Beloved City by The Bay
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On October 16, a full house of energized Battery Powered members gathered in the Parlor to hear from 10 inspiring leaders working to make San Francisco a culturally vibrant, economically robust, and livable city for all. These presenters — leaders of Battery Powered's 10 San Francisco Resurgence grantees — kept the audience captivated as they described their vision and impact in the areas of arts and culture, neighborhood businesses, and livable environments.
If the first five presenters had a common thread, it was San Francisco's glorious mosaic of neighborhoods. Manny Yekutiel of Civic Joy Fund and Simon Betrang of SF New Deal shared their strategies for jumpstarting Downtown's renaissance as a vibrant destination where culture and community flourish alongside commerce. Angie Petitt, representing the Inner Sunset Neighborhood Resurgence Collaborative, described how a dedicated team of volunteers is building community and small business opportunities through resident-led initiatives and events, while Curtis Bradford's personal story of rising through the ranks in Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation's community organizing department put a human face on how that organization empowers residents to have a voice in policymaking. Pia Harris of San Francisco Housing Development Corporation shared how her organization is revitalizing the historically Black Fillmore District as a thriving commercial district.
The second group of presenters had an arts and culture through line. Jenny Leung of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, Graham Lustig, representing a partnership of the Angel Island Immigration Station and the Oakland Ballet, and Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr. of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company each illuminated how their organizations create spellbinding, thought-provoking art and performances that foreground the city's diverse communities and showcase artists of color. The Roxie Theater's Lex Sloan gave a moving testament to the power of film and the importance of ensuring The Roxie's future as cultural institution. The evening's final speaker, Leticia Landa of La Cocina, made the connection between San Francisco's myriad cultures and food as she shared her organization's work cultivating talented low-income food entrepreneurs, primarily women from immigrant communities.
The Open House that followed allowed for more intimate conversations, enabling members to further connect with the organizations and understand more about their crucial work.
Now we look ahead to Allocation Week, when Battery Powered members vote and allocate their grant funds. Allocation Week kicks off with Drinks & Discourse on November 12 and culminates with our end-of-theme Allocation Night celebration on November 20 in the Penthouse.