Join us to defend that spirit at the Community Roots Garden in Oxnard Saturday, February 28th at 11am: 1801 Joliet Place, Oxnard, CA.

Welcome to this episode that brims with joy and growth! Today, we’re celebrating the untold stories of 2 Community Roots gardeners—those tireless caretakers of earth and beauty. United by passion and persistence, they create bountiful havens for flora and fauna alike.

Gardeners are the unsung heroes transforming barren lands into blossoming sanctuaries, teaching us resilience and patience. Yet, their challenges are real—from battling climate change to nurturing biodiversity amidst urban sprawl. Now the Community Roots garden is under threat of closing down as the landowners ponder the future of the property.

Together, let's applaud their triumphs and stand in solidarity with Community Roots' struggles. In our shared quest for equality and environmental harmony, we recognize these green-thumb warriors as architects of a sustainable future. Join us in this jubilant celebration of growth, nurturing not just our gardens, but our global community. In this episode, we invite you to embrace the vibrant world where feminism and gardening unite, forging pathways to change and renewal. Dive into stories of resilience, connection, and the undying spirit of gardeners everywhere.

This episode is produced by Socorro Gamboa and Ana Rosa Rizo-Centino. Darren J. de Leon Engineered and edited this episode.

For additional information: https://www.communityrootsgarden.org/ or Instagram: @communityrootsoxnard or Facebook: www.facebook.com/CommunityRootsGarden.JardindeRaicesComunitarias

Be part of history and join the live podcast which includes a lively conversation between 3 local community leaders who have built a vision and future for the Pacific Islander community.

The Tres Generaciones/3 Voices live podcast series at Brava Cabaret features 3 guests from diverse communities and generations throughout San Francisco. The panelist consists of community leaders who have experience working towards building community through activism, art, community organizing and empowerment.

Always framed through the Principles of RAP, the discussion will seek solutions and future action steps that will hopefully build upon the findings of previous discussions to elevate the level of discussion and details for future action steps and conversations.

Founded in 2021, RAMA Blueprints is the 1st podcast documenting the history of the Real Alternatives Program (RAP) within the City and County of San Francisco between 1967 - 2003 along with its current impact on community empowerment in San Francisco and the country.

Please join us for this exciting event that will celebrate SF's Pacific Islander community, RAMA Blueprints Podcast.

This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa.

Ricardo describe el apoyo de diversas organizaciones y personalidades, incluyendo a César Chávez y Dolores Huerta, así como la cooperación con grupos religiosos y comunitarios. Detalla su trayectoria dentro de CARECEN, desde el trabajo inicial orientado a los asilos hasta la expansión de servicios legales y humanitarios.

Además, discute las similitudes entre las necesidades de los inmigrantes de los años 80 y las de hoy, enfatizando que muchas de las condiciones y problemáticas se mantienen vigentes. La entrevista, platica  concluye con reflexiones personales de Señor Calderón  sobre su trayectoria, el crecimiento de CARECEN y su dedicación continua a la causa inmigrante. ¡No te pierdas esta interesante y emotiva conversación!

Please consider donating to the RAMA Blueprints at the CARECENSF.org website.This eXtra was produced by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa. 

Principle people:

Juan Rivera, Interviewer

Darren J. de Leon, co-producer

Socorro Gamboa, co-producer

The episode explores the saying "They tried to bury us, but they did not know we were seeds," symbolizing the enduring spirit of community organizations. Panelists share personal stories, leadership insights, and the crucial role of nonprofits in San Francisco. They address issues like budget cuts, political upheaval, and the importance of community-driven solutions. This episode highlights the value of nonprofit workers, their impact on the city, and the ongoing fight for equity and representation.

This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa.

Consider donating to the RAMA Blueprints podcast through the CARECEN SF website.

Founded in 2021, RAMA Blueprints is the 1st podcast documenting the history of the Real Alternatives Program (RAP) within the City and County of San Francisco between 1967 - 2003 along with its current impact on community empowerment in San Francisco and the country.

