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Mayor London Breed Announces Nearly $2 Million in Grants for San Francisco Nonprofit Organizations

All 11 of this year’s NSI grantees provide vital services and resources to low-income residents. Eight of the organizations have Black, Latino, Asian, LGBTQ, or immigrant leadership.

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Eleven organizations have received awards designed to protect and expand essential services for people experiencing mental health challenges and homelessness, provide support for low-income and first-generation college students, and create culturally responsive music, dance, and arts access at an affordable housing site in the Mission.

     Mayor London N. Breed, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and Community Vision made the announcement on Saturday about $1.96 million in transformative awards for San Francisco nonprofit organizations.

    The space acquisition and lease stabilization grants are part of San Francisco’s Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative (NSI), which helps stabilize nonprofits that provide services and support to residents as part of the response to COVID-19 and beyond. 

    With these awards, the NSI surpasses a milestone, seeding the acquisition of more than 150,000 square feet of newly nonprofit-owned space for organizations that serve low-income residents and are deeply rooted in historically underserved communities and communities of color. 

    All 11 of this year’s NSI grantees provide vital services and resources to low-income residents. Eight of the organizations have Black, Latino, Asian, LGBTQ, or immigrant leadership.

 

    “This past year has shown us just how important it is that our local San Francisco nonprofit organizations have the tools and resources they need to provide essential services,” said Breed. “The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative has supported the acquisition of critical community spaces throughout San Francisco. This round of funding will help strengthen organizations that are trusted and deeply rooted in their communities so they can recover and emerge even stronger than before the pandemic.”

 

    These funds are especially critical for ensuring San Francisco’s nonprofit organizations are able to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to provide critical services and resources for San Franciscans. 

    For example, in 2019, NSI funds supported the purchase of the property at 701 Alabama St., which was quickly activated last year by the Latino Task Force to distribute food and COVID-19-related assistance to some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents.

 

    This round of NSI awards includes $1 million for the Bayview Hunters Point Foundation to acquire permanent space that will be shared with organizations doing complementary work for people experiencing homelessness or seeking mental health and substance abuse services. 

    Three past NSI awardees, La Cocina, Planned Parenthood, and Mission Kids, opened new facilities this week. A fourth awardee, Community Youth Center of San Francisco, plans to break ground later this spring.

 

     The underlying objective of all NSI programs is to ensure access to quality-of-life resources as well as education, health, and human services for residents of San Francisco, and real estate assistance is a cornerstone of the program. 

 

2021 Nonprofit Sustainability Awardees

 

     Bayview Hunters Point Foundation will use its $1 million awards to catalyze a capital campaign and purchase space at 5815 3rd Street in the Bayview. The 20,470 square foot space will include shared space for organizations offering complementary services, making it easier for clients and their families to access support.

 

     “Bayview Hunters Point Foundation has provided support and empowerment for San Francisco’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised residents since 1971,” said Bayview Hunters Point Foundation Board President Susan Watson. “The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative acquisition grant will serve as the lead gift for our 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign, making it possible for us to purchase the building we’ve long called home. From this stable base of operations, we will continue to serve those most in need—for the next 50 years and beyond.”

 

     Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Américas was awarded $250,000 to cover renovation costs and $75,000 to pay for architectural and engineering services in support of its new community arts space in the Mission District. 681 Florida Street will be CANA’s first permanent home and will be used for dance rehearsals/performances, recording studio/beat-making lessons, music lessons, marketplace activities, and community events and meetings.

 

     “Funding for our future, permanent art space in the Mission District will bring long-term stability for CANA-Carnaval San Francisco and hundreds of artists, positively impacting our ability to focus on programming and development. This support will help preserve our community and city’s vibrant artistic culture for generations to come,” said Roberto Hernandez, Artistic Director, and Executive Producer.

 

     Japanese Community Youth Council received an award of $83,500 to support the repair and replacement of items required by the relocation of its college access programs to 1710 Octavia Street. The new site will be used to offer academic support and college advising for low-income, first-generation college students. While services are offered onsite at schools throughout San Francisco, the 1710 Octavia site will be used for afterschool, evening, weekend, and summer activities.

