About Rafiki Coalition

Advancing health, wellness, and equity through culturally responsive, whole-person care since 1986.

Our Mission

Our mission is to eliminate health inequities in San Francisco’s Black and historically marginalized communities through education, advocacy, and the provision of holistic health and wellness services in a culturally affirming environment.

We are committed to empowering individuals and communities to achieve optimal health and well-being by addressing the physical, mental, and social factors that impact health.

Our Values

Cultural Affirmation

We provide a space where Black people feel valued, supported, and respected for who they are.

Holistic Health

We believe in an integrated approach to wellness, addressing the mind, body, and spirit through whole-person services that promote well-being.

Respect and Dignity

We approach every individual with compassion, honoring their unique experiences and needs while providing quality care and services.

Community Empowerment

We are dedicated to uplifting and educating our community, providing the tools and support needed to take control of health outcomes and foster resilience.

Equity and Advocacy

We advocate for systemic change to ensure equitable access to health resources and care for Black and marginalized communities.

Our Network & Impact

Meet the people behind the mission and explore the partnerships, resources, and impact shaping Rafiki’s work.

Partners in Impact

Organizations supporting our mission.

Annual Reports

Our impact and financial statements.

Our Team

Meet the people behind Rafiki’s work.

Careers

Join our team.

Our Impact

0+ Years in Service
Since 1986, Rafiki has provided culturally responsive, community-rooted care for San Francisco’s Black and marginalized communities.

Our History

Founded in 1986, Rafiki Coalition has grown from a grassroots response to the HIV/AIDS crisis into a trusted leader in Black health and wellness, providing culturally rooted services and advancing health equity across San Francisco.

Rafiki Coalition began as the Black Coalition on AIDS (BCA), founded by a group of Black men and women, including gay men, women of color, and community leaders, responding to the urgent and devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. At a time when culturally responsive services did not exist, BCA was created to ensure Black communities had access to prevention, education, advocacy, and representation in policy and care.

Rooted in grassroots organizing, BCA quickly expanded its reach across San Francisco, particularly in Bayview Hunters Point. Early efforts included community prevention education, which evolved into the 3rd Street Project, as well as conferences and forums to raise awareness and mobilize action.

To meet growing needs, BCA developed a comprehensive continuum of care, including:

  • Case Management
  • Needle Exchange and Street Outreach (1994)
  • Youth Services (1994)
  • ADAP Enrollment (1997)

During this time, BCA also launched Rafiki Services, a volunteer-driven program that built a strong network of support for people of color living with HIV/AIDS.

Brandy Moore House represents the evolution of a movement born from necessity and courage.

As HIV/AIDS became increasingly prevalent among San Francisco’s unhoused community, the need for supportive housing became critical. With support from a Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) grant and strong community partnership, the Black Coalition on AIDS (BCA) opened “Rafiki House” in 1991—an eleven-bed transitional housing shelter providing housing, hope, and healing.

In July 1998, the home was renamed Brandy Moore House in memory of co-founder William “Brandy” Moore, a staunch advocate for fair housing and HIV/AIDS prevention within San Francisco’s Black community. Brandy Moore House reflects the organization’s earliest beginnings and embodies Rafiki Coalition’s longstanding commitment to responding directly to the needs of the community.

More than 27 years later, Brandy Moore House remains a cornerstone of Rafiki Coalition’s housing services, providing stable, supportive housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and those in need of transitional care. Rooted in the organization’s commitment to holistic, community-centered support, it reflects the understanding that housing is essential to health, dignity, and long-term wellness.

BCA continued to deepen its community impact through culturally grounded outreach and advocacy. Initiatives like the HIV Ministry partnered with Black churches to expand education, reduce stigma, and increase testing and awareness. Campaigns such as In the Spirit of Health successfully reached underserved populations, particularly older Black women. BCA expanded its offering of health and wellness services, including disease education, nutrition education, movement exercises classes, health screenings, and complementary and alternative medicine.

In 2008, the African American Community Health Equity Council (AACHEC) was established in response to the stark health disparities facing San Francisco’s Black community. Led by the Black Coalition on AIDS (BCA) and supported by more than 95 community partners, individuals, and organizations, AACHEC was created to advocate for meaningful change.

From 2008 to 2015, AACHEC served as an independent community body in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s African American Health Initiative. The Council’s mission was to be a powerful advocate for health in San Francisco and to close disparities affecting people of African descent by gathering and sharing health information and resources that informed effective policies, community action, and overall well-being.

Reflecting an expanded vision, BCA evolved into Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness, broadening its focus beyond HIV/AIDS to serve the wider African American community and other historically marginalized populations through holistic, culturally rooted care.

In partnership with UMOJA Health and working closely with Dr. Kim Felder Rhoads and other community leaders, Rafiki Coalition led a community-centered COVID-19 response. This work included testing, vaccinations, food access, and mental health support for communities across San Francisco, with a particular focus on District 10.

Learn more:

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative: Bay Area Organizations Respond to COVID-19

San Francisco Chronicle Story Studio Feature

Although Black residents make up just 5% of San Francisco’s population, they continue to experience some of the city’s most significant health disparities, driven by longstanding systemic inequities. In partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health and other community partners, Rafiki Coalition launched the UMOJA Health Access Point (HAP) to help bridge this gap. The clinic centers the impact of structural racism and addresses the social determinants of health—including housing instability, access to family-sustaining wages, and equitable education—that continue to shape health outcomes in Black communities.

UMOJA HAP is a first-of-its-kind, community-centered hub providing integrated, wraparound services that advance whole-person care and strengthen access to coordinated health and wellness resources.

In partnership with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, we launched the Rafiki Community Market to ensure every individual has access to free, fresh, and healthy food through a dignified shopping experience.

Rafiki Coalition continues its 40-year legacy of delivering integrated health, housing, and wellness services—including UMOJA HAP and the relaunch of the African American Community Health Equity Council (AACHEC)—that center dignity, equity, and community healing.

Carreers

Join our team and help advance health, wellness, and equity through community-centered care and advocacy.