communications – Page 6 – GLIDE – San Francisco: serving the people of the Tenderloin and San Francisco since 1963

Meet the staff building community and support for vulnerable women

JeTon Carey (Senior Director of Women, Children, and Family Services): “It was always the vision of Janice Mirikitani for GLIDE to serve women and families. So I want our Women’s Center to be a hub where every woman who walks through the door of GLIDE can access services in a safe, supportive way. I don’t want to bog them down in bureaucracy: I want it to feel like the service referral is coming from a friend. We won’t just say ‘go over there,’ we’ll do the warmest of warm hand-offs. We’ll make sure they have transportation to the service provider, we’ll ask them, ‘Have you eaten today?’ and all those kinds of questions. Seeing the resilience and strength of the women we support inspires me every day.”

Loria Price (Case Manager): “I’ve been in the community, serving the most marginalized people for over twenty years. I’ve worked for special education, for Children’s Council, and I see how many people are being under-served– especially people of color! People are afraid out there. Just being in a place where they have a voice and an understanding ear can make a difference. I keep in mind that I’m no better than them. I don’t care where they came from– we come from the same place. Sometimes people just drop in and say, ‘Hey, can I get a jacket? I was on the street and my jacket was stolen today.’”

Olivia Onek (Program Coordinator): “I volunteered in high school for GLIDE, and I’m so glad to be back. What I love about GLIDE is you walk in and you can immediately feel the love and acceptance here. I really want to help the community. Women are often overlooked when it comes to services, so we wanted to have a specific space for them, where they can feel safe and comfortable– where they can feel like a human being! We help them with basic needs (like clothes and hygiene kits) and they can also talk to us about what’s going on in their lives.”

Services provided at our Women’s Center in the heart of the Tenderloin

Who We Service

Experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or other forms of trauma
Faced housing instability, including living on the streets or in shelters
Struggled with substance use or mental health challenges
Felt isolated and in need of a strong, caring support network

What We Offer

Support Groups & Healing Circles – A safe space to share experiences, build resilience, and find community.
Case Management & Advocacy – Personalized support to connect you with resources including housing, childcare, and legal resources.
Trauma-Informed Counseling & Peer Support – Compassionate care from staff who understand your journey.
Workshops & Life Skills Training – Tools for self-sufficiency, empowerment, and personal growth.
Emergency Assistance & Referrals – Help with immediate needs like food, hygiene products, and crisis intervention.

The Women’s Center is a hub of healing, empowerment, and connection for women in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. Grounded in trauma-informed care and cultural humility, the Center provides a safe, welcoming space where women, especially those impacted by violence, housing instability, poverty, and discrimination, can access comprehensive support to stabilize their lives and thrive. Its mission is to uplift and empower women by providing access to resources, community, and care that nurture healing, resilience, and long-term self-sufficiency.

The Women’s Center is stocked with a variety of supplies that women on the streets commonly need– feminine hygiene products, deodorant, socks, toothpaste, clothing, and more.

Loria and Olivia refer women to a variety of services within GLIDE (we’ve got everything from rental assistance to free diapers) and also help women find services outside GLIDE. They operate with sensitivity to women’s unique needs, for example helping women who have experienced domestic violence find shelter where they aren’t sharing space with men. Even if they don’t have exactly what a particular woman is looking for, they make sure no one walks out empty-handed.

Our Women’s Center also has peer support groups and Fun Friday events to help women build community. One of the groups, The Auntie Wisdom Support Group, draws on a rich and culturally sensitive curriculum. Its goal is to provide a warm, nurturing space led by a wise, supportive Auntie figure, drawing from the rich tradition of Black Aunties who offer guidance, strength, and unconditional acceptance.

The curriculum supports women experiencing trauma in fostering healing, resilience, and joy. In the group, we ask questions that encourage hope, like, “Where do you see yourself in the future?” An example answer? “I see myself in a safe place.”

One of the Women Center’s important program goals is ending the isolation of women who experience trauma and domestic violence. We know that it takes most women at least seven attempts to leave an abusive relationship, and community support helps them leave. We affirm them wherever they are on their journey, and let them know we’re here to support them whenever they’re ready to take the next step.

During times when domestic violence is in the news (for example, the Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs story) we see a huge uptick in the number of women coming to the Women’s Center and asking themselves hard questions about their own relationships, seeking support to change their lives. We walk them through it: “Are you safe? What does it look like when you think about leaving? Who could you stay with right now?” Just having someone to talk it all through with can make a difference.

One in seven women in San Francisco are experiencing trauma, and there are cuts to women’s services happening right now. That means so many women will not get the care we need or remain in unsafe situations. It’s like the country is turning the clock back to the 1950’s: we can’t let that happen in San Francisco, one of the world’s most progressive cities!