Please consider donating to RAMA Blueprints at CARECENSF.org . We truly appreciate any donation. You can listen to past episodes of RAMA Blueprints here.

This episode is dedicated to La Familia Royale. This episode was written, produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa.

Thank you for listening to the Rama Blueprints podcast. We dedicate this episode to the RAP family. We also want to thank our sister organizations for their sponsorship and support CARECEN San Francisco, Instituto Familiar de La Raza, Horizons Unlimited, SALT/Vasa Community, United Playaz, Brava Women for the Arts. And special thanks to the San Francisco Foundation, Change Elemental, H.O.M.E.Y., CARECEN San Francisco'S marketing team of Juan Rivera and Kevin Rios, Orlando Torriente and Lolo for our theme song, and all of our dedicated community listeners and individual donors for their ongoing support.

This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa for the Five Sisters Audio Garden.

Please consider donating to the RAMA Blueprints podcast at the CARECENSF.org website. Please subscribe to our podcast and share it with two people.

This episode features interviews with Mitchell Salazar, Esperanza Echevarria, Jim Queen, Orlando Torriente, Valerie Tulier, Sadie Villapando Williams, Holly Calica, Chico Moreno, Carlos "Cookie" Gonzalez, Alfredo Bojorquez, Gene Royale, Ray Balberan, Anthony Ceja, Roban San Miguel, Dr. Concha Saucedo, John Nauer, Joanne Uribe, Sam Ruiz, Jesus Yañez, and Carla Dartis.

This engaging live podcast includes a lively intergenerational conversation between Dr. Eduardo Morales (Founder and Executive Director, AGUILAS), Claudia Cabrera (Program Director, Si a La Vida, Instituto Familiar de La Raza), and Luka Fernandez (Participant, Promesas, Instituto Familiar de La Raza).

The Tres Generaciones/Three Voices live podcast series at Brava Cabaret features three guests representing three generations of expertise regarding the topic at hand. The intergenerational panelist consists of an elder in the field, a seasoned community worker, and an emerging young leader in the field. All have experience working towards building alliances through activism, art, organizing and empowerment.

Always framed through the Principles of The Real Alternatives Program (RAP), the discussion will seek solutions and future action steps that will hopefully build upon the findings of previous work to elevate the level of discussion and details for future action steps and conversations.

Founded in 2021, RAMA Blueprints is the first podcast documenting the history of the Real Alternatives Program (RAP) within the City and County of San Francisco between 1967 - 2003 along with its current impact on community empowerment in San Francisco and the country.

This conversation was held on June 27, 2024 at Brava Women for the Arts Cabaret in San Francisco's Mission District. This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa for the 5 Sisters Audio Garden.

Please consider donating to the RAMA Blueprints by visiting CARECENSF.org.

This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Host Socorro Gamboa. Please consider donating to the RAMA Blueprints by visiting the CARECENSF.org website.

The live podcast was recorded at BRAVA For Women in the Arts' Cabaret. SHUT IT DOWN!: The Closure of Youth Guidance Center is part of our Tres Generaciones/Three Voices conversations.

We talked with Donna Saffioti Johnson, the "Condom Lady" who began working at Horizons in March of 1988, and Michelle Alvarez Campos, a San Francisco Native, mother of two, practicing licensed clinical social worker who previously worked as a case manager with the CALLES program at the RAP.

Their story is one of the most underlying truths about this street intervention work, where there isn't a clear cut response plan in face-to-face engagements. They must rely upon their training, gut feelings and personal experience to bring forth the best traits within each human being they encounter. RAP's Calles program originally began as the Barrio Patrol in the late sixties to monitor police activity, provide safe passage for youth and guide youth development.

This episode was produced, written and edited by Darren J. de Leon and host Socorro Gamboa for the 5 Sisters Audio Garden. Please consider donating to RAMA Blueprints by visiting CARECENSF.org. Thank you and please share this show with 2 people.

