San Francisco Revival – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the San Francisco Revival Podcast, Mission Housing reflects on the long journey to the groundbreaking of The Marvel (La Maravilla) at 1979 Mission Street. Members of the Mission Housing team come together for a conversation about community power, affordable housing in the Mission District, the fight against displacement, and what this historic development means for Mission Housing and San Francisco.

As Mission Housing marks 55 years in the Mission District, this episode looks back on the organizing, advocacy, trust-building, and perseverance that helped bring The Marvel to life. The conversation explores key moments in the Plaza 16 campaign, the role of neighborhood unity, Mission Housing’s own institutional growth, and why affordable housing development must be rooted in community voice.

Whether you care about affordable housing, community development, Mission District history, people power, or the future of San Francisco, this episode offers an inside look at how a community fought for a different vision and helped turn that vision into reality.

Chapters (00:30) Why this groundbreaking is such a major moment for Mission Housing (02:15) First reflections: excitement, pride, relief, and gratitude (05:28) Looking back: what Mission Housing would have thought years ago (07:11) Rebuilding Mission Housing and taking “one win after another” (10:53) Community unity in the Mission during a time of displacement (12:13) Key moments in the fight for The Marvel (13:13) The Maximus meeting and direct action organizing (17:30) The historic Mission High School hearing (20:27) Mission Housing’s role in supporting the neighborhood fight (25:13) Rebuilding trust with community partners (31:17) The low points, perseverance, and staying in the fight (32:19) Turning an alternative vision into a real affordable housing proposal (37:33) COVID, resilience, and keeping the dream of The Marvel alive (41:51) Why groundbreaking day is really about community (43:00) Honoring the unsung heroes behind the journey (50:13) People power, community engagement, and building for the future

#SanFranciscoRevival #MissionHousing #AffordableHousing #SanFrancisco #MissionDistrict #LaMaravilla #TheMarvel #CommunityDevelopment #HousingJustice #Podcast

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Affordable housing in San Francisco, The Marvel / La Maravilla, Mission Housing, Mission District development, Plaza 16 coalition, community organizing, anti-displacement work, nonprofit housing development, San Francisco housing justice, groundbreaking ceremony.

On this episode of San Francisco Revival, a Mission Housing podcast, we honor Women’s History Month, by bringing together three women in leadership for a powerful conversation on purpose, representation, community, and impact: Gisela Angulo-Avellaneda, Communications Manager at Mission Housing; Marcia Contreras, Deputy Executive Director at Mission Housing; and our guest, Lydia Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Five Star Bank.

Lydia shares her journey from a nontraditional path into banking to becoming a C-suite leader, reflecting on immigrant family expectations, mentorship, confidence, and the importance of relationship-building. She also discusses cultural banking, why representation matters in leadership, and how she helped shape a more intentional equity and inclusion strategy at Five Star Bank. The conversation then expands into affordable housing, public-private partnership, community investment, and what it takes to build stronger, more responsive communities.

The episode also explores what leadership looks like beyond the boardroom: motherhood, work-life integration, health, self-advocacy, mentoring the next generation, and showing up fully as yourself. It closes with a moving reflection on resilience, building your own “board of directors,” staying rooted in community, and finding joy in culture, color, music, and family.

Chapters (01:14) Meet Lydia Ramirez, EVP and COO of Five Star Bank (02:35) Lydia’s journey into banking and her nontraditional career path (06:52) Early career challenges, confidence, and relationship-building (11:50) Cultural banking, community, and financial empowerment (13:46) Advice for young Latinas on mentorship, risk, and self-advocacy (22:35) Finding purpose at Five Star Bank and leading with inclusion (29:46) Affordable housing, partnership, and community investment (38:19) Representation in boardrooms and opening doors for others (44:37) Motherhood, executive leadership, and making space for yourself (58:43) Humility, mentoring others, and leading by example (01:05:30) Immigration narratives, community responsibility, and hope (01:11:45) Lydia’s “why,” resilience, and building your personal board of directors (01:13:48) Music, culture, family, and closing reflections

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

2020 has been a challenging year, to put it lightly 

Everyone has been going through it, and through it, and through it again

We all have our own takes on what’s going on, and are responding the best we can

We here at San Francisco inFLUX wanted to reach out to influential leaders locally and regionally to hear about what their response has been from their unique positions and perspectives

On this episode of San Francisco inFLUX, we interview Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, about how he has seen his role change during COVID, and how foundations are answering calls for justice in both the public health, and racial realms of America.

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ABOUT FRED BLACKWELL

Fred Blackwell is the CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the country. The San Francisco Foundation works hand-in-hand with donors, community leaders, and both public and private partners to create thriving communities throughout the Bay Area. Since joining the foundation in 2014, Blackwell has led it in a renewed commitment to social justice through an equity agenda focused on racial and economic inclusion.

Blackwell, an Oakland native, is a nationally recognized community leader with a longstanding career in the Bay Area. Prior to joining the foundation, he served as interim city administrator for the city of Oakland, where he previously served as the assistant city administrator. He was the executive director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Development in San Francisco; he served as the director of the Making Connections Initiative for the Annie E. Casey Foundation in the Lower San Antonio neighborhood of Oakland; he was a Multicultural Fellow in Neighborhood and Community Development at The San Francisco Foundation; and he subsequently managed a multiyear comprehensive community initiative for the San Francisco Foundation in West Oakland.

