Our 2nd Annual HOPE SF Small Grants Mixer

The Southeast Community Center at dusk. Sunset is reflected in the windows.

This past October, the Partnership for HOPE SF celebrated our Small Grants Program grantees at our 2nd Annual HOPE SF Small Grants Mixer in the Alex Pitcher Pavilion at the Southeast Community Center. This annual celebration is an opportunity for our grantees to come together and celebrate each other and the important work they do in our HOPE SF communities. 

A very special thank you to the grantees who took time out of their busy schedules to share more about the vital work they do in our HOPE SF communities. Our speakers that night, included: 

Sidney and Alice Byrd of River of Code.
The team from the Loyal Butterflies Workshop.
Vonnie Kiliona speaks about the Fealofani project.
  • Sidney and Alice Byrd from River of Code, a project in Sunnydale that seeks to empower youth by equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the digital realm and imagine a career in technology. 
  • La’Jeana Thompson, founder and executive director of Loyal Butterflies, which led a 12-week Self-Esteem Building Workshop for young people in all four of our HOPE SF communities. 
  • Vonnie Kiliona, Program Coordinator at the Samoan Community Development Center who lead the Fealofani Leaders Workshop which sought to impart cultural education through the art forms of singing and dancing. We were even treated to an amazing performance from the Fealofani Festival dancers! 

The event could not have come together without the incredible contributions of our HOPE SF Consultant, Chloe Underdue. We’d also like to thank our friends at Old School Cafe for catering, Spencer Wilkinson of Endangered Ideas for the excellent photography, and Balloon Sistas for their beautiful decor. 

The HOPE SF community also includes our dedicated partners at the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), namely, Dan Shaw, Jason Luu, Breonna Frierson, RoseMarie Sims and Audrey Abadilla. Without their commitment and contributions to this partnership, none of this work would be possible. 

Lastly, the evening proved to be bittersweet as we also said goodbye to HOPE SF Initiative Associate, Elizabeth Zigon. Elizabeth has been a dedicated and knowledgeable resource for our HOPE SF community for years and we wish her the absolute best in her future endeavors! 

Elizabeth Zigon (San Francisco Foundation) with Alice Byrd (River of Code).

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