United Playaz: 30 Years of Saving the Hood
On Oct. 10th, 2024, we marked our 30th anniversary with a major fundraising bash at The SF Press Club. On the day of the event, our founder Rudy Corpuz Jr. was at the “Playaz Club” at 1038 Howard St., sporting a yellow silk suit, getting ready for the annual celebration.
Our entire staff was there too, all dressed to kill. On top of a wide array of prison gang tattoos and UP gear with our “It Takes The Hood to Save The Hood” slogan were scarves and sashes, bow ties and paisley vests.
The event attracted San Francisco’s political elite. Beyond a who’s who of the real estate community, attendees included Mayor London Breed, former Mayor Willie Brown, state Sen. Scott Wiener, Assembly Member Matt Haney, Supervisors Matt Dorsey, Rafael Mandelmann, and Ahsha Safaí, along with former Supervisor Jane Kim.
Governor Gavin Newsom joined via Zoom. As Haney put it: “Every single elected official, if they are not here when United Playaz is celebrating their anniversary, they are not doing their jobs.”
The celebration also highlighted staff members whose personal transformations embody our mission. Among them were Everett Butler and John Windham, San Francisco natives who spent a combined 50 years locked up in California state prisons.
Our New Facility: A $26 Million Expansion
The crowning achievement of our 30th year was the opening of a new 3,200-square-foot community clubhouse on June 12, 2025. Located at 1044 Howard St., between Sixth and Seventh streets, the building cost about $26 million to construct.
The date held special significance for Rudy: “This is our new building that’s going to be cut June 12, 2025, the same day that my mom was born, Filipino Independence Day and the day I got arrested as an adult.”
The grand opening drew hundreds of people along with elected leaders including San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, state Sen. Scott Wiener, and Assemblyman Matt Haney.
Haney and Wiener played a role in securing funding for the building’s overhaul and seismic work. A rooftop basketball court was funded by the Golden State Warriors and a rooftop mural was funded by the Golden State Valkyries.
Mayor Daniel Lurie addressed the crowd, stating that “It is United Playaz and events like this and communities like this that give me hope and optimism that this city, when we work together, when we come together, when we are together, there is no stopping San Francisco.”
We’re proud of the facility’s amenities. In addition to the rooftop court, which features a single hoop and enough space for a three-point line, the second story has office space and a community meeting room. The first floor has a large open community room with a long bookshelf, chairs and study tables, plus more tables for educational activities and a kitchenette.
For longtime supporters, the moment was profound. Mattie Scott, a member of the San Francisco Police Commission who has worked with us for 25 years, said the building was “a dream come true.”
Outside the building on Howard Street, a mural of faces depicts people who have been involved in our community, whether they have passed away from gun violence or are helping to shut down and stop gun violence. The block itself was renamed United Playaz Way in 2024.
Rudy dedicated the new building to the women who work alongside him: “The women, I believe, are like the backbone to the movement. Women work harder than men. You guys will go harder than men, I don’t know, for some reason. And they’re the ones who make the change happen.”
What’s Next for United Playaz
Our new facility will become the hub for expanded programming. It will be the new home of the SoMa Youth Collaborative Summer Program, which we run with 20 partner organizations, serving about 300 children each summer. We teach them life skills, academic enrichment, workforce development, civic engagement, arts, sports, and more.
The new UP facility will be used to help build children’s literacy and for restorative justice services. As Rudy explained during the groundbreaking: “When you look at the statistics, people who can’t read by the third grade most likely end up in prison. And so, we want to teach kids, not only how to read, but to understand what they’re reading.”
We’re also expanding our geographic reach. San Francisco is launching a new violence prevention program in the Tenderloin, developed by United Playaz and the Tenderloin Community Benefit District.
Under the program, set to begin in January 2026, four part-time community workers with “deep ties” to the neighborhood will offer mentorship and other programming for up to 20 young people ages 12 to 24.
We continue our signature programs, including our annual gun buyback events that have collected thousands of firearms over the years. Our annual gun buyback event takes place at our clubhouse with the message: “Help end the pollution and be the solution to gun violence. No questions asked.”
As for Rudy’s personal commitment, he puts it simply: “Until the wheels fall off. I’ve talked about banging. I still bang. But I bang for change. I make sure that before I leave we have all the essential things that we need for our people in the community.”
Images courtesy of Sean Santos.