eXtra Herstory: 2 Women of CALLES in Platica - Street Rapport and Response

RAMA Blueprints

In this extra for the RAMA Blueprints, we hear from three women who worked in the Real Alternatives Program's (RAP) CALLES Street Outreach program. We present this platica or dialogue to demonstrate how these two women, through consistency and relentlessness can lead to effective street outreach support services in response to community violence.

We talked with Donna Saffioti Johnson, the "Condom Lady" who began working at Horizons in March of 1988, and Michelle Alvarez Campos, a San Francisco Native, mother of two, practicing licensed clinical social worker who previously worked as a case manager with the CALLES program at the RAP.

Their story is one of the most underlying truths about this street intervention work, where there isn't a clear cut response plan in face-to-face engagements. They must rely upon their training, gut feelings and personal experience to bring forth the best traits within each human being they encounter. RAP's Calles program originally began as the Barrio Patrol in the late sixties to monitor police activity, provide safe passage for youth and guide youth development.

This episode was produced, written and edited by Darren J. de Leon and host Socorro Gamboa for the 5 Sisters Audio Garden. Please consider donating to RAMA Blueprints by visiting CARECENSF.org. Thank you and please share this show with 2 people.