It’s about more than survival; it’s about dignity and joy

Women deserve not just safety, but also joy. At GLIDE, we recognize joy is important– even a basic human need. So the welcome kits distributed by Women’s Center staff include some joyful items. There are cards handcrafted by our loving volunteers that say things like, “you are so strong,” “you are so beautiful,” and “your community cares about you.”

We also include beauty supplies like nail polish. Living on the street can be a terrible and dehumanizing experience, and feeling beautiful is one way to feel human again. Nice clothes are also important for women going to job interviews.

Spending time in community is another way we foster dignity and joy. That’s why our Women’s Center staff are passionate about arranging Fun Friday events. They come up with different creative options every time– one recent event was a mini spa da, featuring nail polish, essential oils, body lotion, face masks, and little fuzzy socks.

They have also done Bingo Night and a Paint & Snack. Future Fun Friday events may have some future open volunteer opportunities, so keep your eye out! Our partners like Seismic Sisters also put on events that raise awareness for the Women’s Centers.

The newly rebooted Women’s Center already has some wins

Loria was so happy when she was able to refer an unhoused client to prenatal care. The client got all the services she needed, a two week housing voucher, services for her unborn child, diapers for her older child, a spot on the list for housing, and a support group to help her feel less alone.

Loria also finds it incredibly meaningful to do grief work in the support groups. One woman, processing the loss of someone close to her, expressed relief that her departed loved one was no longer suffering through a terribly difficult life. Her sense of grief was combined with a sense of achievement: that in his final months, she did absolutely everything she could for him, she made him smile. Tenderloin is full of grief stories like this one. So many of them go unwitnessed. Much of the important work we do here at GLIDE is the work of witnessing.

JeTon notes that the most common need for the women we serve is wanting long-term and stable housing for themselves and their families. In theory, SF has a Housing First strategy, but in practice, it’s not happening. An increasing number of women and families are sleeping in their vehicles because shelters just aren’t safe enough for them. That’s why having a Women’s Center is so vital– and why we need to dream big about how we can expand the services we offer families and women.

Dreams for the Women Center’s future

In the future, JeTon, Loria and Olivia wish for a larger space, more staff, and even more exciting events for women to build community– perhaps a fashion show! Already women are delighted with the clothing the women’s center provides. They say, “Look at my outfit, y’all!” Looking good and being the center of positive attention builds self-esteem; it is key to gaining the confidence to transform your life.

“The more case managers you have, the more resources you can give people,” observed Loria. JeTon dreams in particular of expanding the number of languages the Women’s Center can speak to better serve the diverse population of the Tenderloin. Olivia adds, “My dream is that our clients will be able to befriend each other and form a real community, where women are excited to come to our events just to catch up.” We also hope to eventually start giving classes on job readiness and behavior health skills.

“I know we’re going to excel,” Loria concluded with great firmness. “We’re just re-opening right now, and we’re small right now. But we have the ideas, we have the passion. I know we can expand our impact on this community.” If you want to help the Women’s Center grow, please go to our donate page and select “Women’s Center” in the drop-down menu under “Designation.”

Our Social Justice Academy trains people impacted by systemic inequities in advocacy skills and introduces them to lawmakers. One of the goals of the program is for our graduates to continue pursuing advocacy projects long after the Academy is over.

The program’s mission is to support people from marginalized communities in becoming powerful leaders. So we followed up with last year’s Social Justice Academy (SJA) graduate, Claudia Garcia, to see how she’s been putting her social justice skills to work since graduation. What we heard was inspiring.

The Background of San Francisco’s Successful Latina Activist

Claudia immigrated to the United States from El Salvador when she was just eighteen years old, because her father told her, “It’s safer in the United States.” She said, “It was hard at first. You don’t have anyone, you don’t have any family, you don’t know the language or understand the programs. But I started working and going to city college. I learned English, and I worked on my G.E.D.”

Despite Claudia’s now-fluent English, she often experiences anxiety about her language skills. GLIDE staff member Ian James worked with her to help her recognize that her lived experience and language background were assets to the Social Justice Academy. Today, her analysis of the power dynamics of language is astute.

The Importance of Empowering Immigrant Communities

“It’s so important for me to be an advocate,” Claudia said, “because so often, immigrant communities don’t have anyone speaking up for them. The people speaking up are often first-generation U.S. citizens—people whose parents are immigrants. They don’t have the same struggles with language and belonging. I’ve often felt like I’m not strong enough because I’m not from here. We need advocates speaking up for our immigrant communities who know what that feels like!”

Claudia has been working her way up in the hospitality industry since immigrating. When she started working for the Hotel Marriott, she joined the Unite Here Local 2 union. Claudia’s time in the Social Justice Academy prepared her to participate confidently in Local 2’s extended strike last winter.

