This month we happily welcomed Rodrigo onto the staff at ACSF to serve as our Administrative Assistant. Rodrigo comes to us as no stranger to the Mission District and is involved in several of the same community circles as ACSF. To help you get to know him we asked Rodrigo some questions.
ACSF: Rodrigo, where are you from and how did you come to find ACSF?
RODRIGO: I was born and raised in the Mission District, San Francisco. I grew up on 20th street and Mission, so I would see ACSF practice back in the day when you were in the first studio right there between 19th and 20th and Mission.
ACSF: Outside of working with ACSF, what things are you involved with that you’d like to share with the ACSF community?
RODRIGO: First and foremost I am an Aztec dancer. Aztec Dance is a religious and traditional form of dance and prayer from Mexico. I have been in the circle of Aztec dance since the day I was born. I am passionate about music, dance, and are-I believe that they have the power to heal and unite people from all walks of life.
Also, I am the Parade Comparsa Coordinator at Carnaval San Francisco (CSF). CSF is a beloved Memorial Day Weekend event featuring a Grand Parade and 2-day Festival, celebrating music and cultural elements from Latin America and the Caribbean. I know you are familiar, as ACSF has performed in the parade for many years.
I’m also involved in the organization Our Mission No Eviction. We are a coalition of neighbors, community organizations, and local merchants opposed to the rapid pace of displacement/evictions in the Mission, which is destroying the cultural and social fabric of our neighborhood.
ACSF: What do you think about capoeira?
RODRIGO: Capoeira is a way of life. I did Capoeira for six years, from the age of 6 until I was 12, and it helped shaped the person I am today. Capoeira instilled in me the importance of discipline, dedication, and empathy towards others. I have lived by those basic guiding principles ever since.