Meet the Fall 2023 Small Grants Program Grantees!

The HOPE SF Initiative is honored to spotlight recipients of the Fall 2023 HOPE SF Small Grants Program, funding resident-centered projects across Alice Griffith, Hunters View, Potrero Hill, and Sunnydale. The Small Grants Program recognizes that HOPE SF residents have the solutions to uplift HOPE SF voices through community-generated ideas.

River of Code – Alice and Sidney Byrd

“Recognizing the lack of BIPOC representation in the tech industry, we aim to bridge the gap by introducing STEM concepts to the youth in our community, ensuring they are prepared for future opportunities in the tech world.”

Sidney and Alice Byrd are longtime residents of Bayview Hunters Point and have been personally connected to the Sunnydale community for over 10 years. They have noticed a disturbing lack of African American representation in the STEM industry, ranging from a lack of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) instructors throughout STEM-focused educational spaces, to a lack of BIPOC employees in local technology firms in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. They decided to take matters into their own hands and found River of Code, a coding class for Sunnydale youth. Partnering with the River of Life Church, an organization deeply rooted in the Sunnydale community, Mr. and Mrs. Byrd now offer an introductory series of classes accessible to students ages 10 through 18. Students meet weekly to learn the basics of JavaScript, practicing their newfound coding skills through weekly homework assignments and one-on-one mentoring sessions with Mr. Byrd. Throughout the entire program, students develop a game entirely on their own, and proudly share their work with friends, family, and community at an end-of-the-semester celebration. River of Code has seen great success with its curriculum and hopes to partner directly with BIPOC employees at local technology companies in the future.

Hunters View Digital Audio – Cole Berggren

“A series of free music classes open to the public living in the Hunters View Housing Community. Learning to play music teaches patience and promotes happiness. All are welcome!

Led by a partnership between Blue Bear School of Music and the Hunters View Community, Digital Audio classes are now available for teens and adults once per week in the Hunters View Music Room. Blue Bear School of Music has been active in the Hunters View community for many years, building on their partnership in the creation of a music studio during the prior phases of redevelopment. This year’s Digital Audio classes are led by Mr. Joseph, a longtime resident of Bayview Hunters Point. Mr. Joseph guides students through learning to use a range of electronic and classical instruments, including keyboards, guitars, bases, audio microphones, and percussion items. The classes draw inspiration from J Dilla, and end the semester with each student recording a full song that they can share with their friends and family. By exploring the world of music, Hunters View residents practice patience, perseverance, creativity, and self-expression. One of the core tenets of the Blue Bear Music classes is that music is therapeutic, and nourishing to the mind, body, and spirit. By practicing the art form of songwriting, Mr. Joseph and the Audio Music students release energy and emotion, both lyrically and in physical expression through instruments and the voice.

Braidz N’ Thangz Young Adult Internship Program – June Armstead

“We developed our program to help lay a foundation for success in the personal and professional lives of our participants. As a California licensed cosmetologist who was blessed to attend cosmetology school free of charge, I wanted to pay it forward.”

Braidz N’ Thangz is a project of Body, Soul, and Spirit Salon located in greater Visitacion Valley. Founded by June Armstead over 20 years ago, the salon offers a Junior Salon Assistant mentorship program grounded in opening the doors of hairstyling and cosmetology careers to residents in the community. Ms. Armstead, having lived in Visitation Valley for many years, is deeply rooted in community and passionate about paying it forward to the next generation of stylists. Through the Braidz N’ Thangz program, Sunnydale youth access skills training, mentoring, youth counseling, and interpersonal coaching that enables them to learn effective communication methods, practice self-advocacy, and develop a solid foundation through financial literacy. Program participants have the opportunity to obtain professional certificates and licensing to work in a salon environment, or open a salon of their own. If you live in Sunnydale and are interested in pursuing a career in the salon industry, please visit Ms. Armstead at Body, Soul, and Spirit Salon.

The Small Grants Program is supported by the Partnership for Hope SF and administered by the San Francisco Foundation. For more information, visit Hope SF – Small Grants Program.

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