City of dreams
IMPACT REPORT
2022
Table of Contents
Our Mission
City of Dreams mission is to help the youth living in San Francisco's low-income housing communities build brighter futures through mentorship and youth development.
a word from our executive director
Jaraé Clark
Dear Friends,
2022 was a transformational year for City of Dreams and myself personally. I remember in 2018 when I first became Executive Director, the fear of wondering if I was prepared to lead this organization. As a young, Black woman leader, it has taken me some time to acquire the tools and build the confidence I now have now in 2023. A deep thank you to all of my colleagues and mentors who saw value in what I brought to City of Dreams before I was able to! To our mentors, donors, and community partners, who are sometimes one in the same, THANK YOU for investing your energy and resources into our young people.
One of my favorite highlights from 2022 was our partnership with the Golden State Warriors and Rakuten who renovated our space with an updated kitchen, basketball court, and community room. The energy from that day resonates with me as we seen community members of all ages smiling with pride and having fun with a few of our GSW Champions.
For me, City of Dreams is a leading example of how the world should be! Our mission to end generational poverty in our communities not only benefits the kids and families we serve, but the community at large when we can have a more equitable society where “where you come from” does not determine “where you end up”.
While we are far from fulfilling our mission, I am comforted and fueled by the changes I not only see with my own eyes, but the many alumni stories I hear. I know that our program makes a difference and is vital to the trajectory of our young people. In this impact report we will highlight some of our successes and outline our progress towards our strategic goals but before we get there I would also like to honor one of our participants, Zoe Allen.
I met Zoe in 2015 when I began working at another program in Bayview. Like many of our youth, she was challenged with fitting into toxic cultural norms. Over the years, I watched how she evolved with the support from our Ground Zero facilitator, Macio Dickerson. Updates from him would reveal that Zoe was championing for more youth to join their group and soak up the healing they were conquering together. Zoe encouraged him to bring the group to rivaling neighborhoods, a goal we are hoping to accomplish in the near future. Labor Day weekend, Zoe and another young woman’s life were senselessly stolen at the hands of gun violence.
Losses like this one greatly impact our community, staff, and young people leaving us feeling like we take one step forward, to be pushed ten steps back. It reminds me how the programming we provide is not just fun field trips, and mentorship, it’s life changing.
Anything is Possible,
Jaraé Clark
Executive Director
we are guided by a
bold vision:
To end the generational cycle of poverty in our city’s most challenged neighborhoods.
In bayview alone...
of residents live below the poverty line
22%
60%
of those same residents have remained in the same household since before the year 2000
28%
Median & Average Houseold Incomes: Bayview v. All of San Francisco
Of residents have received a bachelors degree. Compared to all other San Francisco districts, that number is well above 60%
$400,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
$0
Bayview
San Francisco
Source: 2021 Census Data, Point 2 Homes
"This is the San Francisco America pretends does not exist."
–Author James Baldwin on Bayview Hunters Point in "Take this Hammer"
Our take:
We feel that through our programming it is absolutely necessary for us to reach as many Bayview youth as possible to help ease the symptoms of poverty and systemic racism. Our programming was created to fight the cycle of poverty.
Who we serve
ethnicity
Multiracial
4%
Hispanic/Latino
7%
Black
86%
Ages 7 through 24,
the majority of youth who
come to us live within and
around the Oakdale neighborhood,
of which the population is majority Black families.
gender
Male youth
60.7%
39.3%
Female youth
45
Active Youth
9,360 minutes total tutored in 2022
87
111
Events held in 2022
Total youth involved with City of Dreams in 2022
Over
Youth served since our inception in 2004
City of Dreams is skeptically hopeful–constantly reworking approaches for sustainable poverty alleviation with everyone in mind.
Our approach
mentorship
City of Dreams is built on the concept of positive adult presence–a presence that contributes to the fight against marginalization and delegitimization of Black and BIPOC youth. Our mentors support our youth in achieving their personal and academic goals through 1:1 and group mentorship.
Michelle & Sephora
Capture the Flag with Mentors
Mentoring Opportunity League (MOL)
one-on-one mentorship
This year, we matched 7 of our youth with an adult they relate with. Our mentors transition from Group Mentorship when they form a bond with one of the kids and make their support for them clear to us. One-on-one mentorship has proved to alleviate some of the symptoms of our youth's troubles while simultaneously propelling them towards their potential in academics and personhood.