You can donate to the RAMA Blueprints by visiting the CARECENSF.org website.

We thank all the private donors for their support of the RAMA Blueprints. To DONATE please visit CARECENSF.org. Thank you for listening.

Mitchell passed away in 2022. His story is a complex one filled with twist risk and opportunities. We follow a handful of events that not only help shape one of the San Francisco's Mission District's most effective community leaders, but also show what his heart and intentions were for the actions and decisions he made.

We are honored to have called Mitchell Salazar, our mentor, our friend, our brother.

This episode was written and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Host Socorro Gamboa for the 5 Sisters Audio Garden.

You can DONATE here to support the RAMA Blueprints podcast.

Please consider donating to RAMA Blueprints at the CARECEN SF. Please subscribe above and share with 2 people. This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa for the 5 Sisters Audio Garden.

Stacie began her career in nonprofit arts at the San Francisco Mime Troop. After leaving the Mime Troop, Stacey joined Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeno Band as business manager and has worked or served over an additional dozen nonprofits and arts organizations in San Francisco. Stacey produces and presents thought-provoking art as Brava continues to be a center for igniting social change and building community. With 30 years of arts administration and production experience in San Francisco, she ushered in a new era of stability for Brava, revitalized its long-standing youth program, the running crew, revived the capital project to renovate the building's three storefronts and launch Brava presents to deliver an eclectic array of music, theater, dance, visual and media arts work in collaboration with local artists and arts organizations.

This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa for the 5 Sisters Audio Garden.

The live conversation brings to light the depth of challenges and approaches to solutions through the wisdom of an elder and former executive director, through the eyes of a rising leader that committed to collecting memories through journalism and the arts, and the first hand lived experience of a former community organizer who transitioned to work in city government.

All three leaders have engaged with the community in different roles: Dr. Concha Saucedo as Co-Founder of Instituto Familiar de la Raza (IFR) incorporating traditional ways with western wellness; Fatima Ramirez, raised in the Mission, as the executive Director of Accíon Latina who is passionate about the intersection of art and media; Oscar Grande while a Senior Organizer for PODER displaying decades of grassroots organizing. The discussion was hosted by Socorro Gamboa.

Please consider donating to RAMA Blueprints at the CARECENSF.org. Please subscribe to our podcast and share it with 2 people.

In the 1970’s, Dr. Concha Saucedo- Martinez was instrumental in co-founding Instituto Familiar de la Raza, a Latino mental health clinic in San Francisco’s Mission District. Concha and her colleagues in the community revolutionized mental health practices by providing clients with spiritual and culturally sensitive services and workshops. Through her knowledge, teachings and wisdom, she made therapy and psychiatric care more accessible and affordable to the Latino community in San Francisco.

In the year 2000, Dr. Saucedo in collaboration with the Real Alternatives Program created and developed La Cultura Cura which promotes a reflection of culture, critical consciousness, self reflection, social-emotional wellness, deep understanding of the individual, group, historical and cultural relationships, and the teaching of En La K'ech (You are my other self)

A community activist for social justice for over 50 years, she is a grandmother of seven, respected Elder, traditional healer practitioner, visionary, public school teacher,  professor, former Board President of the Real Alternatives Program (RAP), and Executive Director Emeritus of Insituto Familiar de La Raza. She has focused her life work on integrating indigenous spiritual practices with mental health services for the healing of youth, families, and community. At present her vocation is to pass on to others, particularly young people, the healing practices and ceremonies from this continent.

We present, in her own words, Dr. Concepcion “Concha” Saucedo-Martinez.

The eXtras of RAMA Blueprints podcast are intended to help the listener with a deeper understanding of the people, events, and places that created the Mission District and the series as a whole. 

To listen to other episodes and donate to the RAMA Blueprint podcast, please visit CARECEN SF. Thank you for listening.

