WILL CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION.

>> THE WAY I FOUND OUT WAS I WAS DRIVING HOME AND LISTENING TO KPBS .

>> Reporter: THE REVIEW BOARD WHICH OVERSEES DEADLY SHOOTINGS OR ITS COUNTERPART THE CPP, COMMISSION ON POLICE PRACTICES WHICH DOES THE SAME THING WITH SAN DIEGO POLICE SHOOTINGS WERE NOTIFIED OF THE NEW PROTOCOL.

CPP CHAIRMAN BRANDON GILBERT SAID HE WAS SHOCKED AND HAD NO IDEA OF THE CHANGE WAS COMING.

>> WE USUALLY HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND HIS STAFF.

AND NOT ONCE HAVE THEY GIVEN US A HEADS UP.

>> Reporter: YUSUF MILLER TOLD KPBS MIDDAY ADDITION THE CHANGE DOES NOT GO NEARLY FAR ENOUGH.

>> WE NEED NON-LAW-ENFORCEMENT AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS TO INVESTIGATE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE ANTICIPATE THE SAME RESULTS IF LAW ENFORCEMENT OR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY INVESTIGATE THEMSELVES.

>> Reporter: UNDERSHERIFF KELLY MARTINEZ SAID THE MOVE IS GOING TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC.

SHE REJECTS THE VIEW OF MILLER AND OTHERS THAT POLICE AGENCIES SHOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATED BY OTHER INVESTIGATIONS.

SHE SAID THE DEPARTMENT ARE ALL INDEPENDENT AND NO DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE INFLUENCE OVER ANOTHER WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATIONS.

AS FOR THE LACK OF NOTIFICATION OF EITHER THE CLERK OR THE CPP WE CONTACTED BOTH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND SAN DIEGO PD FOR A RESPONSE.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SENT US AN EMAIL SAYING IN PART, THE RECENT MO YOU, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE MO U BETWEEN SHERIFFS AND CLERK.

WE DID NOT GET A REPLY FROM THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE FACT THEY'S SIDELINING AND KEEPING US OUT OF THE LOOP.

>> Reporter: GILBERT SAID HE IS HOPING TO MEET WITH THE CHIEF TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE CHANGE WILL IMPACT THEIR INVESTIGATIONS TO BECAUSE HE SAYS NOW THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS.

>>> OCEANSIDE IS NORTH COUNTY'S LARGEST CITY BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A SINGLE HOMELESS SHELTER.

A CONTRACT IS IN PLACE TO OPEN ONE BUT WORK IS BEING HELD UP.

TANIA THORNE EXPLAINS WHY.

>> Reporter: DONNIE D LETS US INSIDE OF THE FUTURE SITE OF OCEANSIDE'S FIRST HOMELESS SHELTER.

>> NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE WE SIGNED THE SERVICE AGREEMENT.

I THINK THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE.

PATIENCE IS THE KEY.

I THINK IT HAS BEEN HARD.

>> Reporter: HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION.

THE ORGANIZATION SELECTED FROM THE SHELTER.

IT WILL BE LOCATED AT THE OLD OCEAN SHORES HIGH SCHOOL OF OCEANSIDE BOULEVARD.

THE BUILDINGS ARE IN NEED OF A REMODEL.

AND A SHOVEL HAS YET TO HIT THE GROUND TO PREPARE FOR THE 50 BED HOMELESS SHELTER.

>> SINCE NOVEMBER IT IS JUST BEEN SUBMITTING PLANS AND TRYING TO GET PERMITS AND READY TO GO.

I THINK OUR CONTRACTOR HAD TO GET A LICENSE THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE.

>> Reporter: THE SITE IS CITY- OWNED AND WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY IS NEW TERRITORY FOR THE RESCUE MISSION.

>> WE TYPICALLY OWN OUR OWN STUFF.

AND WE SET OUR OWN TIMELINES.

BUT WITH WORKING WITH ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY AND WORKING WITH ANOTHER CITY, WE HAVE HAD TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS JUST TO TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I THINK THAT HAS DELAYED A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: HE SAID HE HOPING TO BE OPENED BY NOW THAT THE CITY REQUIRED THREE DIFFERENT BIDS FOR ALL WORK BEFORE ONE WAS APPROVED.

IN A STATEMENT THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE SAID, WHEN DEVELOPING A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE IT IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED FOR PLANS TO CHANGE.