Group mentorship
Before being matched, our mentors participate in Super Saturday activities and on-site events to immerse themselves in with the kids. Their role is to support and befriend the youth. Many of our mentors share their skills or connections for the benefit of the kids. When a bond is formed between a child and a group mentor, there is an opportunity for the mentor to choose one-on-one mentorship.
mentors in the community
Partnerships with organizations like 100 Black Men of the Bay Area and Mobilize Love give us the opportunity to expand our mentorship reach. With their help, we can offer more opportunities to learn from successful adults and expand their worldview without an assigned one-on-one mentor.
Gardening
Our Gardening & Wellness program teaches our youth the importance of sustainability, financial literacy, and healthy eating habits while inviting volunteers from all walks of life to help tend to our community garden.
Our garden is home to a rotating harvest of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. This is made possible by our Earn-to-Learn program, an initiative to teach our youth the stages of a harvest, implement this knowledge hands-on, and receive monetary compensation in return. The kids earn not only a weekly stipend but also reap the nutritious benefits of a completed harvest.
In 2022, some of the youth learned kitchen and cooking basics thanks to our newly renovated spaces. Using the plants they grew, our kids took initiative to make meals for themselves and their City of Dreams peers! Our kitchens are available to them to be creative and nourish their bodies.
Earn-to-Learn
Feeding the Community
volunteers in our garden
We invite anyone who believes in our mission to contribute to our garden. Over the last year, companies and organizations have come to our site ready to get their hands dirty and provide some much needed support in harvesting, pruning, and planting. Thanks to them, we are able to accomplish more and therefore, feed more people.
Levis Straus & Co.
Strava
Hands on Bay Area
3rd Street Youth Clinic
Foot Locker, Inc.
Foot Locker
Anti-Racist Run Club
Nazabeauty
Habitat for Humanity
afterschool support
We believe every student should have access to education and literacy support. From Tuesday through Friday, we provide homework help and enrichment activities at two public housing sites.
Violence Prevention Workshop
100% College Prep reading activity
24,960 minutes total spent in after school programming
Led by our trained staff, our after school programming offers engaging activities that help with youth development while also building their academic, social, and emotional skills. Our strong curricular design helps ensure our youth receive the proper learning outcomes.
Structured curriculum & Educational partners
To ensure our youth remained academically stimulated during the summer months, 100% College Prep tutored our youth for a 6-week span. Four days out of the week, 100%’s literacy coaches came to our site to not only read, but to also incorporate games and activities oriented towards improving literacy. By making literacy fun, organizations like 100% College Prep engage our kids differently than a typical classroom structure would.
It’s no secret that Bayview Hunters Point is known to be one of the most dangerous areas in San Francisco.
We offer a safe space for our youth to eat, learn, and play. Through this program, our youth are steered away from the ongoing cycle of gang violence and drugs that surrounds them.
ground zero
Ground Zero (GZ) is a life skills course that is designed to help individuals understand how powerful they really are. This foundational course allows youth to take ownership of their lives by learning key lessons that will assist them in making lasting and meaningful decisions.
Ground zero
Facilitated by Life Coach Macio Dickerson, this course is catered to teens and young adults, and is designed to encourage the development of autonomy as they navigate decision-making of their own. Meeting once a week, the group engages in discussion on topics of mental health, financial literacy, how to participate in meaningful work, safe social practices, and spirituality. The course was developed using principles of brain development and positive psychology that are meant to promote a retraining of the brain from trauma response to security in themselves.
Ground Zero Girls
We introduced Ground Zero Girls in 2022, led by Zenaida Barr, a trusted youth advocate, life skills coach and entrepreneur with roots in Bayview. Zenaida’s role ensures that the young women of our community have a safe place to express their needs, ask questions, and be recognized for their individuality.
"I've been doing good ever since I started... At first in the beginning I was messing up, wasn't taking it seriously. We got kicked out of the group a couple times for not taking it seriously. He (Macio) saw me the next day, we talked it out, and from there I started building myself up."
–Zoe, 20
"We sit down one-on-one talking with Macio about this stuff, just the stuff that we see in everyday life amongst us at our age, stuff that we probably not even supposed to see. He helps us cope with it and helps us find ways around it."
–Jashoun, 17
Super Saturdays
Our Super Saturday field trips invite mentors and youth to bond over experiential activities around the Bay Area including surfing, museums, hikes, and more! This program helps build youth confidence and allows them to explore their inner child through memorable experiences.