You can donate to the RAMA Blueprints podcast through our partnership with CARECEN SF. This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa. The original interview took place in San Francisco on 10/28/21.

The Carrillo Brothers talk about their upbringing and how they were raised within the community village and healed through the transformative practice of the arts.They are an early example of “Program Kids”, youth who heavily relied upon services to survive and develop into thriving adults. 

As adults and professionals, both would eventually work with RAP, Dr. Ricardo Carrillo as a licensed therapist, and Arturo as a program director at Walden House, who built deep bonds with RAP. The brothers’ stories of sangre, corazon, resilience, and self determination paved their path from a troubled humble beginning to a life dedicated as social justice warriors since the 1970s. 

 Listen to these eXtras to get a deeper understanding of the RAMA Blueprints podcast. 

In this installment of the RAMA Blueprints eXtra, we listened to Esperanza Echavarri talk about her experiences during the Third World Liberation Front Strikes of 1968 at San Francisco State University.

Listen to these eXtras to get a deeper understanding of the RAMA Blueprints podcast. You can listen to Roots of RAP (part 1): EMUNYO how Jim Queen began his youth empowerment work and his RAP principles and philosophy that he developed for the Real Alternatives Program.

Mentioned in this episode:

RAMA Ep05 Promo

You can donate to RAMA Blueprints through our partner CARECEN SF.

You can visit their website here.

You can donate to the RAMA Blueprints Podcast by visiting CARECENSF.org

Donate to RAMA Blueprints here.

Visit El Tecolote here.

The combination of their efforts to address "Youth For Self-determination" with organized San Francisco State University Third World striking college students returning to their community would ultimately result in profound changes in their neighborhoods and lives.

In this episode, we talk with Jim Queen about how and why he helped the youth of EMUNYO. Socorro Gamboa sits with some of the founding members of EMUNYO who tell their stories of empowerment. We also speak with former RAP staff member, Sadie Vialpando.

Please visit CARECEN SF to donate to our show, and PLEASE consider becoming a donor and member of our family.

Released date 7/21/22

Donate to RAMA Blueprints here.

We hosted a roundtable with dedicated individuals who join us to share their wisdom and insight :

Anthony Ceja, Former Real Alternatives Program (RAP)Employee and now Senior Manager for the System of Support for the San Diego County Office of Education and Father of 2 children.

Michelle Alvarez-Campos, Former RAP Case Manager and currently, Practicing Licensed Clinical Social Worker with La Cultura Cura Youth Program at Instituto Familiar de La Raza (IFR) in San Francisco's Mission District and also mother of 2.

Jennifer Quevedo, MSW and MS in Psychology, Wellness Practitioner and mother of 2 middle school children. 

Cassandra Cole, Program Director of the Early Intervention Program at IFR, who has over 30 years in the field. Cassandra is passionate about helping adults understand the social-emotional, developmental, behavioral and cultural needs of young children and loves working in community settings where you will find children, also a mother of 2. 

Jesus Adolfo Piña, English Language Specialist for the Compton Unified School District with 23 years teaching experience in the middle schools, and a father of 2 children.  

Moderated by former Real Alternatives Program High School Principal and RAMA Blueprints Podcast Host Socorro Gamboa.

Collectively, this panel represents almost 150 years of qualified experience in their respected fields of expertise.

Visit CARECEN SF to get more information about the RAMA Blueprints Podcast.

Extra Commentary is provided by licensed clinician Lourdes Herrador both in English y Espanol.

Donate to RAMA Blueprints here.

Donate to RAMA Blueprints here.

We present the stories from former staff, students and teens from that time, RAP board members, and IFR staff from different community organizations in San Francisco’s Mission District. In particular, Instituto Familiar de La Raza (IFR) and RAP.

Please join our family by donating to RAMA Blueprints podcast through our sponsor CARECEN SF. DONATE HERE

This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Socorro Gamboa.

Donate to RAMA Blueprints here.