RAMA Blueprints

In this installment of the RAMA Blueprints eXtra, we listened to the family origins and the San Francisco roots of Real Alternatives Program founder Jim Queen in his own words.

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

Based on the Principles of Real Alternatives Program (RAP), we look at how this youth movement takes actions to better their conditions. We go in depth on 3 actions, the chaining of the doors of the Youth Guidance Center (YGC), the Sears Roebuck picket line, and the assignment of young community leaders in pivotal positions of power. We examine how RAP’s influence begins to slowly spread outside of the Mission District and inside San Francisco's City Hall.

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

We present a special joint podcast between HealthCare UnTold and RAMA Blueprints Podcast. HealthCare Untold is a Podcast dedicated to giving voice to everyday heroes and their untold health stories that can improve health to our most vulnerable communities.

You can visit their website here.

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

Juan Gonzales is the original founder and 1st editor of El Tecolote, California's longest running bilingual newspaper that is printed in both English and Spanish. This free bilingual biweekly publication was founded in 1970 at San Francisco State University's La Raza Studies Department after the 3rd World Strike agreement. He reflects about the political climate in San Francisco's Mission District during the time of 1967 to 1972, and especially addressing the issues of youth empowerment in the Mission during the founding of RAP. Juan Gonzales on this eXtra of RAMA Blueprints, Roots of RAP (part 1): EMUNYO

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Visit El Tecolote here.

As political consciousness arose in the Mission, many San Francisco organizations mobilized and took on city leaders demanding not just recognition, but active participation of programs and services designed by and for their communities. As progress was slowly bubbling, some of these youth were experiencing harassment by police and neglect from the city and its services. A group of frustrated youth on 24th Street formed E.M.U.N.Y.O. (East Mission United Youth Organization) with the help of Jim Queen.

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.

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Released date 7/21/22

 Cynthia Alicia Meza is a San Francisco Unified School District, Spanish Immersion Teacher of 19 years, a mother of four, troop leader of San Francisco Troop number one of the Radical Monarchs and Latin American Teachers Association Teacher of the Year in 2016. We asked her to reflect on episode three Wellness in the Time of School Chaos, a Round Table.

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We present a conversation about healing and wellness in light of the recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York.

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.

• In 1993, the first free tattoo removal program was established in San Francisco through a partnership between SF Department of Public Health, Real Alternatives Program (RAP) and CARECEN SF. In this episode, we explore the 28 year history, purpose and effects of the 2nd Chance Tattoo Removal Program currently located at CARECEN SF. We talk with Lariza Dugan-Cuadra, Executive Director of CARECEN SF, Maria Villalta, Dr. Pierre Marie Rose, and May Gonzalez.

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

As part of the Episode 2 RAMA podcast Tattoos That Only I Can See. Tatuajes Que Solamente Yo Puedo Ver, we have additional commentary by former employee at RAP's Casa de Jovenes , and Instituto Familiar de La Raza, Lourdes Herrador, LMFT Therapist, who talks about the residual effects of tattoos and their removal both on the individual, family and community.

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Como parte del podcast RAMA del Episodio 2, Tatuajes Que Solo Yo Puedo Ver , tenemos comentarios adicionales de Lourdes Herrador, Terapista exempleada de la Casa de Jóvenes de RAP y del Instituto Familiar de La Raza, quien habla sobre los efectos residuales de los tatuajes y su eliminación tanto en el individuo como en la familia y comunidad. Visit CARECEN SF's Tattoo Removal Clinic

Donate to RAMA Blueprints here.