The Butterfly Effect of Community Self Care — 6 Organizations in SOMA Pilipinas Nurturing Community Well-Being
In the heart of SOMA Pilipinas, where the beat of city life meets the rhythm of community, lies a profound truth: the well-being of our families and neighborhoods is deeply intertwined.
As we navigate the complexities of urban living, it becomes increasingly clear that prioritizing family-friendly self-care initiatives isn't just about personal well-being—it's about nurturing a vibrant, interconnected community where everyone can thrive.
Image source: @sikodiwa
Each individual plays a unique role within our Kapwa— our lives are woven together in a delicate web of connections. Like the flutter of a butterfly's wings causing ripples across the diaspora to the fractal flutterings of inner-city happenings, the choices we make—both individually and collectively—have far-reaching effects on the well-being of those around us.
**This list of organizations is not an end all be all of organizations that support community well-being. We acknowledge the growing community and welcome the input of our community to uplift & bring awareness to those organizations.
6 Organizations in SOMA Pilipinas Nurturing Community Well Being
1. Kapwa Gardens
KAPWA GARDENS is a 5 year public space activation experiment transforming the 967 Mission parking lot. Designed to be a cultural asset for SOMA Pilipinas, this program connects a diverse community of residents, students, workers & movement builders through vendor popups, live music, public screenings, cultural activities and more.
This multi-functional garden is an outdoor space showcasing activities that heal the mind & body and expand our consciousness and raise the level of empathy in a downtrodden area of San Francisco.
Kapwa Gardens is a transformative space in SOMA Pilipinas that promotes community healing and wellness through urban agriculture, cultural events, and intergenerational activities.
Celebrate the spirit of Easter at Kapwa Gardens!
Celebrate a funky family-friendly Easter egg hunt at Kapwa Gardens! Expect a petting zoo, activities for the young and young at heart among the vibrancy of our urban garden oasis.
Dye Hard provides a chance for families and community members to to enjoy the beauty of Kapwa Gardens.
Donning your best tie dye or psychedelic threads is encouraged!
2. SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District
As the first Filipino cultural district in the United States, SOMA Pilipinas celebrates and preserves the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino community in San Francisco. By participating in events and supporting initiatives within SOMA Pilipinas, you're contributing to the preservation of cultural identity and promoting community resilience and well-being.
The SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Heritage District is a celebration of the love, pride and people power of generations of Filipinos in San Francisco and beyond.
Cultural Assets
The SOMA Pilipinas district is bounded by Market, Brannan, Second, and Eleventh. Alive within those 1.5 square miles is over 100 years of Filipino history:
organizations, places, and people that tell the story of our struggles, aspirations, and achievements.
3. Filipino Mental Health Initiative
Mental health is an essential component of overall well-being, yet it is often stigmatized within many communities. The Filipino Mental Health Initiative works to raise awareness about mental health issues and provides culturally competent resources and support to individuals and families in the Filipino community. By supporting this organization, you're helping to break down barriers to mental health care and promoting the well-being of future generations.
Through capacity building, outreach and engagement in the Filipino community, the Filipino Mental Health Initiative-SF strives to reduce stigma, promote awareness, and increase access to culturally appropriate wellness services and the effectiveness of the behavioral health services in San Francisco.
FMHI of San Francisco is committed to providing a range of preventative and promotive wellness services to support the diverse needs of our community.
We understand many factors (socioeconomic status, health history, accessibility, etc.) can have an effect on our mental health and acknowledge the specific linguistic and cultural needs of the Filipinx American community. Below is a digital library of resource guides to direct individuals and families to access mental health and social services in San Francisco.
4. Bayanihan Equity Center
Formerly known as the Veterans Equity Center, The Bayanihan Equity Center is dedicated to advancing social and economic equity for Filipino immigrants and their families in San Francisco. The Bayanihan Equity Center provides culturally responsive services to address the needs and advance the rights of marginalized communities in pursuit of equity and justice.
Through advocacy, education, and direct services, the center empowers individuals and families to access resources and opportunities that promote stability and well-being. By supporting the Bayanihan Equity Center, you're investing in a more equitable and inclusive community where everyone has the chance to thrive.
Advancing the community in
pursuit of equity and justice.
The Bayanihan Equity Center is a multi-service nonprofit organization serving seniors, adults with disability, and families since 1999.
5. Filipino-American Development Foundation
Over the last 20 years FADF has proudly created and nurtured vital programs and community space serving the Filipino community in the South of Market District and in the City and County of San Francisco. FADF is also the fiscal sponsor for Filipina/o organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area providing necessary support to the Filipino community.
The Filipino-American Development Foundation (FADF) focuses on empowering Filipino-American youth and families through education, leadership development, and community engagement. By supporting FADF programs and initiatives, you're investing in the next generation of leaders and promoting the well-being of multi-generational families in San Francisco's Filipino community.
Filipino American Development Foundation continues to operate remotely.
Community direct services continue via SOMA's various direct service organizations. Please contact those organizations for assistance.
6. United Playaz
United Playaz is a San Francisco-based violence prevention and youth development organization. We provide a comprehensive range of services to prepare vulnerable youth for higher education, employment, and healthy living within a safe, nurturing, and collaborative environment.
SoMa Youth Collaboration
We exist to ensure our neighborhood is a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment for our kids to thrive. We work towards this vision by coordinating our efforts, leveraging our resources, improving access to our services, and acting as a voice for our youth and their families.
The vision for the SoMa Youth Collaborative (SYC) was developed by organizations that have collectively served SoMa for more than 50 years - United Playaz (lead), and City Crossroads. Current SYC membership includes more than 20 SoMa based children, youth, and family service organizations. We serve more than 300 children and their families each year. This partnership provides our community with a full spectrum of services including academic enrichment, life skills training, workforce development, civic engagement, art and cultural activities, and sports and recreational activities. SYC also works to bridge the gap between local service providers and our elementary school, Bessie Carmichael, with the thriving business community in SoMa to ensure our organizations can continue to flourish.
BE PART OF OUR GROWING KAPWA
Ways You Can Support KAPWA GARDENS
Every dollar helps.
We are so excited to continue to provide resources and events to our local community in the new year! The more we can raise, the more we can grow the space to better serve the community in 2022 and beyond.
We have volunteer opportunities to build furniture, paint murals, and tend to the garden.
Volunteer for everyday garden maintenance or our special events!
