Community Living Campaign: 2024 Year in Review
Download a PDF version of Community Living Campaign’s Year in Review
Strengthening Our Communities Together
In challenging times, we draw strength from our connections. As national policies increasingly impact our neighbors, Community Living Campaign continues to demonstrate how local action and community bonds can create lasting positive change.
Improving Social Health. One of our primary goals is to improve social health by building connections and engagement. Our participants have people they can ask for help, more connection to friends and neighbors, and a greater sense of purpose. We are proud to play a part in strengthening these vital links.
The Power of Community Action. In 2024, as external challenges mounted, our neighbors came together to support one another, showing that change and resilience begin at home. Through in-person and virtual connections, we’ve expanded our reach while maintaining the personal relationships that make our programs successful.
We provide tools, resources, and opportunities for participants to engage and learn, including healthy aging classes, writing workshops, tech help, internet access, and SF ReServe job placements. Many of our programs start with ideas from our neighbors. To better support local leaders’ ideas, this year we funded ten microgrants.
Standing By Our Values. San Francisco’s diverse array of race, cultures, languages, and abilities are part of what makes our City so special. Seniors and people with disabilities are a key part of this rich fabric, with much to contribute.
Our work continues to be guided by our core commitments to our neighbors:
- Ending isolation and loneliness
- Fostering strong, connected communities
- Building communities that value fairness, diversity, equity, and justice.
- Creating real choices and opportunities for all.
We continue to advocate for senior- and disability-focused resources and systemic changes to enable us all to age and thrive. These efforts are increasingly important as we face City budget austerity and reduced federal funding.
Creating a Better San Francisco. Even when so much feels out of our control, we still have the power to build a stronger, more just community. Your support enables us to respond to urgent needs and ensure that no one is left behind.
Together, we can create an inclusive San Francisco where people of all ages and abilities can truly live in community.
Thank you to our neighbors, donors, foundations, City departments, and volunteers. Your support helps build a San Francisco where people of all ages and abilities can truly live “in community”with all the rich relationships and opportunities
that define a good life.
Please join us in supporting this important work. Together, we can meet this moment with resilience, compassion, and action. The challenges before us are significant—but so is our commitment. While changing national policies threaten our neighbors’ well-being, we know that what we do locally grows resilience and can change things for the better. Your donation nurtures these efforts so that neighborhood-based solutions can really take off.
Read on to learn more about how your support improved lives for neighbors across the city.
We turn strangers into neighbors, and neighbors into friends.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor. CLC is proud to be part of a statewide movement that recognizes the power of relationships and connection. We are working with the SF Department of Disability and Aging Services to bring Neighbor-to-Neighbor — a program of California Volunteers, Office of the Governor — to San Francisco. This grant funds a series of creative activities and other events focused on emergency preparedness, climate action, and community building.
Chinese Connectors. In 2024, our Chinese Program continued to evolve to meet neighbors’ changing needs. In person activities blossomed at the neighborhood level, including Tai Chi, dance, photo walks, in-person tech help, pot-luck celebrations, and many crocheted flowers! Online activities remain very popular, with almost 30 weekly online computer classes, two weekly singing classes, four cultural celebrations, and a weekly cultural language exchange program that includes English practice, a Mandarin class, and other healthy aging topics.
Centering Our Work Around Social Health. Social health is as vital as physical and mental health to our neighbors’ overall well-being. Studies show that those without support face up to 53% more mortality risk, while a strong sense of belonging boosts health by more than 2.5 times.
We design all of CLC’s programs and activities to foster connection and engagement, offering many ways for folks to join. This approach works! Over 85% of CLC’s participants find supportive neighbors they can rely on, reducing isolation and strengthening community ties.
“Whatever the problem, relationships are part of the solution.”
Community Building. We build programs that connect neighbors throughout San Francisco. Together, we are cultivating the friendships needed to age and thrive at home.
Community Connector Networks build strong relationships among neighbors and friends who can be there for each other. Participants make connections, stay active, learn together, and just have fun.
Our networks now reach 1,650 neighbors across eight neighborhoods and online, offering over 2,355 hours of activities in English and Chinese. In 2024, we expanded in-person exercise, arts, wellness, tech help, and social activities while still maintaing a robust virtual calendar.
Vibrant communities include engaged and active seniors and people with disabilities
Microgrant Projects. This year our Board awarded 10 staff-generated Microgrants funded by individual donors. These projects strengthen community connections, develop staff leadership skills, and respond to identified community needs. This year’s microgrants fueled cultural celebrations, photo walks, outreach to isolated neighbors, distribution of emergency preparedness supplies, an 8-week dance class, an accessible communities booklet, our first Disability Pride celebration, and more.
Writing Groups. Our weekly writing groups continued to nurture new and more experienced writers with in-person and online workshops. CLC published the Art of Remembering journal, held online readings, continued our partnership with Litquake, and partnered with Ruth’s Table for in-person intergenerational readings. Writers also published in outside journals, as their dedication to the craft fueled their inspiration and art.
