communications – Page 2 – GLIDE – San Francisco: serving the people of the Tenderloin and San Francisco since 1963

Announcing the Launch of the Transitional
Age Youth (TAY) Health & Wellness
Center

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.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Minister Marvin K. White lead the crowd in prayer. The event was an interfaith commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights accomplishments. The prayer took the form of this beautiful justice-seeking poem in the tradition of GLIDE founder Janice Mirikitani. We are sharing this poem on our website to uplift and inspire all of you in your own spiritual and justice-seeking practices. Enjoy!

A Prayer at the Ledge

Let us pray.

God of the ledge and the long view,
God of unfinished sentences and interrupted lives,
God who does not flinch when history leans forward—

We gather in this interfaith prayer,
honoring the birth and the burden of Martin,
speaking the words Liberty, Justice, and Beloved Community
not as a slogan,
but as a question history is asking us again.

History pretends it is new,
but our ancestors whisper,
“You’ve been here before.”
Beloved—
this moment remembers us.

We come not at a crossroads,
but at a ledge—
where truth is treated like contraband,
where cruelty has learned to sound official,
where Black memory is erased with spreadsheets,
where queer and trans lives are debated like abstractions,
where women’s bodies are managed by strangers,
where migrants are hunted for sport,
where ICE stalks neighborhoods, workplaces, and doorways,
teaching whole communities to live braced for disappearance,
where queer white women mothers and Black sons—
Keith Porter, Renee Nicole Good—
are martyrs and movement saints now,
new ancestors we seek for guidance,
where healthcare is rationed like mercy instead of named as justice,
where unions are broken on purpose,
where whole nations are flattened into headlines,
and where fascism no longer whispers—
it files paperwork.

And still—you have gathered us.

We came tired.
We came angry.
We came grieving.
We came laughing anyway.

Which tells us something holy:
the people are not asleep.
We are being summoned.

Today we remember Martin—
not the statue, not the slogan, not the safe version.
We remember the witness who warned us about militarism and materialism,
who said silence is betrayal,
who told us that waiting is often violence
dressed up as patience,
who knew that love without truth is sentimental,
and truth without love is terror.

So we confess before You and one another:

Some days we are tired.
Some days we scroll instead of organize.
Some days hope feels naïve,
and despair sounds reasonable.

But still—you keep breathing through us.
Still—you drum in our chests when the world says surrender.
Still—you sing through us when cruelty tries to sound inevitable.
Still—you call us back to the long, unfinished work of liberation.

So meet us here, God—not with comfort, but with courage.

Plant us in our bodies,
where fear lives and courage hides.
Steady our feet at this ledge.
Give us breath that says:
We are still here—and we are not neutral.

Turn our fear into fuel.
Turn our anger into clarity.
Turn our grief into organizing love.

Make us dangerous to despair.
Make us allergic to lies.
Make us faithful to one another.

Because the next move is not coming from palaces or podiums.
It is coming from living rooms and kitchens,
from classrooms and union halls,
from sanctuaries and sidewalks,
from the way we refuse to let each other disappear.

When history asks what we did at the ledge,
let it not say we complied,
or went quietly,
or mistook remembrance for responsibility.

Let it be said:

We loved loudly.
We told the truth.
We held one another.
We pushed back together.

And we did not disappear.

Amen.

On December 10th, GLIDE families gathered for a holiday moment that felt good the second they arrived. Children from the Janice Mirikitani Family, Youth and Childcare Center showed up bubbling with excitement, laughing, and calling out to friends. Caregivers followed with the same bright energy, smiling as they stepped inside and ready to enjoy a day that celebrated both them and their children.

At 3:00 pm, three buses lined up outside FYCC. Children spilled onto the sidewalk with excitement and climbed aboard, buzzing about the day ahead. The ride to 2 Folsom Street (where Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, and Banana Republic awaited) felt alive with energy. Kids leaned across seats to play with one another, laughing and turning the bus into its own little party before they even arrived.

This tradition started more than thirty years ago, when Old Navy first invited GLIDE children into their store for a holiday shopping experience. What began as a simple act of kindness slowly grew into a moment families could count on, a day when kids felt seen and cared about. What stayed constant over the years was the feeling that this day was about joy, dignity, and community.

This year, Gap Inc. expanded the shopping spree beyond Old Navy– Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta were also included creating a bigger and more meaningful experience. For many caregivers, choosing something new for themselves is rare. Watching them take their time, pick up different items, and accept encouragement from volunteers was truly special.

