Jorge Lopez, founder of AMPS schools, which operates six schools serving kids of all grades in Oakland and in his hometown of Richmond, CA.  We talk about his journey from dropping of high school to completing his masters degree and founding AMPS.  His schools have been some of the highest achieving schools in the area. He talks about what it takes to help kids in the inner cities overcome obstacles to getting an education. We also discuss how the LRAA can make a difference.

Victor Rios PhD is a MacArthur Foundation Chair and Professor of Sociology at the University of California Santa Barbara. He grew up in the mean streets of East Oakland and struggled as a youth caught up in gangs and street violence. Through tragedy, and  the help of a teacher and the community he returned to high school and was able to transcend his environment and eventually earn a PhD from UC Berkeley. He talks with us today about his story and what is takes for youth overcome obstacles and be successful.

Special Guests George Rangel, Founder of Alma Latina, and Servando Morales, Founding Player of the Chichimecas talk about the origins of their sports clubs and some of the important events and members associated with each. Cohosted by Jose Arredondo and Steve Lovato, this episode is the 6th in the series of podcasts which highlights the  La Raza Athletic Association and what it means to the local community.

Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo is a former Board Member for the La Raza Athletic Association. On this episode Mr. Gallo talks with us about what role the LRAA plays in the community.

A tribute to Leroy Gallegos, longtime head of the La Raza Athletic Association in the 1970s and 80s, with panel consisting of Veronica, Leroy's daughter, Ted, his brother, and Brian, who worked with Leroy for over 25 years. LRAA Podcast for June 8, 2024

The La Raza Athletic Association Podcast documents the history of the LRAA which organized sports activities for the local communities of the East Bay/Oakland/Hayward/Richmond area of Northern California. This podcast has former players discussing what the LRAA is all about and what it meant. Rich Castellanos, Fred Sanchez, and Dave Gonzalez, and your host Steve Lovato.

The La Raza Athletic Association started in 1971 when Chicano youth found an old gym and started playing basketball. Those small pickup games blossomed into an organization that at its height had 42 teams across 4 divisions.  Stevan Alvarado and Robert Moncado were there from the start and discuss the early days of the LRAA. Ed Robles was a 9th grader in 1972 and played in some of the first games of the league.  Hosted by Augie Arteaga, this episode presents some of the history of the LRAA.

We interview some former participants the the LRAA Youth Basketball League. They discuss the early days of the youth league and talk about playing around various gyms in East Oakland and about what the LRAA meant for them personally and for the community.