For over 40 years, The Women’s Building in San Francisco has stood as more than a landmark —i t’s been a sanctuary and a beacon for women, immigrants, and marginalized communities. In this episode of San Francisco Revival, Mission Housing sits down with Tania Estrada, Executive Director of The Women’s Building, to explore her inspiring journey from volunteer to organizational leader.

Tania opens up about the intersectional challenges facing women in San Francisco — from housing insecurity and displacement to underreported violence and immigration fears. She also offers insight into the building’s bold new decarbonization initiative and its evolving role as a hub for resilience, advocacy, and connection.

🎙️ Tune in to hear why Tania believes “resilience is already in the room,” and what it takes to build a city rooted in equity, collective strength, and hope.

And get your ticket to "Unstoppable: The Power of Collective Strength" here.

(00:00) – Welcome to San Francisco Revival
Brief introduction to the episode and to guest Tania Estrada.

(01:28) – From Volunteer to Executive Director
Tania shares her path to leadership and the values that have grounded her work.

(05:30) – The Awe of The Women’s Building
Reflections on the iconic murals and the building’s symbolism.

(06:00) – Safe Spaces for Global Communities
How The Women’s Building serves diverse, multilingual, and immigrant women.

(07:40) – Unstoppable: Celebrating Collective Strength
An inside look at the May 16 event celebrating women and community resilience.

(09:05) – Rooted in the Mission District
The deep ties between The Women’s Building and the Latinx community in the Mission.

(10:45) – The Human Toll of Displacement
How gentrification and economic instability impact women and families.

(13:53) – Immigration Fear and Hidden Struggles
Tania exposes the silent crises of harassment, domestic violence, and housing dependency.

(17:10) – A Hub for Hope and Connection
The Women’s Building as a launchpad for advocacy, healing, and collective services.

(20:00) – Where Tania Finds Hope
Future generations, daily community resilience, and a commitment to staying present.

(23:50) – Advice for Young Leaders and Activists
Tania encourages new generations to lean into service, even when the risks are high.

(27:30) – If She Had a Policy Lever…
Tania’s two urgent priorities: immigration reform and universal childcare.

(30:20) – Electrifying the Future: Decarbonization and Resilience
The Women’s Building goes green and positions itself as a post-disaster community hub.

(34:50) – A Long-Term Vision for the Building
Infrastructure, legacy, and environmental justice aligned for the next generation.

(35:30) – Final Thoughts and Event Reminder
Closing gratitude and a reminder to join Unstoppable: The Power of Collective Strength on May 16.

Get your ticket to "Unstoppable: The Power of Collective Strength" here. ⁠

In this urgent and empowering episode of San Francisco Revival, we sit down with Andrea Reyes, an immigration attorney at CARECEN SF (Central American Resource Center), to discuss the critical legal rights immigrants have—regardless of status—in the U.S.

Andrea shares insights from her decade of experience in deportation defense, offers practical guidance for dealing with ICE at home, in public, or at work, and unpacks the reality behind “sanctuary city” protections in San Francisco. She also talks about the red cards that can protect you in immigration encounters and how everyday allies can support community defense efforts.

⁠[ YouTube: https://youtu.be/9yIXNVn_Z0Q ]⁠

⁠[ Web: www.missionhousing.org/podcast ]⁠

This episode is a must-listen for immigrants, advocates, and allies alike. Knowledge is power—and in uncertain times, asserting your rights can be your strongest defense. ✊

👉 Learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your community.
👉 Find out what "Power Not Panic" means in the face of unjust systems.
👉 Share this episode with anyone who may need to hear it.

🔗 Resources mentioned:

• ILRC Red Cards (Immigrant Legal Resource Center)

  
  

📢 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro – Immigration fears and daily risks

(00:52) Guest introduction – Andrea Reyes from CARECEN SF

(01:20) The emotional toll of immigration advocacy

(02:53) Where hope comes from amid fear

(05:06) Disclaimer: Informational purposes only

(06:00) Your rights if stopped by ICE or police

(07:05) Right to remain silent & warrant protocol

(09:16) How to respond to ICE at your door

(10:40) Using red cards to assert your rights

(12:00) What to do if approached in public

(12:49) Where to get red cards & multilingual options

(14:10) ICE raids at the workplace – Know your protections

(16:25) Documenting ICE encounters safely

(18:41) Role of allies and community rapid response

(20:09) What sanctuary city policies really mean

(22:13) Community trust and law enforcement

(23:55) Andrea’s path into immigration law

(27:04) Advice for future lawyers and advocates

(28:57) The weight of legal advocacy in immigrant defense

(30:37) Racism, classism & the “Gold Card” contradiction

(32:25) Fighting back despite overwhelming policies

(33:54) What fuels Andrea’s hope and determination

(36:02) Most rewarding parts of the work

(39:14) Outro and call to action

In a city like San Francisco, cultural arts and community media are tools for civic engagement, people empowerment and community healing.