Each child and caregiver received a one-hundred-and-fifty-dollar gift card of their own to use across the four stores. Volunteer personal shoppers walked with families through each space, helped kids try new colors, carried clothing bags, and offered patient guidance. You could see the moment something clicked for a child when they found an outfit that felt just right. Their faces said everything.

Inside the building, Gap Inc. set up a welcoming area where kids could eat, rest, and play between shopping trips. Tables filled with snacks quickly turned into gathering spots where children compared what they picked out. The bracelet making table stayed busy, and the claw machine drew a steady line of hopeful players. Caregivers settled into chairs nearby, sharing stories and taking a quiet moment for themselves.

More than one hundred Gap Inc. employees volunteered throughout the event. Some were personal shoppers; others ran activities or supported caregivers. Every volunteer added to the feeling that families were being celebrated.

Dr. Gina Fromer spent the first part of the event with families and volunteers. She thanked people, checked in with caregivers, and brought a warm presence that matched the spirit of the day.

At its core, this event has always been about giving children the chance to feel good in what they wear and giving caregivers the space to feel appreciated. When a child finds clothing that feels like them, it shows in the way they stand a little taller. When caregivers are given time and attention, it brings a sense of relief that can last long after the holidays.

Families left with clothing bags and smiles that lingered long after they stepped outside. A tradition that began decades ago continues to grow in ways that honor its roots. And through every year of this tradition, one thing has stayed the same. People deserve moments that remind them they matter!

GLIDE once again came together with longtime partners and neighbors to make sure no one has to face an empty table. Our Annual Grocery Bag Giveaway—made possible by the generous support of the Gap Foundation and Gap Inc.—delivered 4,000 bags of groceries to San Franciscans experiencing food insecurity across the city.

This year’s giveaway marks more than a milestone moment of service. It celebrates more than 30 years of partnership between GLIDE and Gap Inc.—three decades rooted in compassion, dignity, and a shared commitment to uplifting low-income San Franciscans.

More Than a Bag of Groceries

Each grocery bag was thoughtfully assembled to feed a family of four, providing the ingredients for a nourishing, delicious holiday meal. In total, these bags helped to feed 16,000 people—neighbors, elders, families, and individuals who are feeling the strain of rising costs and shrinking resources.

Because San Francisco is a city rich in culture and tradition, the contents of each bag reflected the diverse culinary customs of the communities we serve. Food is more than sustenance; it’s connection, memory, and care—and we honor that in every delivery.

Powered by Community

This effort was truly citywide. In collaboration with 22 neighborhood and community partners, GLIDE ensured groceries reached those most impacted by food insecurity. With the help of more than 75 Gap Inc. volunteers, our teams packed and delivered bags to neighborhoods across San Francisco including Bayview, Outer Mission, Chinatown, Western Addition, Japantown, and beyond.

From sorting groceries at GLIDE to delivering bags directly into communities, this is what collective action looks like: neighbors showing up for neighbors, including neighborhoods like Bayview.

Kate Kuckro, Co-Executive Director of Community Living Campaign lifting
turkey boxes for distribution in the Bayview neighborhood

“This is an incredible tradition that goes back nearly 14 years now and it’s a great way for us to bring people together and help the community. We are so grateful to GLIDE year after year and being there for everyone from seniors to youth and it’s a chance to give back and add some good cheer to the folks we serve around the holidays,” said Kate Kuckro, Co-Executive Director of Community Living Campaign whose organization helped spearhead this partnership with GLIDE.

Why It Matters Now

Families across San Francisco are being squeezed like never before. Cuts to the social safety net, combined with the “three I’s”—Inflation, rising Insurance costs, and Inaccessibility of food assistance—have pushed more households into crisis. Grocery prices alone are 25% higher than they were five years ago, making it harder for families to put food on the table, especially during the holidays.

At GLIDE, we believe no one should have to choose between paying bills and eating well. This Grocery Bag Giveaway is one way we live out that belief—meeting urgent needs while affirming the dignity of every person we serve.

Together, We Make the Holidays Brighter

We are deeply grateful to the Gap Foundation, Gap Inc., our community partners, and every volunteer who makes this tradition possible year after year. Because of you, thousands of San Franciscans will experience a holiday meal filled not just with good food, but with the knowledge that their community cares.

That’s the power of partnership. That’s the heart of GLIDE.

More than one hundred Gap Inc. employees volunteered throughout the event. Some were personal shoppers, others ran activities or supported caregivers. Every volunteer added to the feeling that families were being celebrated.