“When I did the strike, it opened my eyes,” Claudia said. “I saw how unfairly they treated the employees. They just wanted to make money. They didn’t think about us or our families.”

A political awakening: “People are tired of being treated like garbage”

Claudia’s political activism extends beyond union activity. “I got involved with the Mission community. I started volunteering with DAHLIA to help people apply for low-income housing. I got involved with the Mission Neighborhood Center Children’s Services—I started helping them too. I was on the Board of Directors for Mission Neighborhood Center for two years. I learned a lot.” All of that gave her the confidence to apply for the Social Justice Academy.

Claudia loved participating in the Academy, particularly the Alabama Justice Pilgrimage. “It was so powerful for me when we went to the Selma bridge,” she said. “I got to feel the energy of Martin Luther King’s marchers. I felt the power of people who were tired of being treated like garbage, honestly. To cross that bridge felt like I was joining them.”

She also valued the relationships she built in the Academy. “I just loved it. People were so nice and welcoming to me—so patient with me too. We made really good connections!

In the Face of Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric, Cultivate Internal Power

When asked what she thought of today’s national politics, Claudia said, “It’s scary. I don’t know what to say. It’s scary for all the communities that Trump is trying to terrorize. He says that Latinos are terrorists, but that’s not true. We are not the problem. Latinos are singled out—there are immigrants from other countries too, but they don’t receive the same attention.”

“I fear for my kids,” she added. “But I want my kids to do the same things I’m doing. I don’t want them to give up or feel they aren’t good enough. I want them to fight for what they think is fair. That’s my motivation—to be strong for them.”

Claudia standing next to Kunal Modi, San Francisco’s Chief of Health, Homelessness, and Family Services

“People Need to Understand They Can’t Push Immigrants Around”

Claudia’s current work focuses on affordable housing, labor rights, and bullying in schools. “Housing is super hard,” she said. “We can do our best, but everything is designed for people who can pay—for rich people. For low-income people, it’s extra, extra hard, because the waiting list is really, really long.”

Claudia’s understanding of economic injustice is incisive. “When my coworkers and I were fighting for good benefits, I thought, ‘We deserve it.’ Rich companies always want to be more rich, but they want us to always be poor?! How is that fair?” She added, with great sincerity and emphasis, “ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH.” San Francisco is one of the nation’s most overworked cities. Claudia’s union won a victory for health insurance and wages through their strike.

Standing Up for Disability Rights in Schools

However, Claudia’s biggest focus right now is bullying in schools. “Many schools that serve immigrant communities don’t provide parents and children the quality services that our kids need. They believe because we’re immigrants, we’re stupid. We don’t know how to work the system. So they can do whatever they want with our kids. So I educate my community! I teach them that they have the right to I.L.P.s!”

I.L.P.s—Individual Learning Plans—are accommodations for students with special needs.

“I had a problem in my daughter’s school,” Claudia confided. “The principal retaliated against me for standing up for my daughter and her mental health after she was bullied. She expelled me from the school and threatened to send me to prison for three years if I didn’t do what she wanted — just to terrorize me so I’d leave. It’s a tactic she uses to scare immigrant families, and most of the time, she gets what she wants: to push them out. It made me cry. They were treating me like garbage. They tried to scare me– but I stood up to say, I think I’m doing the right things, and that’s why you guys are scared of ME. That made me feel strong. Standing up for disability rights helps me feel strong. Kids deserve a quality education

Never Give Up—People Are Counting on You

When asked if she had any words of inspiration, Claudia said: “Don’t give up. Even if you don’t speak the language, even if you don’t feel you are good enough—don’t give up. Your kids and your community are watching what you are doing.”

Claudia’s experience is echoed by other Social Justice Academy graduates. Research by Madeleine Smith showed, “The majority of our Social Justice Academy survey respondents felt confident advocating for their community at San Francisco City Hall, and the program helped them build a network of peers to lean on as community advocates, and to rely on the support they felt from the GLIDE community.”

You can follow Claudia’s small business and stay up to date on her advocacy work at @chula_sf—and help keep the love from GLIDE coming her way!

Dudley (wearing a purple shirt) with members of the SJA at the End the Epidemics Day of Action up in Sacramento

My recent trip to Sacramento, California, to advocate for the End the Epidemics Day of Action with GLIDE, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and the Shanti Project was an experience that profoundly transformed me. As a young African American man cured of Hepatitis C, I felt empowered and inspired throughout the week. From meeting with lawmakers to discussing the importance of the 2025 legislative budget process, every moment was filled with purpose and fulfillment.