Blackwell serves on the board of the Independent Sector, Northern California Grantmakers, the Bridgespan Group, the dean’s advisory council for UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, and the community advisory council of the San Francisco Federal Reserve. He previously served on the boards of the California Redevelopment Association, Urban Habitat Program, LeaderSpring and Leadership Excellence. He was Co-Chair of CASA — The Committee to House the Bay Area. Blackwell holds a master’s degree in city planning from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Morehouse College.

No es todo los días que uno puede impactar los próximos 10 años de la vida llenando una simple forma.

Pero esa es la oportunidad que tenemos nosotros hoy en dia.

Sin embargo, a partir del 30 de Septiembre del 2020, esa oportunidad terminara. Amigos y Amigas de San Francisco inFLUX, estamos hablando del Census 2020 y si no ha tomado acción, es tiempo de actuar. Hoy. No mañana.

Es este primer episodio de la segunda temporada de San Francisco influx, el podcast oficial de Mission Housing, nos acompaña Eduardo Garcia de el Latino Community Foundation y Rodrigo Molina, un embajador de la OCEIA de San Francisco para tener una conversación real acerca del Census 2020 y como sus organizaciones están tomando accion para que cada persona en California sea contado y hago el impacto necesario en nuestra comunidades.

Bienvenido a este episodio, completamente en Español de San Francisco inFLUX.

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Para llenar el Census, visite https://2020census.gov/

Para obtener ayuda de parte del LCF sobre el censo, visite https://latinocf.org/2020-census/

Para obtener ayuda del parte del OCEIA sobre el censo, visite https://sf.gov/departments/city-administrator/office-civic-engagement-and-immigrant-affairs

Si desea ayuda telefonica, marque el 844-468-2020

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• Chinese (Mandarin): 844-391-2020
• Chinese (Cantonese): 844-398-2020
• Vietnamese: 844-461-2020
• Korean: 844-392-2020
• Russian: 844-417-2020
• Arabic: 844-416-2020
• Tagalog: 844-478-2020
• Polish: 844-479-2020
• French: 844-494-2020
• Haitian Creole: 844-477-2020
• Portuguese: 844-474-2020
• Japanese: 844-460-2020

Everyone at San Francisco inFLUX and Mission Housing hopes you’re safe and healthy during this hectic time as we as a City and community come together to fight Covid-19 aka the Coronavirus.

On this special edition of San Francisco inFLUX, a Mission Housing podcast, we want to bring you a conversation between our Executive Director Sam Moss and the owner of Manny’s, Manny Yekutiel. The two connected via Zoom during Manny’s Super Civic Cyber Conversations series to discuss the importance of protected affordable housing during this health crisis.

Lastly, a quick reminder that Mission Housing’s Online Resource Guide is available by visiting MissionHousing.org and clicking on COVID-19 SUPPORT.

You can visit Manny's website HERE and follow the Super Civic Cyber Conversations by visiting them HERE.

🚨🚨🚨 UPDATE: Sunday Streets on March 8th has been CANCELLED due to the City's latest Corona Virus recommendations 🚨🚨🚨

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Do neighborhood events shape how people can interact with each other? Can we have a community-building intention built into fun outdoor activities? Does anyone know what Stargate SG-1 is?

On this episode of San Francisco inFLUX, we sit down for a conversation with Livable Cities' Katy Birnbaum to explore how and why Sunday Streets plans to address the City’s disconnection issues by creating an accessible, fun, and interactive resident experience.

On this episode of San Francisco inFLUX, Julio Lara and Erin Reeves reacts to the key points brought up by the speakers of SPUR's "Re-Envisioning the Planning Commission" panel and break down the best of the ideas brought up during the evening. 

EVENT DETAILS: 

Planning commissions across the country advise elected officials and municipal departments on the appropriate growth and development of their cities. But complaints about these bodies and the processes that they undertake can be extensive — from regularly scheduled hearings that are all but inaccessible to the public due to location and timing, to politically appointed commissioners not accurately representing the city whose growth they oversee. How could the planning commission process be improved? Join us for a series of rapid-fire presentations about the tweaks, evolutions and transformations that planning commissions could undertake to better suit the needs of today’s cities and their residents.

+ Chirag Bhakta / Mission Housing  + Laura Foote / YIMBY Action  + Ron Miguel / Better Market Street Community Advisory Committee  + John Rahaim / San Francisco Planning Department  + Cindy Wu / Chinatown Community Development Center + Milicent Johnson / San Francisco Planning Commission  + Tyra Fennell / Imprint City + Michael Yarne / Social Construct 

On this episode, we speak with Nancy Pili Hernandez, Bay Native and civil disobedience expert about why she believes in direct action and how the connection between art and resistance inspired her to celebrate her 40th revolution around the sun with a special art exhibit right here in the Mission. For more information on "My Homies Are My Heroes" visit http://bit.ly/sfif-mhrmh

On this episode, we talk with MEDA's Dairo Romero, longtime community organizer in the Mission District, to discuss 2019's victories. With historic moments in the neighborhood this year, and construction cranes popping up all over the Mission, let's take a step back and recognize where and how those victories came to be.