BUT D SAYS WORK ON THE SHELTER IS ABOUT TO START.

>> WE ARE READY TO START DEMOLITION AND THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK.

THAT WILL TAKE A COUPLE WEEKS TO GET EVERY THING CLEANED OUT.

THEN THEY WILL START TO RENOVATE THIS PROPERTY.

>> Reporter: THE RESCUE MISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING OPERATIONS OF THE SHELTER.

WHILE THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMODEL OF THE BUILDINGS.

$2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING WAS SECURED DEDICATED TO THE REMODEL OF THE HOMELESS SHELTER.

>> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THEY WILL USE THAT TO RENOVATE THIS FACILITY WHICH IS ABOUT A $2 MILLION BUDGET AND I THINK IT IS ANOTHER THREE OR 400,000 TO FURNISH IT.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE 50 BED SHELTER WILL NOT SOLVE HOMELESSNESS D SAYS HE HOPES THE SHELTER WILL FILL UP IN ORDER TO NEED AND EXPANSION.

>> I HOPE TO GO TO MY BOARD IN THE CITY AND SAY, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BEDS.

WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS IN A REMARKABLE WAY.

WE NEED MORE BEDS.

THAT WOULD BE A GREAT NEXT STEP.

I HOPE THAT HAPPENS.

IT'S >> Reporter: B SAID DEMOLITION IS GOING TO START IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND HE HOPES TO BE OPEN BY LATE SUMMER.

>>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT COMING TO KPBS CENTERED AROUND HOMELESSNESS.

THIS COMING WEDNESDAY THIS APRIL 20th METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN WHILST UNSHELTERED, SOLVING HOMELESSNESS IN SAN DIEGO.

IT WILL INCLUDE LOCAL EXPERTS ON THE ISSUE.

THE START TIME IS 6 P.M. NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE AT WWW.KPBS.ORG.

>>> ASYLUM-SEEKERS STUCK IN TIJUANA BARELY HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

THEY ARE CAMPED JUST SOUTH OF THE BORDER AND IT WAS BROKEN UP BY THE CITY TWO MONTHS AGO.

THEY NOW STRUGGLE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN AND WE MET WITH SOME WHO SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: ROSA WHO ASKED ME NOT TO USE HER LAST NAME HAS BEEN LIVING IN A CONSTANT STATE OF TERROR.

SHE AND HER TWO YOUNGEST CHILDREN FLED FROM THEIR HOME LAST YEAR AFTER MEMBERS OF A DRUG CARTEL STILL HER FAMILY'S FARM AND KIDNAPPED HER OLDEST SON.

NOW IN TIJUANA ROSA STILL PAYS A MONTHLY RANSOM OF $60 A MONTH TO KEEP HER SON FROM BEING TORTURED.

ROSA SAYS THE CARTEL DOES SHE AND HER CHILDREN ARE IN TIJUANA AND SHE IS TERRIFIED OF THE THOUGHT OF BEING FOUND.

SHE IS CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN PAYING HUNDRED AND $50 A MONTH TO SHARE A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH FIVE OTHER PEOPLE.

SHE IS WAITED NEARLY A YEAR TO REQUEST ASYLUM IN THE U.S. AND THAT DELAY IS LIMITING ACCESS TO ASYLUM-SEEKERS FROM TITLE 42.

ROSA SAYS SHE FELT MUCH SAFER LIVING WHERE SHE DID A MAKESHIFT MIGRANT CAMP THAT WAS ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN BY TIJUANA AUTHORITIES IN FEBRUARY.

FOR MONTHS SHE LIVED IN THIS TENT COMMUNITY WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER ASYLUM-SEEKERS MOSTLY FROM MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

SHE COULD EVEN WORK IN NEARBY STORES.

HER NEW APARTMENT IS ISOLATED IN A DANGEROUS NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT TAKES HER AN HOUR TO GET TO DOWNTOWN TIJUANA WHERE MOST OF THE JOBS AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE.

-- HIS ADVOCATE AND HE SAYS THE LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE CAMP OR BY NO MEANS IDEAL BUT MIGRANTS ARE SAFER THERE THAN THEY ARE NOW.?

CONDITIONS FOR THEM FOR MANY OF THEM WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN MEXICO.

>> YOU SPEAK TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND YOU FIND OUT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH SOME SERIOUS TROUBLING SITUATIONS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE HOUSING AND THEY LACK ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

THEY ARE MUCH MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ROBBED OR BEING APPREHENDED BY THE AUTHORITIES.

