Born and raised in San Francisco, Rudy Corpuz Jr. is the Founder and Executive Director of United Playaz, a violence prevention and leadership development organization. As an ex-felon, Rudy got involved in the Second Chance program of the Extended Opportunity Program Services (EOPS) at SF City College. His nonprofit career began as a gang prevention counselor working at Balboa High School. In 1994 after repeated violence between gangs, turfs and different ethnic groups, United Playaz was born from the collective efforts of the young people themselves and adult allies committed to making the school a safe place for all. The demands of the youth continue to be UP’s core services, providing youth with positive role models and activities to engage in as an alternative to involvement with gangs, drugs and other high-risk behaviors. The youngest of nine siblings, Rudy grew up attending programs at Canon Kip Community Center in the South of Market (Soma) neighborhood of SF. Although he didn’t know it at the time, his experience there would inspire his work with UP and his dream to one day operate a youth center to fill the void that was created when Canon Kip closed in 1989. Through the recent purchase of the UP Clubhouse, Rudy is now a stakeholder in Soma and is working hard to build up the community that he once destroyed. Rudy feels blessed to serve with the people and believes strongly in the UP motto that “It takes the hood to save the hood”.