Reclaiming Home: A Night of Film, Organizing, and Community Power at the Roxie
The historic Roxie Theater was alive with energy, inspiration, and solidarity on September 17th as we hosted Reclaiming Home — a night that celebrated community ownership, housing justice, and the enduring power of collective action.
The evening centered on a screening of the acclaimed documentary Rabble Rousers: Frances Goldin and the Fight for Cooper Square, which chronicles one of New York City’s most remarkable housing victories. The film tells the story of how Cooper Square residents turned a top-down displacement plan into a model of permanently affordable, community-owned housing — a vision that continues to inspire movements across the country.
The story of Rabble Rousers — neighbors uniting to fight displacement and claim collective power — resonates deeply here in San Francisco. SFCLT continues that same tradition by partnering with tenants to purchase their buildings, place them into community land trust ownership, and keep them permanently affordable.
A powerful local example is SFCLT’s recent acquisition of 320 14th Street in the Mission District. After years of organizing through rent hikes and the constant threat of displacement, residents formed a tenant union and worked with SFCLT to bring their building into community ownership. Today, they enjoy stability and security in their homes — proof that organizing works, and that community control is possible.
Following the screening, a panel discussion – including 320 14th Street resident and organizer Luis Zeron, Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco Executive Director Maria Zamudio, and SFCLT Executive Director Saki Bailey – brought the conversation home to San Francisco. Together, they reflected on what Cooper Square’s legacy teaches us about our own struggles for housing justice, community control, and the right to stay rooted in place.
We were thrilled that long-time San Francisco resident Sally Goldin – daughter of the film’s protagonist Francis Goldin – shared a video message about how much it means to see us carrying the work her mother started, and that San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder welcomed attendees in the neighborhood she represents.
In addition to the film and panel, attendees participated in a community raffle featuring donations from beloved Mission District businesses including Bi-Rite Market, Smitten Ice Cream, Ritual Roasters, Mission Comics & Art, Dog Eared Books, Silver Sprocket, Paxton Gate, Mission Cliffs, Mission Bowling Alley, Mission Skateboards, Dagwood’s Sandwiches, No Shop, Glama Rama Salon, and Shaped AF. Proceeds supported both SFCLT’s work and the Roxie Forever campaign, which ensures the theater remains a hub for independent film and accessible culture.
Reclaiming Home reminded us that housing justice isn’t just about policy — it’s about people, organizing, and the courage to imagine a different future. Every tenant who fights for their home, every neighbor who joins a rally, every supporter who donates or volunteers — together, we are shaping a city rooted in dignity, equity, and self-determination.