It all began with a single email from the GLIDE Social Justice Academy (SJA) Team, inviting me to participate in the 2025 SJA 2nd Cohort—a community learning center that harnesses the wisdom and expertise of those impacted by systemic inequities. Less than six months later, I found myself at the State Capitol, equipped with the tools, resources, and confidence to advocate for the San Francisco community alongside state representatives and senators, pushing for legislation that would improve the lives of people across our Golden State of California.

After months of training in advocacy and legislation, the day finally arrived. As I walked through the halls of the Capitol building—dressed in my purple Nike polo, favorite Levi’s jeans, a fresh haircut, and my GLIDE Center for Social Justice scarf—I felt energized and ready to make a difference.

My first congressional meeting, with Senator Scott Wiener’s office, was nerve-wracking. However, as I introduced myself as a third-generation native San Franciscan and emphasized the critical importance of protecting the California Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative (COPHRI), my confidence grew. The meeting went exceptionally well, and I left feeling prepared for the day ahead.

Dudley in Sacramento with members of SJA and GLIDE staff, including Michael
Discepola, GLIDE’s Senior Director of Health access (first person on the L)

In my second meeting, I put my sharpened advocacy skills and growing confidence to work, educating a staffer from Assembly Member Gail Pellerin’s office (Santa Cruz County) about the challenges facing my community and how the legislation we were supporting could create meaningful change. She was receptive and compassionate—a response I deeply appreciated and hadn’t expected.

The day was a whirlwind of meetings, each offering a unique experience. Some staffers were receptive; others, more resistant. But I remained determined, using my voice to champion the End the Epidemics Day of Action 2025 policy agenda. This was bigger than me—my community’s well-being was on the line. We were fighting to protect funding for critical services that so many rely on.

As the day unfolded, I realized I never would have dreamed of such an opportunity—it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Being part of the democratic process in this way felt surreal and deeply humbling.

At the end of the day, I felt a profound sense of accomplishment. I had met with lawmakers, raised awareness about vital issues, and collaborated with fellow advocates to ensure our voices were heard. The experience transformed me, instilling a deeper sense of purpose and newfound confidence.

Since returning from Sacramento, I’ve been excited to follow the progress of the GLIDE SJA Cohort and the developments I hope to see in the coming weeks. It was a rewarding, empowering experience, and I am confident that we’ve made a tangible difference in the lives of others.

In Wellness,

Dudley A. Burns, IV💫

On April 29, for California Hunger Action Coalition’s Hunger Action Day, Social Justice Academy (SJA) fellows from GLIDE’s Center for Social Justice (CSJ) and GLIDE staff joined community members from San Francisco and across the state to advocate for expanded access to nutritious, affordable food.

We joined TNDC and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank on two buses up to Sacramento to uplift the needs of San Francisco community members at the State Capitol.

GLIDE’s Center for Social Justice led legislative visits with all of San Francisco’s legislators’ offices: Assemblymember Matt Haney, Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, and Senator Scott Wiener. GLIDE’s staff and Social Justice Academy fellows joined these meetings, as well as meetings with two Marin County legislators organized by the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, to tell their stories about hunger.

GLIDE staff from CSJ, Fund Development, and SJA fellows meet with the staff
of State Assemblymember Matt Haney

GLIDE is advocating for protecting and investing in food access and hunger prevention programs in San Francisco and at the state and federal levels. Potential cuts from the federal level to SNAP (otherwise known as EBT or food stamps) and school meals would be devastating to Californians and San Franciscans. Investments at the state level can support community members across California, including in San Francisco.

If you want to join us in this fight, please click to send a quick email to state legislative leaders here and to federal Congressional representatives here.

GLIDE is proud to be lifting up the voices of our staff, clients, and community members in the halls of power and positively influencing decisions that affect millions of Californians.

We’re excited to welcome three new trustees to GLIDE’s Board: Romney Resney, Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group San Francisco; Lesly Simmons, Head of Community Innovation at Amazon and founder of We, The Change; and Lynn Brinton, a seasoned Fortune 500 communications leader and longtime member of our church community.

Each brings valuable expertise and a deep commitment to justice, inclusion, and impact. Learn more about their journeys below and why they chose GLIDE.

Additionally, you can learn more about our other board members here.

Romney Resney is a Senior Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group, where she has held multiple leadership roles, including leader of BCG’s Bay Area offices, as well as leader of the firm’s Health Care practice in the West, and global lead on launch, customer centricity and commercial excellence.

With more than 25 years of consulting experience, she has advised clients across the healthcare ecosystem—helping organizations effectively deliver optimal treatment and care to patients as well as shape commercial strategies, drive growth, and support sustainable performance. Her work spans more than 20 major product launches, as well as complex market entry efforts and post-merger integration programs.