Dr. Gina Fromer spent the first part of the event with families and volunteers. She thanked people, checked in with caregivers, and brought a warm presence that matched the spirit of the day.

This Thanksgiving, our community’s generosity shone brighter than ever. Because of your kindness, we filled our kitchens with abundance—130 turkeys, 70 hams, hundreds of pounds of holiday favorites, and dozens of gallons of rich, comforting gravy. We served approximately 2,500 meals, with all the fixings, both here at GLIDE and through our outreach deliveries.

Have a look at this year’s photo gallery and see for yourself what made this year’s Thanksgiving at GLIDE so special!

But the true impact stretches far beyond the holiday table. When someone comes to GLIDE for a meal, they often discover a doorway into so much more—healing through recovery programs, connecting in women’s groups, support that prevents homelessness, and a community that welcomes them just as they are.

For every person who donated, volunteered, or lifted us up in spirit, please know: you didn’t just brighten a single day. You helped open possibilities for people rebuilding their lives. And those stories are resonating throughout our city.

On Thanksgiving morning, the San Francisco Chronicle shared the journey of Roderick Hughes, who worked at GLIDE for 30 years before retiring earlier this year, now returning for a meal. “I have seniority over most of the people working here,” he said laughing as he waited in line. “I love GLIDE because this is my home,” Hughes said. “It always made me feel like I am somebody.”

NBC Bay Area interviewed one of our long-term volunteers, Kara, who spoke about the significance in her life of giving back to the greater community each time during Thanksgiving.

KTVU Fox News spoke with a family who drove all the way from Foster City to donate some turkeys to GLIDE. “This is what you should do on Thanksgiving,” said Richard Pasquinelli. “We’re fine. We have a roof over our head. We eat very well; we’re safe and we’re healthy and a lot more so than the people who are being served here at GLIDE.”

We were also honored to share the day with SF Fire Chief Dean Crispen, State Assemblyman Matt Haney, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood and other city leaders.

None of this would be possible without you. Thank you for every act of care, every plate served, every moment you choose to stand with GLIDE. And if you feel called to keep spreading warmth this season, we’d love to welcome you as one of our volunteers!

As we move through this season of generosity and reflection, please know how deeply grateful we are for you and for everyone who helps make GLIDE’s mission real.

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful holiday season!

There is no single right path for recovery from substance use.

Rather, recovery exists along a spectrum — from safer use and harm reduction all the way to full abstinence. At GLIDE, we embrace that full continuum, with a goal of reducing harm, saving lives, and supporting people in building healthier futures on their own terms.

As GLIDE President and CEO Dr. Gina Fromer puts it, “There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery.”

How GLIDE Supports Recovery

As GLIDE founder Reverend Cecil Williams liked to say, “We are all in recovery.” We might be addicted to work, addicted to distractions, or addicted to a substance of some kind– but addiction and recovery are a universal part of the human condition. There is no “us and them.” Reverend Cecil didn’t want folks to judge people on the street for their addictions– he wanted us to realize how much we all had in common.

GLIDE’s Health Access and Recovery Team (HEAT) is at the forefront of addressing the substance use epidemic in San Francisco. Our team offers a variety of services in an effort to meet people where they’re at – everything from medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) to referrals to detox services. And in September of 2025, we started a contingency management program for folks who want to overcome addiction to stimulants, like methamphetamine.

We also offer a range of abstinence-based recovery services for those who need it: Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous.

GLIDE believes recovery from substance use is a spectrum, and we serve all parts of that spectrum. Harm reduction services, sober housing and abstinence-only recovery programs, all have their part to play in the City’s recovery. Models which exclude or stigmatize those still using drugs can push people further into isolation, unsafe use, and overdose risk. That’s why it’s so important to have the full spectrum.

The Need for Wraparound Services

Helping folks address their substance use or addiction requires more than just a one-time meeting. That’s why at GLIDE, we focus on the whole person, not just their addiction. If we can get people in the door with our harm reduction or health services, then we can build our relationship with them over time. We can help them find housing, test them for transmissible diseases, help them towards employment and stability.

Black Men Over 55 Disproportionately Affected by Substance Use

Systemic racism perpetuates inequity in overdose deaths. In San Francisco, black men over the age of 55 are dying from overdose at a disproportionately higher rate– and the disparity is worse in San Francisco than in any other major city.

