Highlights Part 2 - Featured Community Organizations work
On Teaching Reality: "You have to be honest with them though, that this is real. This is what it is. This is why y'all are dying." - Anthony Rodriguez
In part two of our highlight compilation from our 2019 series, "From Bankruptcy to Reinvention, the City of Stockton”; This remastered episode features both the inspiring stories and discussions with the leaders, artists, and residents who sparked change. Hear conversations on revitalizing downtown, improving police-community relations, confronting the school-to-prison pipeline and more illuminate Stockton’s reinvention: engagement through Reinvent South Stockton, the South Stockton Schools Initiative, reconciliation-focused policing and Advanced Peace, youth leadership, arts education, along with authentically engaging the community’s voice to demand a fair share.
Visit the episode page to connect with each guest’s organization—volunteer, donate, and share their work to sustain Stockton’s momentum.
Barb Alberson-Senior Deputy Director for Policy & Planning, San Joaquin County Public Health Service
Barb Alberson is Senior Deputy Director for Policy and Planning, San Joaquin County Public Health Services. Barb leads the department’s strategic planning efforts both in-house and in working with community partners on ways to enhance collective impact. Additionally, she directs the department’s Quality Improvement efforts, and provides programmatic oversight for the Health Promotion, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, and WIC Programs. Previously, Ms. Alberson was Chief of the Injury Control Section, California Department of Public Health. During her 23-year tenure, Ms. Alberson and her staff implemented the state’s comprehensive injury and violence prevention program. Prior to that, Barb worked for the California Department of Aging on initiatives to enable older adults to age in place. Barb has served as a consultant to many federal agencies and national associations. She earned her BA from UCLA, and her MPH from CSU, Northridge. She loves cats and cheeseburgers. Gain more insights into poverty’s impact on our health in our original interview with Barbara in Episode 10.
Michael Tubbs-Former Mayor, City of Stockton
Michael Tubbs’s story is one of remarkable civic leadership rooted in personal resilience and visionary policy work. Michael was born in South Stockton, California, and raised by a teenage mother, Racole Dixon, while his father served a life sentence under California’s three-strikes law. He graduated from Franklin High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma. Attended Stanford University on a need-based scholarship. Earned a BA in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and an MA in Policy, Leadership, and Organization Studies. Received a Truman Scholarship and interned at the White House during college
Tubbs was elected to Stockton City Council in 2012 at age 22, representing District 6 South Stockton. Mayor of Stockton: Elected in 2016 at age 26, becoming Stockton’s first African American mayor and the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city. He served from January 2017 to January 2021, and his tenure saw a 40% drop in homicides (2018–2019), Stockton named an “All-America City” twice, and he pioneered a guaranteed income pilot that inspired national replication.
Tubbs Civic Innovation & Advocacy includes Stockton Scholars:Raised over $20 million to launch a universal scholarship and mentorship program for local students. Mayors for a Guaranteed Income:Founded this national coalition to advocate for income security policies End Poverty in California (EPIC): Founded EPIC to shift narratives around poverty and elevate lived experiences into policy action. Leads statewide listening sessions and collaborates with lawmakers to advance equity-focused agendas as well as Serves as Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility and Opportunity
Tubbs wrote a memoir titled “The Deeper the Roots”, chronicling his journey from South Stockton to national influence. Was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fortune’s Top 40 Under 40 and honored by The King Center and JFK Library for civic leadership. Enjoy our original interview with Michael in Episode 13
Brandon Leake-Founder & CEO,Called To Move
Leake is the Founder and CEO of Called To Move – CTM. Brandon, is an artistic visionary and award winning spoken word poet whose roots lie in the ghetto’s of south side Stockton, California. Being born and raised to a single parent household with his mother, Carla Leake-Gibson, Brandon was accustomed to the complexities of playing this game of life with the decks stacked against you. However, with a strong home life and some divine intervention Brandon made it out of his neighborhood ghetto into a college classroom. This journey came with its many trials from the loss of integral members of his family and abusive home life, but these trails mixed with this spiritual collegiate journey would soon blossom into a beautiful poetic journey.
In 2012 Brandon started Called To Move – CTM at Simpson University with a small group of artists just trying to share their gifts and encourage others to do so, which has lead its way into inspiring others through poetry all across the country. Brandon Leake released a debut album entitled, “In My Thoughts”, which lead him to traveling from Los Angeles to New York and everywhere in between for a year and a half performing his pieces, leading spoken word poetry workshops, and keynote speaking. For more information please visit Called To Move
Follow Brandon on his Facebook Page and you can purchase recordings of Brandon’s performances at Poetry Bandcamp. Learn about Brandon’s work and organization in Episode 12 along with watching our Townhall Live Show in Episode 14
Tama Brisbane-Co-Founder & Director,WOW Inc.
Tama Brisbane is the founder and director (along with her husband Aaron) of WOW, Inc., a nonprofit, slam poetry collective. With Our Words trains young writers and creates performance opportunities for them. Since 2004, Brisbane has made WOW Stockton’s and the Central Valley’s foremost presenter of youth development and leadership programs through literary and performing arts. She has created safe spaces for young people to express themselves through written and spoken word and provided opportunities for at-risk youth to connect the dots between literacy, critical thinking, social action and community results.
Tama was the City of Stockton’s first Poet Laureate. She will use the title to promote literacy and literary arts in a city that desperately needs such an influence.
