RAMA Blueprints

Fatima Ramirez, Executive Director of Accíon Latina and publisher of El Tecolote in San Francisco's Mission District talks about the role their Paseo Artisico program plays within building community. Accíon Latina and El Tecolote have been promoting cultural arts, community media, and civic engagement as a way of building healthy and empowered Latino communities.

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.

In this commentary, Stacey Powers Cuellar, Executive Director at Brava, continues to be a warrior for the arts and the community. In this commentary about the Live RAMA Blueprints discussion, Tres Generaciones/Three Voices, she shares with us her life's work as an arts administrator in the Mission District, the role of Brava in the community and the importance of stories and storytelling for future generations and the healing evoked through this experience.

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.

RAMA Blueprints Podcast presents an intergenerational conversation on the theme “Sustaining the Work through Resiliency” with Dr. Concepcion “ Concha” Saucedo, Fatima Ramirez, and Oscar Grande.

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 this eXtra of the RAMA Blueprints Podcast, we listen to Doctora Concepcion Saucedo- Martinez PH.d also known to many with respect and love as “Concha”, who is a Mexican Yaqui Chicana born in California and raised in traditional indigenous ways. 

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.

On the next RAMA Blueprints podcast, Dr. Concha Saucedo-Martinez, in her own words.

In this eXtra of the RAMA Blueprints, we speak with John Nauer who was trained at the Real Alternatives Program (RAP) under the tutelage of Mitchell Salazar.  He reflects on his life’s journey, the obstacles, and hurdles that helped shape his life, while contributing to his own transformation and commitment to fighting the good fight for the betterment of all people and more recently concentrating his efforts to the Samoan / Pacific Islander people.  (Running time 34min)

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.

Community Activist John Nauer reflects on his life’s journey, the obstacles, and hurdles that helped shape his life, while contributing to his own transformation and commitment to fighting the good fight for the betterment of all people and more recently concentrating his efforts to the Samoan / Pacific Islander people!  The full 33 minute interview is available for listening soon.

In this extra of the Rama Blueprints podcast commentary, we hear from Metzi Henriquez, who currently works as a therapist for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She comments on the RAMA Blueprints series and shares with us her knowledge and approach working in community mental health services.

In this Extra Episode of the RAMA Blueprints Podcast we hear from Dr. Ricardo Carrillo and Arturo Carrillo, both born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District. 

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. 

Esperanza Echavarri's journey leads her to work with EMUNYO and RAP. A retired licensed clinical social worker, community activist, organizer, and cultural practitioner for over 40 years, Esperanza's commitment to social change significantly contributed to revolutionizing the mental health systems of San Francisco.

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.