Rising 6th Grader, Esiah Thompson, finishes elementary school with strong academics, a love of science, and a strong community of support.

Esiah Thompson lives in HOPE SF’s Potrero Hill site. In his graduation speech at Starr King Elementary School, he referred to himself as a “young Einstein.” Esiah’s face was beaming, as he expressed his hopes and dreams for a better future for himself and his family. He proudly proclaimed, “I am grateful for my teachers and staff who supported me all these years and am grateful to my parents and family members who supported me up to this moment. I promise to become the full adult who will serve as an example for others as well as to care for my parents as they grow old.” 

Much of Esiah’s success can be credited to his HOPE SF village, including the “Lucky 13 Club” and the mentorship provided by Betty Canton-Self, the Urban Services YMCA Education Liaison. The HOPE SF Education Liaison program was created in 2014 in response to high levels of chronic absence—53%–among HOPE SF students.

Betty meets weekly with school staff to review attendance and focus on students who might need extra support. Because she is based in the community (not the school), where she has forged relationships with families, she understands the underlying stressors of living in public housing. Betty has become a trusted advocate, a source of information, and a bridge between the community and the schools. “We are all students and teachers; everyone has something to learn and something to teach,” says Betty.

Betty first met Esiah and his family in 2015 at Starr King elementary. He was a curious kindergartener who would, later, join the Lucky 13 Club, a lunchtime club that Betty started after reviewing the attendance roster. She knew that students needed added support to improve their attendance and learning goals. As the Lucky 13 Club gained a reputation for being a fun space for students to learn and adopt good habits, other students wanted to join. Eventually, the Lucky 13 became a group of 25 students, who mostly lived in HOPE SF and met weekly to set attendance and learning goals. To celebrate their progress, they received incentives such as popcorn, popsicles, and watermelon, with a special lunch once a month for all members who met their goals.  

After a few months into the club, Esiah achieved perfect attendance and remained strategically focused during the rest of his years at Starr King Elementary. He later became the Student Attendance Ambassador of the Lucky 13 Club, a designation that celebrated his achievements and made him a role model for other students.

Esiah also grew to love science and studied the mechanics of energy and propulsion. Betty often found him in the library. She describes Esiah as “a gentle and bright member of the community.” Esiah Thompson is going places, but his next stop is middle school. Let us congratulate him, his parents, and Betty Canton-Self for providing the support needed for Esiah to thrive academically!

Written by Betty Canton-Self- Urban Services YMCA Education Liaison

Edited by Brianna Rogers- The San Francisco Foundation- Initiative Associate