That’s why one of GLIDE’s priorities is opening “The Shop,” a barbershop that will connect our low-income clients not only with free haircuts, but with low threshold case management and emotional support. Barbershops are research-proven effective targeted interventions for community-building and stabilization in the lives of older Black men specifically, and they also have a proud history in the civil rights movement.

“Love Saves Lives”

In fall of 2025, we hosted a conversation at Manny’s Cafe between two leaders in substance use recovery who sit at opposite ends of the spectrum: one an advocate for harm reduction, and one an advocate for abstinence. Although the conversation was heated, there was something both leaders had in common: a belief that love saves lives. “Love goes a long way for people who are walked over, stepped on, and ignored,” said our President & CEO, Dr. Gina Fromer, who moderated the panel.

Lydia Bransten, CEO of the Gubbio Project, uses her work to help clients access harm reduction services. She understands the need for abstinence-based recovery, but wishes that the abstinence-only camp was more understanding that recovery is a spectrum: “I respect your journey of abstinence. All I’m asking is that you respect our clients’ journeys too, regardless of if they come to recovery in a different way,” she shared.

Recovery organizations should work together: we’re all fighting the same problem – we just have different ways of amending that problem. “You don’t have to agree with me, but our destinations are the same,” Dr. Gina says. “People healthy, off drugs, and off the streets.”

Why This Matters: Saving Lives and Reducing Stigma

The fundamental goal of our approach is overdose prevention. In a city deeply affected by fentanyl and overdose deaths, we have always acted as frontline responders. Our belief is clear: even one overdose is one too many.

We believe our approach helps reduce stigma and shame — both major barriers to seeking help. By not requiring abstinence as a precondition for care, we lower the threshold for engagement, letting more people connect with services earlier.

By embracing multiple pathways to recovery, GLIDE supports individualized journeys. Some will move toward abstinence; others might need the help of medications; others might continue to relapse for years. What matters is that we provide the support and accountability necessary to save lives and break the cycle of addiction.

Recovery requires community. Wherever you are in your recovery journey, you can find a community at GLIDE.

Contingency management might sound like complex bureaucratic jargon. But the core tenant of the program is simple: reward people for making healthier choices.

“Looking to change your stimulant use? Want to earn gift cards for reaching your goals?”

That’s the message printed on flyers decorating GLIDE’s lobby, advertising the new Contingency Management Program that began in September.

Over the course of 3 months, participants hoping to break free from addiction to drugs like methamphetamine, amphetamines, or cocaine will participate in individual and group programming at GLIDE. In exchange, they can receive up to $555 in gift cards for successful completion of sobriety milestones.

It’s a method of treating drug use that’s scientifically backed and proven to work, evidenced by numerous studies over the past 30 years.

“It’s a good way to give people something measurable to check off. We try to be flexible,” explains Whit Bastian, the Operations Manager for GLIDE’s Health Access and Empowerment Team (HEAT). “If someone is struggling with substance use, and they know they’re not going to be perfect, they can at least start to think about what stopping their substance use might feel like.”

What is Contingency Management?

Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-backed substance use disorder treatment. The program provides incentives or rewards (like gift cards) to people who exhibit positive behavioral change (like reducing drug use).

CM has also been used for other behavioral changes, not just substance use treatment. GLIDE’s Senior Director of Health and Clinical Services, Jason Finau, has seen contingency management used in outpatient clinics and other non-profit organizations. “I’ve used contingency management in medication adherence,” says Finau, detailing a program that worked with people struggling to manage their HIV medication. “Overall we saw a lot of success. By the end of the program, there was a significant improvement in medication management.”

Behavioral science has proven time and time again that positive reinforcement can be a powerful motivator for behavioral change – like getting a gold star on a chore chart as a kid. As we see in many recovery efforts, recovery is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Contingency management might not work for everyone, but it can be extremely effective for some.

A Day in the Contingency Management Program

The program runs for 12 weeks, with participants meeting at GLIDE 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Each day includes 3 parts: a urinary analysis, a one-on-one check in with a case manager, and group therapy.

First, participants take a urinary analysis – more commonly known as a pee test. If someone’s UA is negative for stimulants, they receive a gift card reward. If the test is positive, they don’t get the reward that day, but they’re still encouraged to attend group and 1:1 sessions. There’s no judgment, no punishment, and no dismissal from the program.

Gift card amounts increase with each consecutive negative test. The first incentive is $5. After six times in a row testing negative, participants move up to the $10 gift card amount. If someone tests positive, they are dropped back down to the lowest incentive level until they build up their negative streak again. Then they can return to the highest level they previously achieved.

