When Jorge Narvaez recorded a video of him singing with his 6-year-old daughter Alexa in 2011, he had no idea it would go viral. His mother, Esther Alvarado, had been deported to Mexico three years earlier and he said the song \u201cHome\u201d was his way of saying something about parenthood.<\/p>\n
Now, 30 million views later, Narvaez uses his internet stardom to help bridge generations.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, he performed \u201cHome\u201d with his daughter at the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony. But now Alexa can share the stage with her grandma who has not yet been granted U.S. citizenship and is still fighting to stay in the U.S.<\/p>\n
The performance is part of Narvaez\u2019 collaboration with SCAN Health Plan\u2014a local nonprofit that serves older adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to remember to respect and support our seniors. We sometimes forget to do that,\u201d Narvaez said. \u201cSCAN has been doing that for many years. I want our children to learn that message.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alvarado crossed the border illegally in 1987 and raised Jorge and two other boys. She returned to Mexico to petition for residency 20 years later but was detained there until four years ago.<\/p>\n