In addition to her focus on strategy, Romney is deeply engaged in organizational capability building, having designed and led multiple global initiatives to enhance marketing effectiveness and scale technologies. Romney graduated with honors from Harvard University, and also holds a Master’s In Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Romney is known for working closely with client teams to build leadership capacity and embed long-term commercial excellence. Romney’s approach reflects a strong belief in inclusive growth and empowerment—principles that align with GLIDE’s mission of supporting transformation and equity through partnership and compassion.

“GLIDE is at the forefront of building pathways out of poverty and creating better futures for those most in need. For the past 60 years, GLIDE has led with compassion—delivering resources, fostering dignity, and transforming lives throughout San Francisco.

Serving on GLIDE’s Board of Trustees is both a profound honor and a deeply personal commitment. I am inspired by GLIDE’s unwavering focus on inclusion and unconditional love, and I’m proud to support work that uplifts individuals, families, and entire communities with hope and purpose.”

Lesly Simmons is a technology executive and longtime advocate for maternal, child, and family health. In 2022, she was appointed as a Commissioner for San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, and has held board positions with several nonprofits in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Lesly is also the founder of The Dollhouse Project, which produces inclusive, play-based experiences for children and families across the country.

Professionally, Lesly is the Head of Community Innovation at Amazon, where she handles strategic partnerships for generative AI and machine learning initiatives for public good. She lives in San Francisco with her family.

“Joining the GLIDE board is incredibly meaningful to me. My passion is in supporting our youth, and GLIDE’s location in the heart of the Tenderloin – where more children live than anywhere else in SF – puts it at the forefront of this important work. What inspires me most is GLIDE’s everlasting commitment to being a truly welcoming place for everyone, and I’m excited to help uphold that spirit.”

Lynn Brinton is a senior communications executive with more than 25 years’ experience conceiving and managing broad communications programs with measurable impact for Fortune 500 companies. She held leadership positions at three of the top global agencies: Hill and Knowlton, Fleishman Hillard and Ogilvy where she worked on clients ranging from Visa and AT&T to McDonalds and Nissan. She led in-house corporate communications for Pacific Bell, Netflix and Shopping.com. In May 2022, Lynn received a Master’s in Public Affairs from the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley.

Lynn has a lifelong interest in creating greater equity in education, aging, and economic opportunity. She is currently on the Institute on Aging’s Board of Directors and has served in board and leadership roles at 10,000 Degrees, Osher Marin JCC, and Mill Valley Library Foundation.

She is a 25-year member of Glide Memorial Church. She and her husband were married by Glide’s Reverend Douglass Fitch, her now teenage daughter learned to walk among the pews in the Sanctuary and they all enjoy volunteering when not spending time with family and friends in the Bay Area.

“Glide has taught me — over the last 25 years — to be an upstander: to stand with volunteers helping to make the world a little kinder, to stand with my friends at Sunday Celebration to sing a little louder, to stand in the community as someone who tries to meet others with love and acceptance. I’m excited to now stand with the board and help usher Glide into its next great era.”

Women’s History Month at Glide Memorial Church highlighted the musical contribution of women in the Bay Area, choosing different local women musicians to feature as special performers at every service in March!

Check out this highlight reel of their amazing sounds, and then read our special interview with Zoë Ellis, our Director of Music Ministries, about the ways these women are making history.

An Interview with Glide’s Director of Music Ministries About How Women Musicians are Making History in the Bay Area

Zoë: It was amazing to receive Minister Marvin K. White’s unconditional support for my vision of creating a month of programming dedicated to women musicians! I arranged this lineup for Women’s History Month as a way for the Glide Memorial Church Music Department to say out loud, “look who we are, look what we do, look who we support.” Glide is a church with world-class music, and our choir is unbelievably committed and dedicated. I wanted to give our choir a chance to work directly with legendary Bay Area Artists. (If you are interested in joining the Glide Ensemble, click here).

All the artists I showcased for Women’s History Month are my activist buddies–or as my kid liked to say when she was little, “actibuddies.” It’s so important to dive into the deeper meaning of their work– music is a way we preserve our history, and music is also a way we MAKE history. Sunday by Sunday, here’s the rundown of the amazing women I invited into our sanctuary.

Sunday 1: Sermons and Songs – Sara Williams and Sheryl Evans Davis

Sara Williams is a preacher’s kid, steeped deeply in the tradition of church gospel music, as well as in the activism of the church. Sara was trained in both classical music and jazz, and she works closely with many popular music artists. However, she’s deeply rooted in the spirituals of the church, and understands how a single church (even just a corner church) can save an entire neighborhood, an entire community!