 

     “JCYC is extremely pleased to be awarded a relocation grant from the San Francisco Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative which will make it possible for our organization to move into new, long-term program space.  We are grateful for the opportunity to utilize these resources to create the most welcoming and safest environment for the children and youth we serve,” said Jon Osaki, Executive Director of the Japanese Community Youth Council.

 

     Other 2021 awardees include Bay Area Video Coalition, Charity Cultural Services Center, Children’s Book Project, Chinese Historical Society of America, Kultivate Labs, Larkin Street Youth Services, The Healing Well, and Youth Art Exchange.

 

     Grants are administered by Community Vision, which will announce the next request for acquisition proposals in June 2021 and offer several workshops with more information. Should funding be approved by the Board of Supervisors, the next round of applications for relocation and renovation grants will open in late 2021. Past program guidelines are available at communityvisionca.org/sfsustainability.. Information about past NSI awardees and current resources can be found at oewd.org/nonprofits.

This report is from the Mayor’s Office of Communication.

 

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Bay Area

Spring Fling & Art Stroll readies for return to ‘The Point’

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Steve Zwetsch of Cigar Box Kitchen Guitars will sell art collaborations such as this one for a good cause at the Spring Fling & Art Stroll. (Photo contributed)

By Kathy Chouteau

The Richmond Standard

Signaling that better weather is around the corner, Point Richmond’s “Spring Fling & Art Stroll” is returning to downtown Sat., April 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Held the day before Easter, the second annual event will see Park Place closed to traffic as children’s activities (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), a DJ (11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), dancing, fashion show, street vendors, Easter Bonnet Contest and an egg hunt get underway.

“Wear a hat and enter the Easter Bonnet Contest, activities and Easter Egg Hunt for kids, new round of outdoor art banners, browse sidewalk art vendors, view exhibitions in six local galleries, dine in local restaurants and more,” said organizers.

One artist who will be showcasing his collaborative artwork at the event is Steve Zwetsch of Cigar Box Kitchen Guitars. Zwetsch—who has been profiled as one of the Standard’s Fave Things”—will preview his “one-of-a-kind” art creations with nine of 13 local artists on cigar box guitars and ukuleles as part of the Local Artist Guitar Series.

Zwetsch said that the artists “painted, collaged or otherwise decorated” the guitars and ukuleles he made, with some of the materials—such as a folding chess board and drawer pulls—found at the El Cerrito Recycling Center, where he is currently the artist in residence. He said the works collectively took six to eight weeks to complete.

The following artists worked with Zwetsch on guitars/ukes that will be on display at the Spring Fling & Art Stroll, with “a portion of the proceeds [going] to local charities chosen by consensus of the artists,” per Zwetsch: Kaci Smith; Brian Mcgilloway; Laura Thiessen; Torreyanna Barley; Malik Seneferu; Dee Bell; Marvin Mann; Chris Morgan; and Gail Zwetsch.

He said 13 additional cigar box guitars are also currently being made as part of this series.

“This project has been really interesting and fun,” said Zwetsch about the endeavor. “Meeting all these talented artists and collaborating on one-of-a-kind pieces of playable art has been very fulfilling. I look forward to continuing this project through the rest of 2023 and into 2024.”

The Spring Fling & Art Stroll is hosted by a partnership among Arts of Point Richmond, Point Richmond Neighborhood Council and PRAM. Learn more at https://www.artsofpointrichmond.com/events/second-annual-spring-art-stroll.

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Bay Area

Richmond to Train Community Members to Respond to Low-Level 911 Calls

Trained community members could begin responding to certain low-level 911 calls in Richmond, as well as to calls into the non-emergency number, as part of a new program being developed by residents and officials. The city has released a survey (take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RichmondCrisisResources) to help design Richmond’s so-called Community Crisis Response Program.

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Photo via Pexels
Photo via Pexels

The Richmond Standard

Trained community members could begin responding to certain low-level 911 calls in Richmond, as well as to calls into the non-emergency number, as part of a new program being developed by residents and officials.

