Like an IKEA manual without words: San Jose activist helps residents navigate government

ELLINA YIN COMPARES CITIZEN PARTICIPATION in local government to putting together a piece of IKEA furniture using one of those frustrating assembly manuals that have no words.

A self-trained community educator and activist, Yin wants to be the Allen wrench, that little L-shaped hex key in almost every IKEA box, to connect people with their local government. Yin has done that by creating two podcasts — Only in San Jose and Only in Santa Clara County — that seek to demystify topics including how to speak at City Council meetings, understanding county budgets and the role of public commissions.