>> Reporter: THE NEIGHBORS ARE ALSO RUNNING FROM GANGS.

LIKE ROSA SHE USED TO LIVE IN -- DARCY SAYS THERE IS NO WORK IN THIS PART OF TOWN.

SHE HAS APPLIED FOR JOBS IN SEVERAL PLACES BUT THEY DON'T HIRE FOREIGNERS.

SHE LIVES OFF OF WHAT SHE CAN MAKE BEGGING AND WASHING CARS.

SHE IS LEFT WAITING FOR U.S. BORDER POLICY TO CHANGE.

ROSA AND DARCY'S FRUSTRATIONS HAVE HEIGHTENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.

THE SAME ORDER OFFICIALS WHO USED TITLE 42 TO BLOCK THE ASYLUM IN THE U.S. HAVE ALLOWED HUNDREDS OF UKRAINIAN AND REFUGEES TO ENTER THE COUNTRY.

ROSA UNDERSTANDS THE UKRAINIANS ARE FREE NO MORE BUT SHE SAYS LIVING IN -- IS HIM IS LIKE LIVING IN A WAR ZONE.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE CURRENTLY HAS A LEVEL FOR TRAVEL ADVISORY AND IT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND ADVISES PEOPLE TO NOT TRAVEL BECAUSE OF CRIME AND KIDNAPPING RISKS.

THE SAME THING THAT ROSA IS FLEEING FROM.

AFTER A YEAR OF WAITING AND LIVING IN CONSTANT FEAR ROSA FEELS ABANDONED BY BOTH THE AMERICAN AND MEXICAN GOVERNMENTS.

>>> HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST READ STORIES THIS WEEK AT WWW.KPBS.ORG.

ILLEGAL SETBACK FOR THE COUNTY FAIR IS A JUDGE WEIGHS IN ON A CONTRACT FOR RIGHT OPERATORS.

THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS REMOVING AN ADVISORY BIKE LANE IN MIRA MESA AFTER PUSHBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>> INSIDE CHANTE'S HOUSE.

SEE THE UNIQUE PLACE THAT IS PROVIDING CARE FOR DOZENS OF STRAY CATS.

>>> WE ARE CONTINUING OUR SERIES, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT WHERE WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT RACE AND EQUITY.

IN PART TWO CHRISTINA KIM TAKES A LOOK AT THE ART OF DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

>> Reporter: WHEN YOU FIRST MEET -- YOU MIGHT NOTICE A BIG SMILE.

OR HER UNIQUE ONE-OF-A-KIND CLOTHING THAT SHE DESIGNS HERSELF.

>> I LIKE TO INTEGRATE CULTURE.

THIS IS THE AFRICAN COUNTRY GIRL.

>> Reporter: AND EMIGRANT FROM CAMEROON SHE CALLS HERSELF A BRIDGE MAKER BETWEEN CULTURES AND IDEAS.

>> I AM A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION PRACTITIONER.

>> Reporter: FOR HER THIS WORK IS NOT A 9-TO-5 JOB.

IT IS HOW SHE LIVES HER LIFE.

ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AT THE HEIGHT OF THE 2020 RACIAL JUSTICE PROTEST SHE WAS LIVING IN SANTEE.

>> THE BULK OF THE PROTEST WERE HAPPENING AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET THERE WERE COUNTER PROTESTERS.

>> Reporter: THE AIR WAS THICK WITH TENSION.

>> I COULD NOT IMAGINE HOW ANYBODY COULD BE COUNTER PROTESTING THIS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

>> Reporter: SHE WALKED OVER TO THEM TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND.

IT DIDN'T GO WELL.

ONE MAN APPROACHED HER AND TOLD HER --?

I CAN'T BREATHE.

WHICH I FOUND VERY OFFENSIVE.

BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE HOLDING SIGNS SAYING THEY COULDN'T BREATHE.

>> Reporter: SHE WALKED AWAY WITH AN KEPT COMING BACK.

LISTENING AND ALSO EXPLAINING HER EXPERIENCES AS A BLACK WOMAN.

ALL THIS TO SAY -- KNOWS HOW TO HAVE A TOUGH CONVERSATION WHICH IS WHAT MAKES HER THE PERFECT PERSON TO ANSWER THIS WEEK'S AUDIENCE QUESTION.