She will prepare special poetry for city events — festivals, parades and swearing-in ceremonies. She will visit schools. And she will identify projects to bring poetry to youth who otherwise might never experience any. Enjoy our original interview: Episode 12; explore Tama and WOW’s work along with watching our Townhall Live Show in Episode 14
Anthony Rodriguez-Teacher, Marshall Elementary School, Instructor,Summer Success & Leadership Academy
Anthony Rodriguez is a dedicated educator and mentor based in Stockton, California, whose work bridges classroom teaching with youth empowerment initiatives.
Anthony is an 8th Grade teacher in Stockton California. He was born and raised in Tulare CA and moved to Stockton in 2009 to attend the University of the Pacific. While at Pacific he met Tylicia Hooker and Michael Tubbs by getting involved with their Summer Program: Summer Success and Leadership Academy or SSLA. Eventually earning his Master’s in Education, Anthony took his knowledge that he gained from SSLA and entered into the Stockton Unified School District; carrying the vision that he and his friends continue to have for the youth of Stockton. Empowerment through information and motivating our youth to reach their full potential that is within them. Anthony is the SSLA former Mentor Leadership Development Coordinator.To learn about Anthony’s work, listen to Episode 9 and watch our Townhall Live Show in Episode 14
Rhodesia Ransom-Co-Founder Sow A Seed, California Assembly Person for 13th Assembly District
Rhodesia co-founded Sow A Seed in Tracy, California, a nonprofit focused on mentoring and mental health services for youth in San Joaquin County. The organization has helped thousands of young people stay on track through counseling, leadership development, and community engagement programs.
Ransom was elected to the Tracy City Council in 2016, she prioritized public safety, homelessness solutions, and economic development. Served on the Tracy Planning Commission (2009–2016), where she influenced land use, zoning, and environmental safeguards. She played a key role in securing funding for Tracy’s first permanent homeless shelter and co-founded the Tracy Community Homelessness Task Force. She also helped launch the Tracy Police Activities League and served on the Tracy Unified School District’s Anti-Bully Committee. Rhodesia has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from San Francisco State University, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Golden Gate University.
Ransome was elected in 2024 to represent California’s 13th Assembly District, covering Stockton, Tracy, and Mountain House4. She advocates for social justice, equitable education, and economic empowerment, with a focus on collaboration between state and local agencies. Rhodesia has received the MLK Image Award (Tracy African American Association), Freedom Fighter Award (NAACP Stockton) and the Woman of Tracy Award (Tracy Women’s forum). To learn about Rhodesia’s work, watch our Townhall Live Show in Episode 14
Tafari Lee-Youth Leader, Stockton
Tafari Lee is a passionate advocate for education equity and youth empowerment, deeply rooted in Stockton, California’s civic and cultural landscape. His civic journey began in eighth grade, when his mother enrolled him in Filipino cultural dance classes. That experience sparked his interest in ethnic studies and community history.
Tafari became actively involved with Little Manila Rising, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Filipino American history and promoting social justice in Stockton. Through the Little Manila After School Program, he developed a strong voice in advocating for ethnic studies, police reform, and youth leadership. He helped present at the All-American City Awards in 2018, showcasing Stockton’s diversity and youth potential. Participated in national gatherings like the Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference and Pilipino Youth Conference (PYC), which focus on cultural identity and civic engagement
Tafari has met with leaders including Governor Gavin Newsom and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, discussing statewide police reform and youth-centered policy solutions. Lee’s been recognized for articulating the need for standardized police oversight, accountability, and inclusive curriculum development. Tafari views civic engagement as a tool for transformation: “It means that anyone from any community can get engaged… whether it’s going to a school board meeting or pushing the Council to do the things you’re asking for.” To learn about Tafari’s work, watch our Townhall Live Show in Episode 14
Tyla Lovely Cotton-Youth Leader, Stockton
Tyla is a light that draws people into her heart to serve her community,and graduated from Franklin High School. Tyla’s passions are cosmetology, entrepreneurship, and informing others about natural healthcare supplements. She has been involved with the several engagements with Fathers & Families of San Joaquin, including our Movement Warriors Event for our youth participants which included oil essentials, creating bath bombs, a tapping workshop to reduce stress, tea making, rosary making, and more. Her involvement with the Seeds in Concrete Workshops has impacted some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods with high toxicity air levels of Stockton, CA by improving the built environment through planting trees, fostering a commitment to civic engagement, and by becoming a climate leader with the Transformative Climate Communities collaboration. Tyla’s involvement has been an example to other youth organizers and girls of color who participate in the program through her own values, leadership and knowledge on social determinants of health. To learn about Tyla’s work, watch our Townhall Live Show in Episode 14
Johnny Barrios-Youth Leader,Stockton
Johnny attended Weston Ranch High School and has a passion to lead and teach about cultural based healing through indigenous practices. He continues to raise awareness about the School to Prison Pipeline, build positive relationships with his peers, and educate them on the issues we work with. He is also an El Joven Noble (The Young Noble) Graduate, which is a structured 10 week “rites of passage” curriculum centered around teaching sacred values and healthy masculinity. Also, Johnny participates in the Environmental Justice work with Fathers & Families of San Joaquin. Johnny also participated in the School Disciplinary Design Team in Orange County in which he was a part of collaborating and putting together a film called “Who Pays the True Cost of Incarceration” as part of our 209 Justice Reinvestment Team. He was additionally involved in engaging in youth participatory action research and leadership development opportunities, including a Movement Warriors Retreat. Find out more about Johnny’s work, watch our Townhall Live Show in Episode 14
““It’s a lot you could do with the homeless people. You could help them get into shelters. There’s a lot of abandoned buildings you could bring back to life and make ‘em into shelters. You could start a program for the homeless and help them get their lives together, but instead you judge ‘em.” ”
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