ABOUT US
THE MISSION
To improve safety, health outcomes and well-being in our environments by uplifting community members as leaders and working together to increase equitable access and use of free tools and resources by San Francisco community members.
OUR ORIGIN STORY
It's Fall 2020. A virus has disrupted the rhythm of the world completely. No longer in lockdown, San Francisco has done relatively well in battling COVID-19, but rosy numbers hide a growing chasm of inequity hastened by the pandemic: neighborhoods with majority families of color are disproportionately impacted by the virus. This reality is painfully evident when private schools reopen in August while public schools remain closed the entire school year.
Enter co-founders Mari Fraga, Saul Kato, Stacie Calad-Thomson and Tracey Briones, four local parents determined to help reduce the impacts of COVID-19 on families in their city. Countless conversations, research, and hustle lead to the formation of an organization to bring together the resources with the will to help stop the spread of COVID in vulnerable communities.
As we have grown, we’ve realized that we’re more than a scrappy COVID-19 testing nonprofit—we’ve become a trusted community partner and built a model of community care delivery. We increase community capacity by hiring from the communities we serve, and deliver co-created programs and resources to our network of partnerships nimbly and adaptively. We ensure that the impact of our programs is leveraged towards structural change.
THE VISION
A world free from racism, where poor health outcomes or premature deaths due to oppressive systems no longer exist. A world where everyone has access to quality care.
Our Approach
Forging Partnerships
We collaborate with a variety of partners to build a network of care: community based organizations, public institutions, and private stakeholders. Each partner plays a vital role in the network, whether it is to provide resources, or to help us co-design and deliver care programs to meet their community needs.
Building Community Capacity
We work within our network to hire local advocates as “Community Care Specialists.” In doing this, we are not only training future health equity leaders and launching careers in community health that might not have been possible otherwise, but fostering sustainable impact and long-term community resilience.
Navigating Change
We adapt to a shifting health landscape and are committed to sustaining our network of partnerships and our community care specialists in their work. Our community initiatives help us leverage the impact of our care programs as well as to organize around pressing needs.
Our Partnerships
Our network of partnerships includes Community Based Organizations, public institutions, schools, sponsors and more. We look forward to growing our network, contact us if you are interested in collaboration!
Our Team
Our team brings together leaders of various walks of life who help redefine what community means every day. True to our commitment to building capacity from within, many of our staff have evolved from part- to full-time roles, and a majority call home the very communities we work alongside.
Founders & Board
Mariana "Mari" Fraga
SHE / THEY
Co-Executive Director
Jenny Ton
SHE / THEY
Co-Executive Director
Stacie Calad-Thomson
SHE / HER
Co-Founder & Board Member
Saul Kato
HE / HIM
Co-Founder & Board Member
Team Members
Angelita Bratcher
SHE / HER
Community Care Specialist
Adam Crayne
HE / HIM
Assoc. Director of Development
Rayna Jackson
SHE / HER
Community Care Specialist
Diana Vado
SHE / HER
Community Care Specialist
Symone Bullock
SHE / HER
Administrative Manager
Vinly Eng
HE / HIM
Dir. of Policy, Advocacy & Community Organizing
Barbara Kopicki
SHE / HER
Facilities Manager
Cheyenne Cambri
THEY / THEM
Program Lead
Tuli Hughes
SHE / HER
Community Care Coordinator
Andre Moore
HE / HIM
Community Care Specialist
Danielle Cranshaw
SHE / HER
Community Care Specialist
Char Iosefo
SHE / HER
People and Culture Associate
Makayla Scott
SHE / HER
Community Care Specialist
Interested in working for Safer Together?
We're hiring a People and Culture Senior Manager! Click here.
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