IT COMES FROM 36-YEAR-OLD -- HE IS A FIRST GENERATION IRAQI AMERICAN WHO SAYS HE HAS NOTICED IT IS HARD TO TALK TO PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWS BECAUSE PEOPLE TEND TO SHUT DOWN.

>> HOW CAN WE HAVE A CONVERSATION AND NOT GET IT BE EXTREME OR HOW DO WE KEEP SOMEONE'S FOCUS?

>> Reporter: DRAWING FROM HER EXPERIENCES -- HAS THREE TIPS LOOKING TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.

>> GO INTO THE CONVERSATION WITH AN INTENTION TO ENGAGE NOT TO DESTROY.

YOU'LL SHUT DOWN VERY FAST.

AND GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE.

EXPECT DISCOMFORT AND SEE IT IS OKAY WERE NECESSARY.

WE CANNOT GROW WITHOUT DISCOMFORT.

>> Reporter: AND FINALLY.

>> GET INTO A CONVERSATION NOT TO PROVE THAT YOU ARE RIGHT BUT TO SHARPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES.

WE COME TO CONFLICT WHEN OUR EXPERIENCES LEAD US ABOUT CONCLUSIONS ABOUT HOW THE WORLD REALLY IS.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS ISN'T ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

WHEN THE OTHER PERSON IS UNWILLING TO HEAR YOU.

MUTUAL RESPECT AND DIGNITY ARE KEYS.

BECAUSE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ARE NOT ABOUT GIVING EQUAL CREDENCE TO PEOPLE WHO SPEW HATE OR RACISM.

>> SELF-CARE AND ENGAGED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO NOT, TO UNDERSTANDING YOU.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE SETBACKS SHE STILL BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF TAKING TIME TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.

FOR HER IT IS NOT ABOUT FIXING ALL THE WORLD'S DIVISIONS TO SOME MAGICAL COUP BY A MOMENT.

>> WE NEED PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO ACTIONS.

NOT EVERY CONVERSATION WILL LEAD TO AN ACTION TOMORROW.

BUT I SEE THEM AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: IT'S A MORE STEP TOWARDS A KINDER AND UNDERSTANDING WORLD.

>>> WE WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, 619-630-8516.

LEAVE US A MESSAGE WITH YOUR QUESTION.

>>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF STORIES THIS WEEK ON THE IMPORTANT WORK IN ARTS AND SCIENCES HAPPENING AT SDSU.

FIRST, ARE WE ALONE?

THOMAS FUNDS VISITED A LAB WORKING TO FIND OUT WHAT IF ANYTHING USED TO CALL MARS HOME.

>> SAMPLES -- >> Reporter: JESSICA TORRES SHOWS ME A TINY GLASS TUBE SHE USES TO SORT THROUGH MOLECULES.

SHE CAN TELL BY THE MOVEMENT WHAT KIND THEY ARE AND WHETHER THEY ARE BIOLOGICAL.

ULTIMATELY SHE HOPES TO SEE THOSE SIGNS OF LIFE IN MATERIAL GATHERED FROM MARS.

WHERE MIGHT YOU FIND THOSE LIFE SIGNS ON THE SURFACE OF MARS?

>> IT WILL BE A VERY HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

SO IF THERE WAS LIFE TO BE DETECTED ON MARS IT LIKELY WOULD BE IN POROUS ROCK SORT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF ROCKS.

SOMEWHERE THAT IS SHIELDED FROM THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

>> Reporter: THE WORK IN THIS LAB COULD ULTIMATELY PROVE THAT THERE IS LIFE OR WAS LIFE ON AT LEAST ONE OTHER PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE IMAGINED, SOMETHING WE HAVE ASSUMED, BUT IT IS NEVER BEEN PROVEN.

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR CHRIS HARRISON MANAGES THE LAB AND HE IS TORRES IS ADVISOR.

>> SPECIFICALLY AMINO ACIDS.

THESE ARE LITTLE LEGO BLOCKS AND YOU GET DIFFERENT PROTEINS OR ENZYMES IN THE FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS OF CELLS.

>> Reporter: THE GLASS TUBE THEY USED TO SORT OUT THE LIFE BUILDING MOLECULES HAS A CHANNEL MORE NARROW THAN HUMAN HAIR.

MOLECULES PASS THROUGH IT AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND THE ELECTRIC CHARGE.

THE RACE TO THE TUBE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING AT AN AMINO ACID.