Field trips to fight poverty
Two Saturdays a month, our youth are immersed in trips and experiences around the Bay Area. These trips are intended to nurture the fleeting experience of childhood, a moment in time that is markedly vulnerable for the youth we serve. Submerged for much of their lives in scarcity, these trips have the power to retrieve some of their lost youth. Our goal is to provide as many meaningful new experiences as it takes to empower these kids out of poverty.
Connections & experiences
Exposure to experiences outside of Bayview’s cycle of violence shows the youth they can define themselves differently than their environment. These diverse opportunities have the potential to inspire career choices, hobbies, and build networks. Plus, regular experiences like these can revive mental health and lessen the feelings of isolation associated with poverty. We want our kids to gain the confidence to define themselves in the environments inclined to reject them.
About 90% of our youth have a first time experience for every super saturday we host
“Something new I experienced at City of Dreams was surfing. I was the only one balancing on the board.”
- August, 8
Mentor Stories
We asked our mentors:
What is a notable moment you've had as a mentor with City of dreams?
Ben
Victor's mentor
"I think taking him and his sister to Coit Tower and grabbing Tony's Pizza afterwards was my favorite moment, because they got to experience a part of San Francisco they had never seen/been to before. It really opened my eyes to how isolated and cut off these kids can be."
Emily
Michelle's mentor
"My favorite recent memory was rollerskating with Michelle at Church of Wheels with the other teenage girls. It's always so nice to treat our inner child to a day of play, especially with our busy and stressful everyday lives. I loved seeing all the smiles and laughs on everyone's faces after the occasional fall."
"There have been a lot of notable moments over the years. One was a big circle up at the end of an event at Fitzgerald Marine Preserve - there were so many mentors and mentees present. There were speeches given because three brothers who had been in COD for years were moving to Mississippi. It felt like it was the peak time of COD - in terms of number of children and mentors. It was great. There was a big feeling of community."
anonymous group mentor, 2007 - 2020
“I just want to be a part of their lives as someone they know they can trust, who supports them and is as excited as they are to celebrate their successes.”
— Ashley G., Blanca's Mentor
in 2022, we...
Matched 7 of the youth with a one-on-one mentor
One-on-one mentorship has proved to alleviate some of the symptoms of our youth's troubles, while simultaneously propelling them towards their potential in academics and personhood.
YOUTH
STORIES
Sarah R.
Age 16
Under the caring eye of some of the most experienced cooks in San Francisco, Sarah worked as a chef intern for Sprouts Chef Training over the fall months! Sarah learned the ins and outs of the kitchen, restaurant duties, and cooking etiquette at the popular San Francisco Michelin Star restaurant, Niku Steakhouse. She exited the internship excited to use her new skills in her everyday life and is motivated to try out new activities to find her passion.
Jahziah T.
Age 18
Jahziah is a first-generation student who has attended City of Dreams since primary school and this year, began his freshman year at Sacramento State University. He plans to join sports clubs, explore different major options, and find independence as a new college student. Jahziah has attended Ground Zero sessions almost every Thursday. Guided by our experienced life coach, Macio, who teaches the group valuable life lessons and skills for preparing for adulthood. Jahziah had the opportunity to meet with Macio 1:1 to work on his academics. He earned his first 4.0 GPA senior year! Now a hardworking freshman, our connection with Footlocker has earned Jahziah a part-time job for Footlocker near his college!
We want our kids to gain the confidence to define themselves in the environments inclined to reject them.
THE DREAM KEEPER INITIATIVE
This year, City of Dreams was selected as a funded organization under the Dream Keeper Initiative:
Reinvesting in San Francisco’s Black and African American Community.
Under Mayor London Breed and prompted by the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, DKI was created to redirect funds and resources from San Francisco law enforcement into Black communities. The plan’s direction is towards structural equality, reinvestment into quality of life, and the reformation of public safety.
financial literacy workshop
Facilitated by Visa
U3 Fit's Revive retreat
Facilitated by U3Fit's
Lawanda Dickerson
Mock job interviews
Facilitated by Footlocker
We created the Black Justice Initiative, an action plan made possible by DKI to elevate the voices of young, Black individuals in our Ground Zero program. BJI is a series of events from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023 meant to create intentional Black presence and narrative shifts among media, creative spaces, technology, economy, trade, businesses, and higher education.
OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE SAID...