The city has released a survey (take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RichmondCrisisResources) to help design Richmond’s so-called Community Crisis Response Program. The new community-based response system will focus on harm reduction strategies that better serve residents in need and enable traditional emergency responders to focus on violent crimes and serious crises.

Urban Strategies Council (USC), a nonprofit research and social justice organization, is supporting the effort by learning from Richmond residents’ experiences with the emergency response system, community crises, and community needs.

The need for a better emergency response in the community comes in the wake of actions by the Richmond Progressive Alliance-dominated City Council to defund the Richmond Police Department. From 2014 through last year, the RPD saw a 26% reduction in sworn officers.

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Bay Area

New Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez – History Making Latina

Supporters celebrated the victory of new Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez in the Berkeley Hills on Sunday, March 12, at the home of Berkeley City Councilmember Sophie Hahn. “She stepped up for all of us,” Hahn said. “She stepped up for Alameda County. She stepped up for our values.”

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Berkeley City Councilmember Sophie Hahn (left) in her Berkeley Hills home hosts a meet-and-greet for new Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez. Photo by Carla Thomas
Berkeley City Councilmember Sophie Hahn (left) in her Berkeley Hills home hosts a meet-and-greet for new Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez. Photo by Carla Thomas

By Carla Thomas

Supporters celebrated the victory of new Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez in the Berkeley Hills on Sunday, March 12, at the home of Berkeley City Councilmember Sophie Hahn.

“She stepped up for all of us,” Hahn said. “She stepped up for Alameda County. She stepped up for our values.”

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arguin, the first Latino mayor of Berkeley, said he was Sanchez’s first supporter and called her a change agent.

“Representation does matter,” said Arguin. “It’s important that the people who hold these positions come from the county and represent the diversity of the county. She was the only one that had the courage to go against Sheriff Ahern.”

The meet-and greet-event gave Sanchez an opportunity to discuss her new role and hear from the community on the changes they wish to see within the department internally, and externally throughout the community.

“I know the damaging effects that poverty and lack of access to resources and support systems can have on communities and how that impacts crime and safety,” Sanchez said. “I am committed to leading the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office with the utmost integrity, serving the community equitably and inclusively, and making sure the agency ensures safety in the community by investing in it.”
Sanchez plans to transform the system by implementing partnerships that can provide transportation, housing, and resources for the re-entry population. She also plans to strengthen access to public health care and mental health resources within the jails.

“This is more than a job, it’s a mission,” said Sanchez who sees transformation for now and the future. “The younger generations can now see what’s possible.”

In June 2022, then-Deputy Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez surprised many by her outright win in a three-way race against a well-entrenched incumbent to become Alameda County’s next sheriff.

Sanchez actually raced against her own boss and won. Risking her career and livelihood, Sanchez credits hard work, prayers, and God for such a victory.
Once Sanchez took her oath on January 3, she became the first Latina and woman to ever hold the office, making history.

Retiree Dawn Sullivan who worked as a detective under Sanchez said she was a great supervisor and Sanchez’s rise was no surprise to her.

“I’m so proud of her, she had the courage to run against her boss,” said Sullivan. “She’s already done a lot, but the changes she will make will be great for so many in the department and the community.”

Born in Hayward, and currently living in Livermore with her husband, Todd, Sanchez says she is a proud stepmom of three daughters. She’s also proud to be a Latina with southern and Mexican roots. Sanchez says her mother moved from Texas to California and her father immigrated from Mexico.

“My family shaped my core values of integrity, respect, accountability, transparency and openness,” she said.

By the age of 14, Sanchez’s parents had divorced, lost their home, and she her siblings worked to “help mom make ends meet.”

At the age of 18, Sanchez says she worked three jobs until she got an entry-level role of Sheriff’s Technician within the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

In the Sheriff’s Office, Sanchez rose through the ranks for over 20 years, serving as Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain at the (North County Jail), and the Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility (GEDDF). Before her election, Sanchez’s most recent role included Division Commander, managing the Santa Rita Jail facility in Dublin.

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