To understand gospel music and spirituals, you need to understand that songs the slaves sung were how people held on to their African culture and history. The famous song, “This joy that I have,” is about the ultimate decision in the moment of trial and hardship: basically, deciding: “no one else is responsible for my joy but me and my Higher Power.”

The activism of Sheryl Evans Davis has always been deeply rooted in serving the youth. She is currently working on a new educational program called “The Art of Survival,” which debuted in the Commonwealth Club and will continue being offered on an ongoing basis. Sheryl is also the author and illustrator of Free to Sing, a children’s book about a little girl who refuses to stop singing in the face of discouragement. Making our voice heard is always the foundation!

Sunday 2: Music as Medicine – Destani Wolf & Destiny Muhammed

Destani Wolf develops “meditative music,” to use as medicine and self-care. She works with the Cirque do Soleil (most recently on their show Bazzar) and next up will be an amazing Cirque show that explores the themes of immigration. She also works with the BANDALOOP dance troupe, who are amazing: they literally dance off the walls of buildings. BANDALOOP is also working on a big piece on immigration. They use the image of migrating butterfly flocks to emphasize that immigration is beautiful.

It is incredibly tragic how many children are being separated from their mothers at the borders, so defending immigrant’s rights is a cause that resonates with many women and children. When Destani sings for BANDALOOP’s performance on immigration, I will be on the site, hosting art activism for the Butterfly Effect, an organization dedicated to helping children at the border receive an education and obtain asylum.

Destiny Muhammed’s music is completely invested in holding and moving forward the stories of what happened to us when we were enslaved– and taking those stories into the post-slavery era. She’s all about reminding people who they are.

Destiny is deeply spiritual. When she’s in a room, you don’t feel forced to participate in the energy she’s moving– you just know that joining with the energy is the next right thing to do. She makes activism feel so comfortable and natural.. She can MUSIC you into understanding– understanding yourself, what’s around you, and why it’s important to open your mouth. And it’s all just wrapped up in this incredible package of care!

Sunday 3: Hip Hop as Ministry – Ryan Nicole

Ryan Nicole Austin is all the things! Advocate, activist, MC, rapper poet, singer, and songwriter. People turn to her voice on social media to get clarity on political subjects; on her Instagram you might find a song about protecting the waters of the Bay, a detailed commentary on Oakland election results, and a rap about African-inspired Black resistance to injustice, all in one quick scroll.

She recently finished writing a show that is coming out in May, called Cofounders: The Musical, about the story of two unlikely partners (a Black woman and a small town college dropout) taking on the most competitive startup accelerator in Silicon Valley. Ryan Nicole unapologetically celebrates Blackness and even wrote a song explaining the meaning of the phrase, “Black Girl Magic.” The song goes, “Don’t hide your shine, just let it flow, yeah you got it: that Black girl glow!”

Sunday 4: Message in the Music – Rhonda Benin

Rhonda Benin and I both participate in Linda Tillery’s Cultural Heritage Choir: it keeps Black folk music alive. Wherever we go, we use a two-hour show to explain how music lived in different parts of Africa. We explore Afro-Cuban and Yeruba traditions, and show people what happened to that music during transatlantic slave trade.

In slavery, the drums were taken away: all people had were their voices, so they adapted. Historically, the slaves singing in the call and response style was built out of the need to communicate plans. For example, “I’m going to lay down my burdens / down by the riverside,” was a way to communicate that the riverside was the escape location.

Rhonda is a keeper of the idea that absolutely any message can be delivered through music – love, misery, hate, a call to action, anything! And she sings the blues. The blues are hard to sing: you have to know it and mean it to sing it.

Sunday 5: The Other Side of Yes – Ashling Cole

Ashling Cole has a really interesting upbringing – her mother was an Irish activist who would travel to the middle of nowhere to stand in solidarity with Druids, and her father was a longshoreman. Ashling’s activism also lies in education: she’s always teaching people “You have a voice! Get your voice out of your body! Use it well!”

She is a dedicated music educator, and works with an organization called Elevate Oakland, which fights to keep music and art alive in the schools, and gives kids a way to tell their stories.

Music Truly Makes a Difference

This only scratches the surface of the amazing activism and education work women musicians are doing in the Bay Area. I hope it whets your appetite for more, I hope you check out their shows, their projects, and get involved!

Remember: there’s ministry in all music that touches people’s hearts, even secular music. For example, Destiny Muhammed’s song, “We are the ones.” It’s almost like a praise and worship tune: it uses similar cycles of repetition. You say it until you believe it! When my choir sings, I always tell them, “You have no idea if you’re saving a life today. Remember that, GLIDE Ensemble.”

The decades-long battle for affordable housing in San Francisco is reaching a breaking point, with dire warnings for the rest of the country. In the film you see how hard it is for single dad Carlos Rojas, his son Andre, and his mother to all share one tiny single occupancy room. Thanks in part to the awareness raised by the film, this little family is now housed.