“Came here with my company Footlocker Inc and volunteered! Awesome organization. Great team building. If you have time and want to volunteer, this is the place to do it!”
— April G., Garden Volunteer
“Small nonprofit where you can see the direct impact you have on the kids. Their events are fun for kids and adults alike! It's a crazy privilege check spending a day here.”
— Nita A., City of Dreams Supporter
with their help
We've tracked the total number of volunteered hours and translated them into monetary value .
84.5
149
Total Hours
Total Volunteers
$21,940.88
Total Value Donated
Volunteer Value determined by the Independent Sector
IN THE
NEWS
NBA
NBA teams and regional live, learn, or play centers for 75th anniversary season
"The Golden State Warriors will refurbish an outdoor basketball court and kitchen utilized by students and staff to promote healthy lifestyles at the City of Dreams community center in San Francisco."
LISC
Footlocker, Inc. & LISC Announce funding for 16 organizations focused on advancing health, wealth, and upward mobility in bipoc communities
"The funded programs range from construction training for young adults to after-school programming for middle school kids to social-emotional counseling for teens. They are inclusive of mentorship, career development, education support, life skills and civic engagement."
Photo: LISC
CISION PR NEWSWIRE
warriors and rakuten announce partnership renewal
"As part of their continuing relationship, a Rakuten executive will join the Board of the Warriors Community Foundation to collaborate on initiatives in support of educational equity in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rakuten previously partnered with the Foundation on projects such as refurbishing basketball courts at Oakland's McClymonds High School and San Francisco's City of Dreams."
Photo: CISION PR Newswire
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
warriors unveil refurbished youth court in tokyo bringing some tears of joy
"The Warriors Community Foundation has undertaken numerous basketball court refurbishments around the United States, such as McClymonds High School in Oakland and the City of Dreams community center in San Francisco."
Photo: C.J. Holmes, SF Chronicle
PROMETHEUS APARTMENTS
porch x city of dreams: a celebration
"Prometheus has been lucky enough to partner with COD over the last year on several program initiatives that help bring their purpose to life – gardening educational program, graduation ceremonies, holiday gifts, and most recently their Black History Month celebration."
ARTIST POWER CENTER
6 AWESOME NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT ON GIVING TUESDAY
"With the holiday season kicking into full swing, Giving Tuesday gives us a very public way to celebrate the nonprofit arts organizations we count on all year long to help the artists in our communities thrive."
Photo: Artist Power Center
Memorable moments
!
Warriors x
City of Dreams
Selected as the candidate for the annual NBA Cares Legacy Project sponsored by Rakuten, the Dubs Community team replaced our outdated kitchen, worn down basketball court, replaced our bullet-hole windows, and fixed our air conditioning system.
We celebrated with the community and with the players themselves. Gary Payton II, Andrew Wiggins, Damion Lee, and Johnathan Kuminga joined us for the party and engaged with our youth.
Our kids, with special passes and gifts waiting for them supplied by the Warriors team, participated in basketball drills on their new court, video games against the players themselves, and wellness workshops alongside our famous guests.
Soon after, the Warriors won the NBA Championship and some of our youth were invited with VIP access to the celebratory parade!
The following were renovated:
Kitchen
Basketball Court
Windows
Air Conditioning
Photos: Edison Fontanilla
Summer of Dreams Jubilee
Our 2022 gala was the most successful yet. Funds collected reached $16,910, graciously toppling our original goal of $10,000! Compared to 2021, we offered 3x the opportunities to win fun prizes, while simultaneously supporting the kids.
$16,910 out of $10,000
65
Attendees
8
Volunteers
13
Auction Items
69
Total Bids
The funds raised powered us through the end of 2022 by supporting programming, Super Saturdays (meals, transportation, and activity fees); resources to support mentors (gas, food, fees); after-school programming (meals, staffing, supplies); and Ground Zero programming (meals, staffing, fees, supplies).
Thank You to Our Sponsors
PARTNERSHIPS
Our partnerships are the life-blood of Super Saturdays. Over the last year, we've partnered with local organizations, shops, speakeasies, flower shops, corporations, college clubs and more! Their generosity towards our youth is incredibly valuable to our mission.
