Season 2, Episode 5: Breaking Barriers, Opening doors
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.
Season 2, Episode 4: The Kitchen Behind the Recipe for
San Francisco's comeback
Some of San Francisco’s most beloved restaurants began with a recipe, a dream, and a shared kitchen.
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In this episode of San Francisco Revival, Mission Housing sits down with Leticia Landa, Executive Director of La Cocina—the nationally recognized food business incubator that has helped immigrant women and entrepreneurs of color transform culinary traditions into thriving restaurants and food companies across the Bay Area.
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For more than two decades, La Cocina has built pathways for women entrepreneurs to grow businesses, lead in their communities, and shape the cultural and economic future of San Francisco.
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This conversation explores food, entrepreneurship, and the powerful women whose stories continue to redefine what opportunity looks like in our city.
Season 2, Episode 3: The Radical Power of Joy
In this episode of the San Francisco Revival Podcast, we sit down with Katy Birnbaum, Co-Founder and CEO of Into the Streets SF, the cultural production studio behind Downtown First Thursdays and other transformative public events across the city.
Katy explains why reclaiming public space isn’t just about events — it’s about culture, healing, and creating shared reality in an AI-driven world.
From the emotional aftermath of the 2016 election to the economic impact of revitalizing downtown San Francisco, this conversation explores why joy might be the most radical act of all.
Season 2, Episode 2: Organizing, Equity and San Francisco's Soul
From grassroots organizing to shaping equity work inside City Hall, Oscar Grande has spent decades fighting displacement and building community power in San Francisco. In this episode, he reflects on his professional journey, the lessons learned from years of organizing, and why equity must be rooted in real partnerships with communities. Oscar also shares why culture, joy, and long-term vision are essential to creating cities that truly work for the people who call them home.
Season 2, Episode 1: A protective voice for San Francisco's immigrant communities.
In this episode of The San Francisco Revival, Mission Housing sits down with Jorge Rivas Jr., Executive Director of San Francisco’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA), for a timely and deeply personal conversation about immigrant safety, civic trust, and resilience in San Francisco. Rivas addresses the fear many immigrant communities are experiencing amid heightened federal immigration enforcement, clarifying what sanctuary city policies can—and cannot—do, and urging San Francisco residents to continue accessing city services without fear.