Participants can also earn incentives for meeting health-related goals like going to the dentist, getting new glasses, or completing a Hep C screening — up to $10 per goal, with a cap of three goals.

Next, participants have a one-on-one check-in with a case manager at GLIDE. Case managers help monitor individual needs and connect participants with other services at GLIDE.

Finally, participants engage in group therapy with everyone else in the CM Program.

The Power of Group Therapy

Case manager check-ins and group therapy are not incentivized, but many choose to stay for them anyway.

One of the big goals with contingency management is just getting people in the door. And at GLIDE, the power of CM goes beyond the gift cards. The real engine of transformation is community.

“Group therapy is the big intervention,” says Whit Bastion. “You start to make more friends who have the same goal as you.”

Jason Finau agrees: “People might first be coming for the incentive. But the more they come back, the more they feel seen. The group gives them a space to talk about grief, anxiety, depression — and to know they’re not alone.”

This kind of peer connection can be life-changing.

A New Tool in Treating Stimulant Use

GLIDE’s contingency management program focuses specifically on treating stimulant use, not opiate use.

Although the opioid crisis and the increase of fentanyl-related deaths get the most political coverage, studies have shown that methamphetamine and other stimulants are the most commonly used drugs among unhoused people. Many people on the street use stimulants to stay awake at night and protect themselves against violence or getting their belongings stolen.

And though GLIDE’s program is limited to stimulant use, the participants are tested weekly for the whole spectrum of drugs. That way, case managers know if participants are taking other drugs in addition to stimulants and can respond appropriately.

Bastian agrees that monitoring client needs is a crucial piece of what the program does. “We want to present ourselves as people who care, as people who won’t judge. When people feel that they can’t talk to you about their drug use, that’s when the overdose deaths occur.”

Looking Ahead

The CM program launched in September and is still growing. With the recent hiring of two case managers — both with lived experience — the team is gearing up for expanded outreach and engagement.

Jason Finau hopes to see a larger program expansion in 2026. “We’re hoping to get groups of up to 25 participants at a time,” he explains. “After folks graduate from the program, I want them to stay involved, maybe even come back as peer leaders for the new groups.”

Contingency management isn’t a cure-all. But it’s compassionate, data-driven, and it’s already working for many in our community.

If you or someone you know is using stimulants and looking for a path toward stability, GLIDE’s CM program offers more than just a reward. It offers connection. It offers support. It offers hope.

Valkyries and Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis Volunteer

Valkyries staff and season-ticket holders kicked off their “Holiday Assist” program by volunteering at GLIDE’s Tuesday breakfast service during our incredibly busy Thanksgiving week. After the breakfast rush, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and staff helped us prepare for the holiday by pre-slicing pumpkin pies.

Our clients were delighted that the Valkyries brought their famous mascot, a friendly purple bird named Violet, and several posed for photos with the engaging creature. Katie Stockberger, the Valkyrie’s VP of Corporate Partnerships, also handed out free Valkyries-branded socks to clients. (Unhoused people often urgently need socks for basic hygiene, warmth, and feet protection).

Katie explained, “This volunteering event is the kick-off of our Holiday Assist program in partnership with Kaiser Permanente– we will keep on going all the way to the Christmas Holiday. Our inaugural season has been rooted in community– so we want to give back to community!”

The Valkyries are making food insecurity the focus of their volunteering journey because of how many Californians struggle with it. Although California produces nearly half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, more than 1 in 5 Californians — about 8.8 million — struggle with food insecurity.

Veronne Clark, Valkyrie’s Director of Community, said, “We’re truly interested in letting people know we are here for them. Even in the off season, we want to keep on giving back– and giving joy, most importantly!” In GLIDE’s past fiscal year, 290 organizations sent groups of volunteers to GLIDE. “Our kitchen staff makes homemade meals, but 100% of the prep and delivery relies on volunteers,” said Lindsey Coonan, GLIDE’s Director of Volunteerism. If you wish to volunteer at GLIDE, sign up for a shift here.

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis said, “GLIDE brings out the best in all of us in the community. The St. Francis prayer says, ‘It is in giving that we receive.’ Well, when you offer opportunities to give back, that helps the volunteer as much as the person receiving.”

95% of our volunteers in our volunteer survey say that volunteering at GLIDE helps them feel more connected to San Francisco. If you want a deeper bond to this beautiful city, consider donating or giving back.

