Roots of RAP (part 3): The Last Harvest – Preview
In this episode, we explore the Real Alternatives Program (RAP) in the 1980s and its various services in full bloom to its unexpected closure in 1999. We speak with former Board of Directors members, senior staff, administrative and line staff, as well as participants who contributed to the legacy of RAP and its impact on the Mission community and SF city wide. RAP found itself in a financial crisis, the facts are the facts, the RAP leadership knew that they had a responsibility to secure services for the 500 youths and their families that were involved through street outreach, the school, case management, substance prevention abuse, tattoo removal, and other services.
We recognize the organization’s history, journey, successes and challenges. In this episode, we capture the true raw emotions, heartbreak and disappointment of the difficult and momentous decision to close down the organization. In the end, RAP, as it was known, closed, but continues to live on to this day, although the original programs have been reconfigured or renamed. Today, RAP’s energy still exists with the same resilience and strength which grew from RAP’s foundational principles of youth self-determination and the ever present battle cry of “love and serve the people.”
This episode was produced and edited by Darren J. de Leon and Host Socorro Gamboa.
And remember, TO LISTEN IS TO HEAL.