On January 29th, GLIDE joined city leaders, partners, and community members to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Health and Wellness Center at 888 Post Street—a milestone for San Francisco and a powerful investment in our young people’s futures. Designed to serve youth ages 18 to 27, the Center offers a welcoming, dignified space where young adults can find stability, care, and an opportunity to move toward independence at a critical moment in their lives.

“This place has been built with love, intention, and deep belief in the brilliance and potential of our young people,” said Tacing Parker, GLIDE’s Chief Program Officer. 

GLIDE’s spiritual contingent: the Reverend Dr. Gina Fromer, Minister Marvin K. White and Rabbi Michael Lezak all offered words of interfaith blessing. “As we set goals and implement plans, help us to trust in Your grace and your love.” “May this place not ask you to prove your pain before it offers you a chair… may this be a place where your queerness, your youth, your survival, are not problems to manage.”  “May the staff who have spent hundreds of hours to build this space know only blessing!” 

Keith Watts, leading the GLIDE Ensemble, then let the room know, “This room and space will be LIT. It will shine a light on this corner.  I want us to sing about that light!” The room then clapped and sang along to the GLIDE Ensemble’s classic rendition of, “This Little Light of Mine.” 

    Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director of the SF Dept of Homelessness and Supportive                                            Housing (L) and GLIDE President & CEO, Dr. Gina Fromer

Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, addressed the crowd: “As I think about this site, I think about my niece, who turned eighteen yesterday… My niece is fortunate to be housed and have two parents caring for her, but there are so many youth who don’t have that. And that’s what this is about. This program is designed specifically to meet the unique needs of transitional age youth, at a pivotal age when they are reaching for stability… Today we open doors to safety, wellness and connection.” 

GLIDE’s President & CEO, Dr. Gina Fromer then stood up to inspire the room. “Every new person we hired to work in this building– you have a vital mission ahead of you. You’re going to show everyone who walks through those doors the meaning of unconditional love!  She reviewed the services the Center will provide– integrated medical and mental health care, case management, workforce development, and essential services like showers, laundry, and pet care—meeting immediate needs while opening doors to long-term opportunity.

Martail Smith, 21 years old, spoke about his experience receiving transitional age youth services in San Francisco. “These services are really important because a lot of young people don’t have family to support them, or a place to go… My case manager believed in me when I really didn’t believe in myself yet… Today is a big day for me. With the support of my program, I am moving into my own place.” The room filled with the cheers of a standing ovation. 

We then heard from Amr Guendia, the U.S. Managing Director of Commercial Banking at BMO, the Center’s corporate sponsor. He said,  “At BMO we believe that economies thrive when communities thrive. We believe in investing in organizations that drive real change, and GLIDE is a shining example of that.”

Mawuli Tugbenyoh, the Human Rights Commission Director, added, “By centering young people and making sure they have the space to receive 24-7 care and support, GLIDE is making a powerful statement: that young people matter, and access to care should not be dependent on their circumstances. Access to health and wellness IS a human right.”  Carla Short, Director of the Department of Public Works, discussed the difficulty of bringing the project to completion, and how the vision of helping youth motivated everyone to persevere through difficulties.

We hope the snip of scissors cutting the ribbon on TAY Youth and Wellness Center heralds the start of a new era for the city’s unhoused and housing-unstable youth!  By meeting young people where they are—whether they come in for a shower, medical care, or computer access—the Center will create pathways to housing stability, employment, and long-term well-being.

To learn more about GLIDE’s TAY Center, visit this page.