Community Has Always Been Our Strength 

For 40 years, Rafiki Coalition has carried forward a tradition generations in the making: communities building systems of care for one another. That care takes many forms, but it has always been rooted in something simple: sharing resources, creating solutions, and ensuring our neighbors have somewhere to turn. 

We have seen this throughout history and across generations. Beginning in the late 1960s, the Black Panther Party, founded here in the Bay Area, responded to hunger, barriers to health care, and other unmet needs by creating free breakfast programs, health clinics, and other community services. Around the world, informal community markets have taken root where affordable food, goods, and economic opportunities were difficult to access, allowing neighbors to exchange resources, and care for one another when traditional systems could not.

“Time and again, communities have proven that our greatest strength is one another.”

That same commitment to showing up for one another matters deeply today. Families across San Francisco and throughout the country are stretching already-tight budgets even further, while changes to critical programs and funding are making essential resources harder to rely on. These challenges are showing up in everyday life, in the groceries families can afford, the care they can access, and the difficult choices they are being asked to make. 

For Rafiki, this moment is a reminder of why we are here and why community-rooted care continues to matter. It means listening closely, responding to what our neighbors are experiencing, and strengthening the programs and partnerships people can turn to when they need support 

  • As food assistance and household budgets are stretched, our Rafiki Community Market is helping approximately 300 families across San Francisco access fresh, nutritious food. 
  • As young people navigate growing pressures at school and beyond, we are continuing to expand the reach of our youth mental health support through community partnerships, including our work with the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA. 

“We’re excited to partner with the Bayview YMCA to create a space where young people can learn to cook, build confidence, strengthen emotional skills, and connect with one another—all while supporting mental wellness in our community.” 

—Dr. Akilah Reynolds, PhD
Mental Health Clinical Director
Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness 

As Rafiki continues to grow and expand our programs, we ask you to help us make sure these resources reach the people who need them. Share them with a neighbor, family member, young person, or someone in your community. We hope Rafiki’s legacy is defined not only by how we cared for one another in this moment, but also by how we inspired others to carry that care forward.
 

In Community,

Shanell Williams, MPA
Executive Director, Rafiki Coalition

 

 

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