Episode 4: The Roots of RAP (part 1): E.M.U.N.Y.O. (East Mission United Neighborhood Youth Organization)
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 members, Saddie Villapando and Esperanza Echeverria.
Episode 4 eXtra: Interview with Juan Gonzales
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.