Raziel Ramil

Community development project manager

What does a typical work week look like for you?

Every week looks different for me. We can be providing Little Manila historic tours or site visits of the Little Manila Rising Center. It can be going through several conversations with our vendors that are supporting us in the renovation plans for the LMRC such as our architect and various consultants. At times it can also be a chill week where there’s not much meetings and more email answering. My position has consistency and at the same you never know what you’re going to get this week, which I find super exciting. As the renovation plan for the LMRC is such a critical project for LMR, my favorite thing about this role is seeing how much the project is growing from a dream to a reality.

How’d you get to LMR?

I was first an Environmental Justice Youth Advocate in 2021 and I loved my experience! I studied community development/urban planning during my undergrad at UC Davis; however, I pivoted my efforts to youth development. After leaving that job, my childhood best friend, Charis Guerzo, recommended me the position I am in now today. The roadmap to LMR becoming a Community Development Corporation is truly a key element to LMR’s story in reclaiming and revitalizing our communities. As someone who grew up in Stockton, I instantly felt the strong connection and feeling that this is where I was meant to me.

What do you like to do when you're not at LMR?

I love spending quality time with friends and family, cooking, eating out at new places, and drinking coffee! A hobby that stuck to me since high school is collecting vinyls or records. I’ve always been a music head and I feel like the art of record players/vinyls is a beautiful concept. Although it is much faster to click on the music you want to listen to Spotify, there’s something about taking your time to place the record onto the turntable and placing the needle so gently to get the song going. It demonstrates music in a whole other form.

What does Stockton mean to you?

Stockton to me is my sacred home. It’s a place with rich history and it is worth preserving and not removing. The people who get it, get it; and the people who don’t, don’t.