FINANCIALS
Revenue
$577,013.27
Total Revenue for 2022
Corporate, Nonprofit, & Foundation
33%
Individual Contributions
46%
Grants
21%
Expenses
$625,013.42
Total Expenses for 2022
Fundraising
10%
Admin
36%
Programming
54%
expenses per program
$336,489
Total Expenses for all programming
Community Hub
15.9%
Summer Program
21.6%
Gardening
5.7%
Ground Zero
19.3%
Mentorship
37.5%
Over the Years
Expenses
Revenue
750,000
500,000
250,000
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Evidence of impact
We are committed to the work that we do. So much so that we are transitioning our goals from the past into 2023 to hyper-focus on what we know works and what matters most at the moment.
Goal of 2021
Increase number of participants involved within the community from 70 to 100
GOAL MET
looking ahead
In 2023, we are hyper-focusing on goals from 2022.
Goal 1
Thirty mentees total matched to one on one mentors by the end of 2023
Focus
Recruitment, Retention, Training
Goal 2
All youth enrolled showcase improved literacy rates and growth mindset after 1 year of participation in the program.
Focus
Observation, Evaluation, Tracking
Goal 3
Establish a youth and parent community advisory committee by the end of the year to help plan events, garden, and build community engagement.
Focus
Recruitment
Strength in Numbers
We are a small, dedicated staff of leaders, caretakers, social justice warriors, and teachers. Staff efforts provide the youth with opportunities for exploration, learning, and an appreciation of themselves.
Staff
Executive Director
Program Director
Program Manager
Development & Marketing Manager
Ground Zero Facilitator
Zenaida Barr
Ground Zero Girls Facilitator
Program Assistant
Marketing Coordinator
Data Administrator
Board
Co-Board Chair
Mini Verna Patti
Co-Board Chair
Secretary
Founder
Board Member
Board Member
Treasurer
Board Member
Mary Law
Board Member
We are fortunate to have 100% Board contributions.
In Gratitude
The donor list that follows represents supporters who contributed to City of Dreams from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. We would like to extend our gratitude to those who generously contributed to our mission.
Dreamville
Reoccurring Donors
Anonymous (3)
Amy Draemel
Cecilia Noecker
Cristina Giner
Danny Montoya
Deirdre Nagayama
Dena Vongchanh
Emily Bloch
Emily Voightlander
Jen Valdivia
John Musgrove
Lauren Sloss
Lindsay Stripling
Meaghan Zore
Mike Yoshioka
Nicholas Marchi
Noah Burnett
Renee Hites
Sharon Steuer
Teresa Denver
City of Dreamers
Donors $500+
Anonymous (3)
Alice Raymond
Allison Glotfelty
Andrea Star
Andrew Casteel
Antoinette Jonasson
Audra Marshall
Britney Dunn
Chris Mentzel
Christian Huang
Deborah Kamali
Do-hee Kim
Duncan Cortez
Dwayne Jones
Grandma & Alex Relives
Ingrid Velmonte
Jacquelyn Lewis
Jason Unger
Jeanine Nicholson
Karin Ogata
Kim Nations
Laura Ash
Lawrence & Sara Tang
MacBeth Watson
Marcus Rollins
Mark Dondero
Matthew & Meghan Caudill
Matthew Yeo
Michelle Sintov
Monica Wong
Nick Franchot
Onyanga Dean
Paul Geffner
Tim Evarhart
William Schaff
corporate donations & sponsorships
Accenture
AT&T
Curator SF
Fleur*t
Harbor Point Charitable Foundation
Kris Nations
Laughing Monk Brewing
Prometheus Apartments
RS Company
San Francisco Giants
Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP
SOCALI Manufacturing Inc
The Butterfly Joint
UGSF, Inc
UNUM
Urban Flowers
Urbana
W. Bradley Electric, INC
Whole Kids Foundation
Grantors
Foot Locker, Inc & LISC
Parks California
SF Department of Children, Youth and their Families
Whole Kids Foundation
In Kind Donors
2k
Amazon Smile
Bi Rite
Black Girl Sunscreen
Blue Apron
Commis
Curiodyssey SF
Daniel Perales
Derrick Bell Art
Diosa Blooms
First Aid Beauty
Golden State Warriors
Gott's Roadside
Josey Baker Bread
KitTea Cafe
Kris Nations Jewlery
MeWater Foundation
Northlight Bar
Palm City Wines
San Francisco Giants
SF Botanical Garden
Sf City FC
Sports Basement
Target
The Mill
Top Golf
Trader Joes
Unfiltered Beauty
Visa
www.cityofdreams.org
EIN: 20-0719899