Transportation Support. Getting around the City remains a challenge for many seniors and people with disabilities. Through a strong partner-ship with SF Paratransit and additional funding, we were able to provide over 400 participants with 2,530 transportation subsidies, worth $146,100 in rides.
This year, we’re working to ensure the City’s Essential Trip Card continues, look for additional funding to eliminate the waitlist so we can keep assisting those who need help getting to essential appointments.
Emergency Preparedness Team. Our SF ReServe team includes a dedicated group focused on sharing vital Emergency Preparedness information at 75 community events. This year, we introduced updated materials in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog. The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program supplemented this work with addtional activities to grow neighbors’ emergency preparedness knowledge.
Neighbors helping neighbors are at the heart of our work.
Neighbors in Food Delivery Networks bring groceries and human connection to seniors and people with disabilities who can’t travel to food pantries on their own.
Our dedicated teams of staff and volunteers delivered over 11,700 bags of produce, protein, and other healthy foods to more than 250 households. They made over 10,600 visits and provided 3,200 hours of phone calls and assistance.
These community-led food networks demonstrate how support systems tailored to local needs make a crucial difference in neighbors’ physical, mental, and social health.
Empowerment. We grow the skills and tools needed to live a good life, whether that’s learning how to use technology, finding employment, or advocating for yourself and others.
This past year, we encouraged tech learners to join us in person. We held photo walks and scanning events that created connections while teaching tech skills. And we expanded in-person tutoring and help desk options. Virtual classes remain a strong option for many: folks joined classes to learn skills from basics and Internet safety to Excel, Canva, video editing, translation apps, AI, and more. Altogether, staff and volunteers taught over 1,330 neighbors, providing 400 tablets and laptops, along with free or low-cost Internet as needed.
Neighborhood Tech Connect Increases Tech Access and Confidence
Before joining this program, 47% of participants were new to the Internet, and 37% hadn’t used Zoom. After getting tablets and training, participants now report they are more confident connecting to people and resources online.
The ideas, talents, and energies of older adults and people with disabilities are a resource for our communities.
Our SF ReServe Job Program helps seniors and adults with disabilities earn income and contribute to their communities. During the past year, 62 ReServists contributed over 25,300 hours of expertise at local nonprofits and community-focused businesses. SF ReServe demonstrates how connecting seniors and people with disabilities with paid, meaningful work strengthens individuals, organizations, and communities.
Work Matters Coalition. To increase senior and disability employment opportunities, SF ReServe partners with other organizations including Felton Institute, PRC, the Department of Rehabilitation, and RAMS-Hireability. Together, we’re able to offer a continuum of options from training to part- and full-time work.
SF Senior Beat began with one neighbor’s desire to write the stories about older San Franciscans that she wasn’t seeing in local papers. Led by a veteran editor, the online news magazine now employs multiple ReServists to “smash aging stereotypes”. Over the past year, ReServists published over 40 articles sharing stories about our city’s diverse older adults. Read their work at sfseniorbeat.com.
Advocacy. We organize coalitions that fight for the policies, services, and supports needed to make San Francisco a place where we can all age and thrive.
We all can play a role in building a more age- and disability-friendly City.
The Sidewalk Search Party educates and encourages neighbors to take small actions like using 311 to report dangerous sidewalks. With support from a CLC Microgrant, one neighborhood leader created an Accessible Community Teams resource guide and plan that we’re now rolling out in four neighborhoods.
The Dignity Fund Coalition continued efforts to preserve and expand funding within the Dept. of Disability and Aging Services and to advocate for emerging needs. Coalition members worked to protect dedicated funds with our “Forget Me Not” campaign. The campaign will continue this year to keep senior- and disability-related programs funded during the City’s budget reductions. Find ways to get involved at sfdignityfund.org.
The SF Tech Council made significant strides significant strides in advancing digital inclusion. We released a groundbreaking Digital Equity Plan for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities in San Francisco, hosted an in-person Bay Area Digital Equity Summit in August, and piloted a patient portal training program in partnership with eight local community-based organizations (CBOs). Our outreach efforts expanded through meetings, workgroup sessions, presentations, and events, collectively engaging 2,600 people.
We strengthened our impact through key programs. Our partnership with Blissen’s Kickstart Your Business @50+ program trained five cohorts of aspiring entrepreneurs. We also continued our direct tech support efforts, hosting our 23rd Tech Support Popup since the first one in late 2021, involving over 750 participants and volunteers. These initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to bridging the digital divide, empowering communities, and fostering innovation for a more connected and inclusive San Francisco. Join us at sftechcouncil.org.
Join Us in Strengthening Communities
Together, we can create an inclusive San Francisco where people of all ages and abilities can truly live “in community”—with all the rich relationships and opportunities that define a good life.
Bring greater joy, health, and connectedness to San Francisco seniors and people with disabilities through community-building, empowerment, and advocacy. From the beginning, we’ve seen how one person’s idea can transform a community. Your donation nurtures these efforts so that neighborhood-based solutions can really take off. Together, we can face whatever challenges come next.