NASA HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY LANDING ON MARS SINCE THE 1970s AND THE FIRST IMAGES FROM THE PLANET SHOWED A PERFECT BARREN LANDSCAPE BUT EVENTUALLY THEY DID FIND OLD RIVERBEDS LIKELY FORMED BY PAST WATER FLOWS.

WE ALSO LEARNED MARS IS A THIN ATMOSPHERE SHOWN BY THE STRONG LANDING ON THE PLANET.

TODAY THE MARS ROVER PERSEVERANCE IS UP THERE AND IT IS PARKED ON ONE OF THOSE DRIED- UP RIVER DELTAS GOING TO PICK UP SEDIMENTARY ROCKS SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE.

MICHAEL MEYER IS THE LEAD SCIENTIST FOR THE MARS EXCAVATION PROGRAM AND HE SAYS IF WE FIND OUT LIFE ON MARS EXISTED TO CHANGE OUR CONCEPTION OF LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE.

>> WHAT IS LIFE?

WOULD WE KNOW?

ALL WE KNOW IS US.

WE HAVE ONE EXAMPLE.

AS ANY SCIENTIST, ONE EXAMPLE DOES NOT, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONSTITUTE THE TOTALITY OF WHAT LIFE IS.

>> Reporter: FINDING PROOF OF LIFE ON MARS COULD DEMONSTRATE THERE IS NOTHING UNIQUE ABOUT LIFE ON EARTH.

THAT IN FACT THE CREATION OF LIFE IS JUST A NATURAL PART OF THE PLANETS PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL EVOLUTION.

>> IF YOU HAVE VOLCANOES AND YOU HAVE WATER AND YOU HAVE THESE ELEMENTS GIVEN ENOUGH TIME, LIFE WILL START.

IT COULD BE THAT EASY.

WE DON'T KNOW.

>> Reporter: THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MARTIANS WE IMAGINED DATES BACK TO THE 19th CENTURY WHEN HG WELLS WROTE WERE THE WORLDS.

SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR AND CONSULTANT DAVID BRIN SAID MARS IS ONE OF THE PLACES TO LOOK FOR MARS.

>> IF WE FIND LIFE ELSEWHERE IT WILL BE BASICALLY A PRETTY COOL THING.

THE NUMBER ONE CANDIDATE IS NOT MARS RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT OR EVEN THE CLOUDS OF VENUS, WHICH RECENTLY WERE TOPICS.

BUT THE 10 WATER WORLDS WE KNOW WE HAVE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: HE IS TALKING ABOUT FOR EXAMPLE SATURN'S MOON TITAN AND EUROPA, ONE OF THE MOONS OF JUPITER.

MOONS THAT ARE KNOWN TO HAVE WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE LIQUID OCEANS.

>> WHAT THEY WE FIND LIFE EVOLVING ON ITS OWN ELSEWHERE.

THAT SUGGESTS THAT LIFE IS EVERYWHERE IN THE COSMOS.

AND THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE CASE.

>> Reporter: ASTRONOMY IS ALSO IDENTIFIED 5000 PLANETS THAT EXIST IN OTHER SOLAR SYSTEMS.

SO THE POSSIBILITIES ARE GREAT.

FOR NOW WE ARE JUST LOOKING AT WHAT MAY EXIST ON OUR NEXT-DOOR PLANETARY NEIGHBOR, MORRIS.

>>> THIS MONTH MARKS 27 YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF FAMOUS TEJANO SINGER SELENA.

A NEW GENERATION IS LEARNING ABOUT HER LIFE THROUGH A NEW COURSE AT SDSU.

ANGIE PEREZ TELLS US MORE ABOUT HER LEGACY AND HOW IT TRANSCENDS DIFFERENT CULTURES.

>> Reporter: I HEARD THAT SONG ON THE RADIO AND I REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SONG.

>> Reporter: GEORGETTE IS A DRUG QUEEN CREATED BY THE CHEMIN.

BORN -- IN A SMALL TOWN JUST NORTH OF MEXICO CITY.

GEORGETTE SITS AT HER KITCHEN TABLE WITH A POWDER PUFF AND MAKEUP.

PREPARING TO BECOME HER ALTER EGO, SELENA.

THE TEJANO SUPERSTAR WHO DIED TRAGICALLY BUT HELPED HER CONFUSED 10-YEAR-OLD MEXICAN BOY LIVE.

AND FIND HIS TRUE IDENTITY.

>> I HAD A LOT OF BULLYING WHEN I WAS A KID.

BECAUSE OF WHO I AM.