But they are still getting back on their feet– which is why board member Emily Cohen introduced them to all of us at the event and raised $9,005 for them on GoFundMe. As our President and CEO Dr. Gina Fromer pointed out, it takes a lot of vulnerability and courage to let the public have a window on your life when you are experiencing poverty. Carlos and Andre taught us so much, so we were grateful to be able to help them in turn.

Analyzing the root causes of the housing crisis

The film was followed by a panel featuring State Senator Scott Wiener, Glide President & CEO Dr. Gina Fromer, and the film’s director, Nate Houghteling (moderated by GLIDE Board Member Emily Cohen). Together, they talked about the political forces stacked against solving the housing crisis, and how ordinary citizens can make their voices heard.

How to get involved in San Francisco housing activism

If you want to get involved in GLIDE’s work on affordable housing, we recommend you sign up to join the Justice Warriors, a group of citizens who phone-bank, sign petitions, and march for GLIDE! You can sign up here.

If you missed seeing the documentary, you can find out more about it on this website, or watch the trailer below.

This Saturday, Glide Memorial Church’s dedicated team of Easter Bunnies gathered to give the children of the Tenderloin the time of their lives! In Freedom Hall, they played games like jenga and cornhole, made bunny hats, picked up coloring and picture books, and took pictures with an Easter Snoopy.

In the sanctuary, the children dashed about to find all the chocolate, candy and eggs our volunteer bunnies had cunningly hidden: 1500 eggs/treats in total (not counting the tootsie rolls). For years, our volunteers have followed this tradition of bringing joy to the families of the Tenderloin.

They started the tradition to help out an FYCC teacher who was like a foster mom to all the whole children of the neighborhood– and now, even though the teacher has passed, the tradition continues in her memory. Watch to the end of our Instagram video to hear a little bit of her story.

On Easter itself, worshippers gathered bright and early for a sunrise service. The sun had yet to peek through a dreamy curtain of fog, when Marvin K. White, Minister of Celebration first bellowed, “Good morning, GLIDE!”

A chorus of good mornings echoed across the sanctuary. “I said GOOD MORNING,” repeated Minister Marvin. “Say it so everyone waking up on the sidewalk outside can hear you!” A resounding GOOD MORNING ricocheted through the air, spilling Glide’s iconic enthusiasm and goodwill into the pews and the foggy streets below.

On this holy morning, early risers came for a reflection on the Last Supper; to honor the holiest of days following Jesus’ triumphant return to Jerusalem and before his crucifixion. “The Last Supper at Glide is a communion that takes the form of a hot meal in freedom hall, a clean syringe at our health access hub, and the bold and beautiful lashes of our trans brothers and sisters,” proclaimed Minister Marvin. “Here, nobody is screened for worthiness and everyone has a seat at the table.”

Easter is a homecoming at Glide; an invitation to come exactly as you are. “Bring your hunger, your grief, your shame, your failed resolutions with you,” implored Minister Marvin. “Bring your appetite for home and for healing inside these walls. Because God does not sit at private tables. God breaks bread on sidewalks and in barbershops and recovery circles.”

Slowly, the sun began to stream through the stained glass windows in the form of a rainbow on the wall. Grief turned into groove and Glide gave revelations a rhythm. The soul of Easter was rising, and the day had just begun.

The 9am service continued the arc of Christ’s story by diving deep into the Crucifixion. The church opened the space for suffering and heartbreak through communal prayers, stirring music, and personal testimonies, uplifting both lament and hope.

Minister Marvin spoke of how communion is more than just a ritual at GLIDE: it’s a warm meal, sober support from our Health Access team, a seat in our walk in Center or support in our Women’s Center groups. Everyone is served family style.

The Glide resident poet, Ramona Laughing Brook Webb, prompted the congregation to write about “What does it mean to truly live? What’s something you feel called to do right now?” What better way to experience Resurrection Sunday than to explore the ways in which we crave to be reborn.

The 11am service focused on the resurrection of Christ– not just as an event in itself– but as a symbol for recovery. For many years, Reverend Cecil Williams asked us to see the crucified Jesus in the sufferings of low-income and unhoused people in the Tenderloin. Finding recovery, a safe home, a more stable life, is the resurrection of their hopes and dreams.

We were especially happy to celebrate with Kimberly Williams, daughter of Reverend Cecil Williams. She shared memories of her father and the love he poured into this church. His spirit lives on in every Celebration and everyone walking through our doors.

The service ended with a reminder that recovery isn’t where the journey stops. It’s where new life begins. At Glide Memorial Church, we believe renewal means more than healing ourselves. It means reaching back to help someone else find their way too. Resurrection lives in the moments we rise together, not alone.