Organizations who facilitate these things are the spiritual backbone of our neighborhoods. They inspire hope and bring people together to create real change. 

No organization in San Francisco or the Mission exemplifies this better, and has performed this service longer at the highest of levels, than the legendary Acción Latina.

On this episode of San Francisco Revival, a Mission Housing podcast, we have a heartfelt conversation with Fatima Ramirez, Acción Latina’s outgoing executive director who has led the organization through arguably its toughest era and into a bright, new world of possibilities. We talk to her about the challenges of leading such a historic organization, the advances Acción Latina has made to ensure a more equitable future for the Mission, and we dissect Fatima’s legacy as she turns the page, looking forward to her next chapter.

Chapters

(00:00) Homecoming and Reflections on Mission Housing

(03:04) Building Community and Fond Memories

(05:53) Celebrating Achievements and Community Impact

(09:04) The Importance of Underrepresented Voices

(11:49) Legacy and Transition at Acción Latina

(15:08) Leadership Lessons from the Pandemic

(17:59) Storytelling and Journalism's Evolution

(21:10) Milestones and Achievements at Acción Latina

(27:45) Building a Legacy Through Philanthropy

(29:51) Empowering Artists and Community Impact

(32:30) Reflections on Leadership and Legacy

(38:53) Navigating Career Choices and Community Responsibility

(45:06) Finding Hope and Personal Growth

San Francisco’s public education system is more than classrooms and curriculums -- it’s a lifeline for opportunity, equity, and the future of our communities.

Yet, the challenges of funding, teacher retention, and family poverty facilitate the narrative of the district. 

On this episode of San Francisco Revival, a Mission Housing podcast, we sit down with Edward Kaufman, the CEO of Mission Graduates, to explore the state of education in our City. From the systemic barriers students face to the transformative programs driving change -- we’ll unpack the vision, challenges, and future of empowering young people in San Francisco. 

Chapters

01:04 Empowering Young People Through Mission Graduates

10:32 The Intersection of Housing and Education

15:50 Challenges Facing SFUSD: Enrollment and Budget Issues

28:50 The Potential Impact of State Takeover

37:36 Positive Developments in SFUSD

41:54 Personal Reflections and Community Engagement

On the debut episode of San Francisco Revival -- a Mission Housing podcast -- we speak with outgoing District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who has spent over 15 years working in and representing San Francisco’s District 9, which includes the Mission, Bernal, and Portola. 

As her time on the Board of Supervisors comes to a close, we’ll explore what it really means to lead with conviction in one of the most demanding urban environments in the country, the lessons she’s taking with her, and her hopes for the future of San Francisco.

This episode promises to offer perspective, honesty, and perhaps even a little levity.

Chapters

02:54 Reflections on the 2024 Election and its Impact

13:23 Addressing Poverty as a Central Issue

17:02 The Disconnect Between Rhetoric and Reality

27:34 Balancing Motherhood and Political Responsibility

33:43 Creating a Safe Environment for Children

39:48 Evolution of Political Perspectives

45:28 Finding Hope in Community

55:50 What's Next for Hillary Ronen?

59:18 "The Lighting Round" SF Supervisor Edition

Back in 2019, we were watching San Francisco—our City—go through some major shifts driven by the impacts of gentrification, displacement, and tech. So we launched a podcast called San Francisco inFLUX.

Our goals with that project were to explore the complex dynamics of this transformation—It was about understanding the real forces behind this change—forces that were reshaping the culture, pushing out long-time communities, and leaving a lot of us wondering where we fit in. 

We highlighted the people and stories that weren’t getting the spotlight and really dug into what’s current and next for the people who make this place home.

Since then, our City has continued to be upended by the ever-present impacts of gentrification, and our already deep social inequities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Look, our City has seen better days, we’re grappling with challenges that don’t have easy answers– but what we’ve noticed about the prevailing narrative is that it paints a hopeless picture that’s quite anxious and dystopian. This way of viewing San Francisco is somewhat fair, but it stifles aspirations, leads to feelings of apathy, and disengages the very people– us – who should be working together to find solutions.

Here’s the thing—we know San Francisco still has something special. It’s got us. We’re resilient, compassionate at heart, and familiar with the pavement. We can turn this around. 

So that’s why I’m hyped to announce that we’re shifting gears. We’re relaunching the podcast under a new name: San Francisco Revival.

We’re focusing on the movements, the stories, and the people who are *actively* pushing back against the doom and gloom. We’re providing words of resilience, healing, and hope. We’re not going to let anyone write us off. 

Let’s get to work on the City’s Comeback Story. This is San Francisco Revival, a Mission Housing podcast.