This past Sunday, the streets outside GLIDE came alive with music, color, and the unmistakable pulse of community. As part of San Francisco’s annual Sunday Streets celebration, GLIDE hosted its own Phoenix Day—a joyful gathering that welcomed neighbors from the Tenderloin and beyond to celebrate love, inclusion, and connection.
What started off as overcast and grey, later turned into a radiant blue sky, with Ellis Street in front of GLIDE transformed into a festival of belonging. Families, friends, and community members wandered among the tents, enjoying live performances, food, games, and the unmistakable sense of togetherness that defines the Tenderloin spirit. Orange and red heart banners lined the street—a visual echo of GLIDE’s mission to embody unconditional love and radical inclusivity.
[[KEN INSERT PHOENIX SIZZLE REEL HERE]]
The event brought together longtime GLIDE partners, local organizations, and volunteers who work year-round to create opportunities and support for San Franciscans experiencing poverty, homelessness, and isolation.
Among the many helping hands that made Phoenix Day shine were friends and volunteers like Alexa and Hannah, whose joy and enthusiasm embodied the spirit of the celebration. Alexa, who first discovered GLIDE a few years ago while searching for ways to give back during the holidays, has since become a regular volunteer. When she learned about this year’s Phoenix Day, she invited her friend Hannah—new to GLIDE but eager to get involved to join her.
Together, the pair spent the day helping with event setup and spreading cheer as the “balloon team,” making sure every child—and quite a few delighted adults—went home with a bright balloon and a smile.
For Hannah, it was her first experience volunteering with GLIDE, and she called it “the best way to spend a Sunday in the Tenderloin.” Alexa agreed, saying she was proud to share the day with her friend and to be part of an organization that celebrates connection, compassion, and joy.
For Derek Hollis, Civic Center resident and dedicated GLIDE volunteer, Phoenix Day was a joyful extension of what he already loves most about GLIDE—community, service, and the freedom to simply be himself.
Derek has been volunteering for about a year, often helping serve meals in GLIDE’s Daily Free Meals program. “My love language is feeding people,” he shared with a smile. “It’s great to come in, work with a bunch of people, and just serve some food. I find it very meditative.”
Though this was his first time attending Phoenix Day, Derek was immediately struck by the warmth and energy filling the streets. “Events like this show the street in a different light,” he said. “It highlights that this is one community—it’s not ‘those folks over there’ and ‘these folks over here.’ It’s everybody, right here.”
Derek said it a sense of unity is what keeps him coming back to GLIDE. “The thing that keeps me coming back is this message of freedom,” he reflected. “People have different ways of expressing themselves in the world, but I think liberation—and celebration—are both really important.”
For longtime San Franciscan JJ Dollarhide, Phoenix Day was more than a street festival—it was a homecoming. After moving back to the city four years ago and experiencing homelessness, JJ found community and hope through GLIDE. “I came to GLIDE when I needed help, and they were incredibly supportive,” JJ shared. “Not just with meals or services, but with the sense of community—the unconditional love you feel.”
JJ first connected with GLIDE through the Celebration choir, a space that offered both creative expression and belonging. “This event today is actually my first step back toward that,” JJ said, smiling. “I love the symbolism of the Phoenix—how it rises from the ashes. In a lot of ways, San Francisco is doing the same, and so are many of us.”
At Phoenix Day, JJ soaked in the joyful energy—friends dancing, kids in costumes, face painting, and laughter filling the streets. “GLIDE is out here celebrating itself,” JJ said. “It’s just an amazing place to be. It really fills my soul.”
From resource tables offering wellness and housing information to dance circles filled with laughter and music, every part of the day reminded attendees that community is not just a place—it’s a practice of care.
Moments like these reflect the beating heart of the Tenderloin—its creativity, courage, and compassion. They remind us that even in challenging times, love continues to rise, just like the mythical phoenix this event honors. As the music faded and the tents came down, one thing was clear:
GLIDE’s Phoenix Day is more than a block party—it’s a living example of what happens when we come together with open hearts and shared purpose. The Tenderloin shined brightly, showing once again that love truly is the most powerful force for bringing people together.