Priya David Clemens, the journalist hosting Holiday Jam, opened with a story of covering GLIDE’s Thanksgiving back when she was a “baby reporter.” After she raced around doing the interviews, one of GLIDE’s Meal staff offered her a free meal. “I was hungry and cold,” said Priya, “and on a reporter’s salary you never turn down a free meal!”

When the baby reporter wrapped her footage with, “reporting live from San Francisco,” a man came up to her and said, “You’re not just reporting from San Francisco! You’re reporting from the Tenderloin. And there ain’t nothing tender about the Tenderloin.” Her response struck at the very core of GLIDE’s mission. “That man was so wrong,” Priya said. “I had just been in the tender, beating heart of the Tenderloin– that is GLIDE!”

Check out the full photo album of the night.

Holiday Jam, covered this year by the San Francisco Chronicle, was a celebration of GLIDE’s unique qualities– not only tenderness, kindness, and love– but soul and culture, funk and fun, jazz and justice. Dominique Hammon’s edgy beats on the electric violin roused the crowd to merriment as they filtered in, enjoying treats like GLIDE’s famous fried chicken.

The Change Band and the Glide Ensemble, dressed in their most festive and glittering clothing, got the crowd on their feet, singing and swaying. Then Miles Turk, (son of Glide Ensemble member, Cheryl Serame-Turk and longtime Director of Music at Glide, the late John F. Turk) performed onstage with Follow the Music, melting hearts with a version of The Beatle’s Blackbird.

Dr. Gina Fromer, GLIDE President & CEO, roused the crowd with talk of GLIDE’s mission. “Last year, I made a promise that when injustice got loud, we got louder,” she said, “We have kept that promise.”

When she shared how Cecil Williams Community Ambassadors saved lives from overdoses, someone enthusiastically yelled, “Hell yeah!” from the balcony. (GLIDE is the kind of church where “Hell yeah,” is a form of, “Amen.”)

GLIDE is a place where we translate love into action. “A healthy GLIDE is a healthy San Francisco. And a healthy San Francisco can lead a nation that is hurting and ready for renewal,” Dr. Gina said to the audience, “But that depends on you. You are the future of GLIDE. Your actions tonight will write my next year’s speech.”

Mary Glide (chairman of GLIDE’s board and great-great-grandaughter of Lizzie Glide, the builder of Glide Memorial Church) presented the inaugural Lizzie Glide Spirit Award to Joan Baez. She praised Joan Baez for a lifetime of justice work– from Vietnam War protests to singing at the No Kings march. “For more than 60 years, Joan has used her remarkable voice to inspire and mobilize people towards justice… Whenever justice is at stake, Joan shows up,” Mary Glide said.

Joan then led the room in a spontaneous performance of the spiritual, “Wade in the Water,” a Glide Memorial Church classic, with an amazing liberatory history. Joan then offered these words of inspiration to the crowd: “We may not be able to turn back the tide, but we can sure save some fishes,” she said. “And until the tide is able to turn, people will need looking after, and GLIDE will look after them.”

State Senator Scott Weiner addressed the crowd with enthusiastic words of support and solidarity: “With GLIDE’s leadership and San Francisco’s leadership, we’re going to make sure everyone has healthcare and food, because that’s how we roll. Love will conquer hate!” And we played a video of support sent by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi: “In the Tenderloin and beyond, GLIDE is showing up, serving hundreds of extra meals a day, and reminding us that compassion is stronger than any shutdown.”

Minister Marvin K. White reminded us of the spiritual questions of our day: “Do we reflect love or do we reflect fear? Do we reflect mercy, or do we reflect empire? Don’t let them tell you who you are or overwrite who God made you to be…. Let us do together what fear says cannot be done alone!”

Ruby Ibarra followed in the theme of social justice with an electrifying multilingual rap, as she explained to the audience that she sings about reclaiming power. “I see a room full of changemakers who are reclaiming power with me,” she told the audience, before singing the song “Someday,” which is about maintaining hope in the face of anti-immigrant racism.

Riveting video testimony from GLIDE’s Case Manager Angela Coleman followed as she shared her story about finding recovery at GLIDE and fighting against poverty on the front lines (Angela connects people to rental assistance, preventing homelessness).

A festive auction brought in many generous donations towards GLIDE’s mission– and then, the legendary El DeBarge got the audience singing and dancing alongside him. He even brought up a member of the audience to waltz with him on stage.

All of us at GLIDE are wishing you a joyous and merry holiday season. If you missed this epic concert and would like to support GLIDE’s work it will soon be available for streaming on GLIDE’s website, you can give below.

Author: communications