My name is Lewis A. Greene. I’m 60 years old and am originally from Humbolt County. I attended high school in Fortuna. I spent much of my youth living in different towns near the Redwoods, Avenue of the Giants, and Redcrest.

I came to San Francisco in 2024. I was released from prison after having served 26 years. I now live on Taylor Street, here in the Tenderloin. I was incarcerated for several things having to do with self-defense, gun charges, attempted murder, those kinds of behavior. I received a double-life sentence.

I was finally paroled from San Quentin. I’ve been out less than 60 days. While I was in prison, I sent out bunches of letters to various organizations in and near the Tenderloin, requesting assistance for when I might get released.

Angela Coleman of GLIDE’s Walk-In-Center responded to me and wanted to know how GLIDE could help me upon my release. “Many times, I receive letters from inmates throughout California wanting to know how GLIDE might be able to assist them with their release and what resources or services we offer,” said Angela.

Angela shared more of her story. “I spent 22 months at the California Institution for Women. Then I spent a year in the SF County jail before I finally spent a year at Walden House. I served for four years on San Francisco’s Reentry Council. And our purpose was to help people get out of prison. As a prior inmate myself, I empathize with folks like Lewis, who have done time and know what it’s like when trying to re-integrate yourself back into society,” added Angela.

Thanks to Angela’s response to my outreach, I was able to secure release from the parole board.

Once I was out of San Quentin, I was able to secure shelter for myself at a halfway house here in the Tenderloin. But I told Angela how much I appreciated her reaching out to me in response to my letter.

Her letter helped me get out of prison. It made a difference. It helped to correct an injustice. My hope now is to eventually work for an outfit like Urban Alchemy.

But I came to GLIDE so I could experience the GLIDE community, and of course, eat one of the most delicious meals I’ve had in 26 years!

This was more than I could have expected.

And I wanted to let other folks know that it really can get worse, especially when you’re living out on the streets. And a place like GLIDE is such a tremendous resource and there is help here for those who need it.

I have a direction for myself now, and it will include volunteering at GLIDE. But honestly, the letter that Angela sent me was so welcoming. It touched my heart.

At GLIDE, we believe that every young person deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered to build a life with hope and purpose.

That’s why we are so excited to introduce this summer the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Health and Wellness Center—a welcoming, 24/7 Drop-in Center for young adults ages 18 to 27 who are facing homelessness or housing instability.

The TAY Health and Wellness Center is here to meet young people exactly where they are, offering respite, immediate and coordinated care, vital resources, and long-term support to help them move forward with confidence.

Whether someone is looking for a warm meal, a safe place to rest, recovery support, or guidance toward education and employment, this Center will be a space of refuge and possibility.

Transitional Age Youth Center
The Center will offer a continuum of care all in one centralized location. Youth can simply drop in and access services ranging from basic street respite to structured group activities and classes. Our caring team will also provide personalized 1:1 case management to help each young person set and achieve their own personal and professional goals.

At the heart of the Center are essential respite services—clean showers, laundry facilities, restrooms, storage space, nourishing meals, pet support, and new clothing and shoes. We’ll also offer hygiene supplies and grooming services to ensure that youth feel prepared to live, work, and thrive in the community. But that’s just the beginning.

We’ll also provide comprehensive case management, health and wellness check-ups, behavioral health services, job readiness programs, and technology education and assistance—all designed to uplift and empower young people to build lasting stability and independence.

Making a difference in the lives of TAY youth
Our mission is clear: to reduce the time that youth and young adults spend unhoused and to help them access the tools and opportunities they need to achieve and sustain stable housing. But we’re also looking deeper—supporting young families led by TAY parents who are raising young children while navigating homelessness. We are committed to walking alongside these families every step of the way.

The Center will be closely connected to GLIDE’s entire network of services, extending the compassion and care we’re known for at our headquarters to this new location at 888 Post Street—just a short, 10-minute walk away from GLIDE.

This work is part of a larger vision. The TAY Health and Wellness Center directly supports San Francisco’s goal to reduce unsheltered homelessness by 50%, and we are proud to partner with the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, who have made key investments to help bring this vision to life.

We are beyond excited to open the doors to this beautifully renovated space in this summer. And we know it will take the heart and dedication of our entire GLIDE community to make this a true home for healing, connection, and transformation.

So, we invite you to stay close, because as we move toward Summer 2025, we will be calling on volunteers to help us build, nurture, and sustain this special place of hope and new beginnings.

Together, we will remind every young person who walks through these doors that they are valued, they are loved, and they have the power to shape their own future.

Let’s create this space of care and possibility—together.

Author: communications