Jametown Community Center

Awhile ago Jamestown sent out a request for renewed assistance to families within our BVHM Mission District community who are experiencing a crisis right now as a result of COVID-19. We raised and distributed $10,000, which has been absolutely essential to supporting our families.

Here’s why:
Since the return from winter break, BVHM staff and wellness teams have seen a significant uptick in the number of families in need. Dozens of BVHM families have tested positive for COVID in the past month. Families are sick, quarantining, and cannot work. Some have family members in the hospital and very seriously ill. Things are more challenging than they have been at any point during this pandemic because our city/county safety net supports have been stretched and depleted. For example, San Francisco Right to Recover funds were not available for many of our families because the fund had been depleted, and families are reporting challenges accessing emergency food options.

Until further government aid becomes available, we are asking our community once again to contribute to this fundraiser, and to please share it widely with your networks through email, text, and social media.This fund is the fastest and most efficient way to get immediate financial help to our most vulnerable students and their families. While we can’t physically be together as a community right now, this fundraiser is one of many virtual ways we can continue to stand together.



Hace un mes pedimos ayuda para renovar la asistencia que ofrecemos a las familias de nuestra comunidad BVHM que están pasando por una crisis a causa del COVID-19. Recaudamos y distribuimos $10,000 este mes, todo ha sido absolutamente esencial para mantener a nuestras familias.


Este es el por qué:
Desde el regreso de las vacaciones de invierno, el personal de BVHM y el equipo del Centro Bienestar han visto un aumento significativo en el número de familias necesitadas. Docenas de familias de BVHM dieron positivo por COVID en el último mes. Las familias están enfermas, en cuarentena y no pueden trabajar. Algunos tienen familiares en el hospital que están gravemente enfermos. El asunto es más difícil de lo que ha sido durante toda esta pandemia porque los apoyos de la red de seguridad de La Ciudad y Condado se agotaron. Por ejemplo, los fondos del Derecho a la Recuperación de San Francisco no estuvieron disponibles para muchas de nuestras familias ya que se había agotado. Asimismo, las familias nos informan que tienen dificultades para acceder a las opciones de alimentos de emergencia.

Hasta que haya más ayuda del gobierno, le pedimos a nuestra comunidad una vez más que contribuya a esta recaudación de fondos y que la comparta ampliamente con sus redes sociales, por correo electrónico, y mensajes de texto. Este fondo es la forma más rápida y eficiente de obtener ayuda financiera inmediata para nuestros estudiantes más vulnerables y sus familias. Si bien no podemos estar físicamente juntos como comunidad en este momento, está recaudación de fondos es una de las muchas formas virtuales en las que podemos seguir uniéndonos.

*The Jamestown Community Center is the financial host for this campaign and will be dispersing all funds directly to Cesar Chavez Elementary School families. *

Many residents of San Francisco know Cesar Chavez Elementary School for our beautiful murals depicting our namesake, activist Cesar Chavez, along with other multicultural themes representing our entire community, such as the ASL alphabet mural on the Shotwell Street side of our building to represent our Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and families. Our school is integral to our Latinx Cultural District community.

We have become the center of food distribution, COVID-19 testing and community outreach during this crisis.  Many families from the Chavez  community have also gone out of their way to volunteer in these efforts. We serve 478 families from all over the Bay Area, many of whom reside in the Mission District neighborhood.

Due to the Shelter-In-Place order across our city and state, the families of Cesar Chavez Elementary have been through severe economic strain. Not only that, but 90% of Mission District residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 were those who needed to leave their home to work. 95% of these individuals identified as being of Latinx heritage.

The Jamestown Community Center, a Mission District nonprofit and school program partner, is hosting this fundraiser for the Chavez families in need of financial support at this time. The money we fundraise will go directly to those who have been impacted and have the highest need, primarily undocumented, unemployed, or homeless families. In particular this fund will support our undocumented families who do not have access to unemployment benefits and will not receive a stimulus check to help them through this pandemic. Multiple families will be supported through  $500 Visa Gift Cards that can be used towards paying for essential items such as groceries and toiletries. 

The Mission District is the heart of San Francisco. It’s where we gather for big wins, nights out, great food, and cultural events like Dia de los Muertos and Carnaval. The Mission is beautiful and vibrant because of the richness of art and culture that come from the unique Latinx heritage and cultures of its residents. 

The families of Cesar Chavez play a big part in making this neighborhood run and contribute to its vitality. The Mission District gives us so much.  We need to show our support, love and appreciation for the families that make The Mission like no other place in San Francisco.

For more info on how COVID-19 is impacting the Mission community ready the article below.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/90-of-people-who-tested-positive-for-COVID-19-in-15247476.php

Help our 2018 graduating YAPsters go to college!

The Jamestown Community Center's mission is to support young people as they grow to realize their full potential as empowered, productive, and active members of the community.

We are raising funds for scholarships for seven graduating high school seniors who will be going to college in the fall.   These scholarships are for tuition, books and college expenses. These youth are graduating from Jamestown's Youth Apprentice Program (YAP).  The fund is named in the memory of our beloved Paul Nixon, a dedicated teacher, father, and neighborhood leader who was the first President of the Board of the Jamestown Community Center who dedicated his life to supporting San Francisco youth.  All the graduating students are from low income families, and are the first in their families to go to college.  They have been working as assistants in our afterschool programs, and have also gotten support as they learned to navigate a healthy lifestyle, financial capability, family planning, and college and career options.


74% of Latino youth graduate from High School in the SF Unified School District.  Jamestown's YAP program boasts a 100% graduation rate, and all enroll in a 2 or 4 year college.  The reason the program is so successful is the close mentoring relationships that support these young people from low income families as they grow and prepare to be successful adults.  We have named this scholarship fund in memory of Paul  Nixon, Jamestown's first President of the Board of Directors.  Paul was a public school teacher, and beloved community member who dedicated his life to the success of San Francisco's young people.

We already have a donor pitching in $5,000 to help, and we need folks in the community to match.  Every dollar you give will be matched!  Thanks for supporting our young people!  Our graduating YAPsters are as follow:

Kimberly Ferreira-CCSF
Rosa Cruz- UC Davis
Yanissy Damian Sabino-CCSF
Kimberly Hernandez-SFSU
Jaqueline Sanabria-SFSU with a full ride!
Yessica Moreno Ramos-CCSF
Diana Hernandez Garcia-SFSU