BUT I FOR GREAT AND I LOVE WHAT I DO.

>> Reporter: JORGE IMMIGRATED TO SAN DIEGO MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO.

SIGNS OF SELENA ARE EVERYWHERE IN HIS LIFE.

INCLUDING MEMENTOS.

AND MEMORIES OF VISITING HER GRAVE SITE IN SOUTH TEXAS.

ALL OF IT HAS BROUGHT HAPPINESS AND CONFIDENCE CREDITED TO SELENA AND HER SONGS, AND HER SPIRIT.

>> SHE DIDN'T SPEAK SPANISH VERY WELL BUT YOU COULD ALWAYS SEE SHE WAS GIVING HER BEST.

AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HAVING AN INTERVIEW IN ENGLISH AND I AM TRYING TO GIVE IT MY BEST.

SO WE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON WITH THAT.

>> Reporter: THE SOUNDS OF SELENA ARE NOW PART OF A COLLEGE CURRICULUM.

PROFESSOR RODRIGUEZ PITCHED THE IDEA FOR A SELENA CLASS TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF SAN DIEGO STATE PRE-PANDEMIC.

IT IS NOW A PERMANENT ELECTIVE OFFERED IN THE SPRING SEMESTER.

DR. NATE AS STUDENTS CALL HIM IS A FAN AND FELLOW TEXAN WHO GREW UP WITH A HEAVY INFLUENCE FROM THE TEJANO SINGER.

HE BUILT THE CLASS SYLLABUS WITH 16 WEEKS OF LEARNING MODULES THAT USE SELENA AS A BRIDGE TO LATINO CULTURE, MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND PERSONAL IDENTITY.

THERE ARE FIELD TRIPS FOR STUDENTS ALSO.

>> THEY GET TO GO SEE THE SELENA -- WALK THE BLOCK.

THEY GET TO GO SEE DRAG SHOWS, THEY GET TO CONDUCT AND -- AND RIGHT ABOUT AND TAKE PICTURES VIDEOS AND SOUND.

MAC -- IS A STUDY OF PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT.

WHICH INCLUDES THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OF CLASS ARE FOCUSED ON LEARNING THAT GOES BOLDLY DOWN THE RAINBOW ROAD.

>> SELENA IS A HUGE INSPIRATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND MEETING IN HER MUSIC AND WE WILL LEARN HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT IN THE CULTURE.

>> Reporter: THE TERM -- IS AN IMPORTANT VOCABULARY WORD FEATURED IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS.

IT IS A PERSON CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO CULTURES.

NOT COMPLETELY ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH AND NOT COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE IN THE ENGLISH SPEAKING CULTURE.

THAT WAS SELENA.

AND -- IS AN SDSU SENIOR WHO CAN RELATE.

HER MEXICAN PARENTS BUT THEY HELPED HER BY TAKING HER FROM THE BARRIO ENROLLING HER IN SCHOOLS WITH MOSTLY WHITE STUDENTS.

>> I WENT TO THE MOST PREDOMINANT LEE WHITE SCHOOLS AND I COULDN'T FIND MYSELF.

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE BLONDE HAIR AND BLUE EYES.

SO SELENA ACTUALLY HELP ME IDENTIFY WHO I AM NOW.

>> Reporter: ITALIAN MARTINEZ WAS ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD WHEN SELENA WAS KILLED.

>> I NEVER REALLY GOT TO HAVE HER PRESENT BUT I HAD HER MUSIC.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE I WAS ABLE TO CREATE SELENA IN MY HEAD AND HOW THIS IS SOMEONE I WANT TO HAVE IS MY ROLE MODEL.

>> Reporter: WHICH RINGS US BACK TO GEORGETTE.

A LITTLE BOY FROM A LITTLE MEXICAN TOWN WHO USED TO DANCE AROUND HIS LIVING ROOM IMAGINING WHAT HE COULD BECOME SOMEDAY.

>> I THINK THE THING I LEARNED FROM HER IS TO BE ALWAYS RESPECTFUL, KIND AND SWEET.

THAT'S HOW I REMEMBER HER AND THAT'S HOW I DO EVERY TIME I'M ON STAGE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS A LEGACY SET TO MUSIC THAT WILL NEVER DIE.

>>> A REMINDER, YOU CAN WATCH THE STORIES AND ALL OF OUR CONTENT ON THE TRANSFER YOU TO PAGE FOUR WE ALSO LIVE STREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED KPBS THIS WEEK