Though the city of San Francisco sits on a peninsula just seven miles across, it’s easy to stay in our own neighborhoods and never experience what other communities have to offer. However, each Thursday for the past 10 weeks, I traveled to a part of the city that was brand new to me and that most San Franciscans don’t make a point to journey to – the Alice Griffith Public Housing Development in Bayview.
Sitting almost literally in the shadow of Candlestick Park, Alice Griffith is a subsidized housing development where public safety is a major concern. Despite being plagued by regular break-ins and robberies, murders and drug-related incidents – not to mention a dismal lack of attention from the San Francisco Housing Authority to the physical needs of the homes – I met an inspiring group of residents who want and work for meaningful change in their community.
Module participants celebrate their achievements!
Through a partnership with our client, San Francisco SAFE (Safety Awareness for Everyone), our team implemented a public safety and community-building module created originally for use in public housing developments. Over the 10-week module, our curriculum focused on the concepts of community policing, restorative justice and community organizing, and ways to organize to improve the quality of life in their community.
Throughout the course of the module, I had the pleasure of working with 10 real community heroes who have an undaunted urge to witness safety improvements in their neighborhood. Our participants already foster positivity in the neighborhood by managing a community garden, mentoring the incarcerated, leading children’s field trips and teaching local children skills like bicycle repair.
But they recognize there is more to be done. The divisions in their community will not disappear overnight, but they are willing to work to create positive change through small acts that will eventually lead to a safer, more prosperous community.
At the close of the module, the participants finalized an action plan to hold a safety block party in their community. They recognize that through block parties, open mic nights and other social events, they can facilitate the residents simply getting to know one another – which is hailed as one of the first and most crucial steps to creating a safer community.
The participants continue to meet on a weekly basis as a working group to plan for the block party and foster long-term change in their community. It was my pleasure to get to know and work with these individuals over the past few months and I look forward to following their future accomplishments.
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These people are truly community heroes! Great work, Millie!