ABC7 is at all times looking out for actual folks working of their communities to Construct a Higher Bay Space… the advocates, the underdogs, the brokers of change. We name them our ABC7 Allies in Motion, and we hope you might be as impressed as we’re by their tales!
ALLIES IN ACTION: Click on right here for native assist with sophisticated points
GUIDING LIGHT: Lily Lo, Founding father of BeChinatown and CEO of Northeast Federal Credit score Union in Chinatown, offers important companies to small companies and immigrants whereas working to beautify and revitalize Chinatown. Watch the story right here.
TWO-SPIRIT VOICE: Council member and govt director, Angel Fabian, offers a voice for the Two-Spirit and Indigequeer neighborhood throughout the Native American communities within the San Francisco Bay Space. Watch the story right here.
BEACON OF LIGHT: Ligia Booker, chief, founder, and volunteer, offers important companies that function important sources for the Latino neighborhood in Sonoma Valley. Watch the story right here.
SENIOR DOG SUPERHERO: Foster guardian, volunteer, and advocate Tanika Gaines ensures that each canine at Muttville receives the love and assist they should assist discover their endlessly residence. Watch the story right here.
A VOICE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: Father, advocate, and volunteer Kanit Therdsteerasukdi has develop into a voice for households at Mates of Youngsters with Particular Wants. Impressed by the assist and development his daughter Lily has skilled, Kanit dedicates his time and efforts to make sure that each household and youngster receives attentive care and enjoyable alternatives. Watch the story right here.
SENIOR CARE SUPERHERO: When Julie Hubbard retired from her place on the Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Senior Heart, she knew there was extra work to be accomplished. Now, 5 years after her official retirement, she continues to serve the seniors of San Jose Japantown as a volunteer. Watch the story right here. right here.
AUTISM ADVOCATE: When Hen struggled to discover a snug, autistic-led house to unmask within the Bay Space, they determined to create one. Hen based the Bay Space Autism Collective, a nonprofit devoted to offering peer assist teams led solely by autistic folks for autistic folks. Watch the story right here.
POWERFUL PRINCESS: Whereas some school college students spend their weekends within the library or out with associates, UC Berkeley junior Abigail Corcio takes a distinct method. She volunteers as a Disney princess/storybook character, bringing magic to youngsters throughout the Bay Space. Watch the story right here.
REACHING HIGHER: Increased Floor Neighborhood Growth Company is an Oakland-based neighborhood program that gives protected after-school packages. Led by nonprofit chief Amber Blackwell-Lee, the after-school packages assist East Oakland youngsters develop into comfortable and well-rounded adults. Watch the story right here.
FLOAT MARSHAL: Meet the person managing the creation of the San Francisco Chinese language New 12 months Parade floats. Tony Lau shares the richness of his Chinese language heritage, inviting all to affix within the festivities and unite in celebration. Watch the story right here.
DELIVERING HOPE: Meals on Wheels spokesperson Jim Oswald shares how the group not solely delivers nutritious meals to older adults in San Francisco, it offers a way of companionship and different important companies. Watch the story right here.
ANTI-BULLY ALLY: Becoming a member of the Boys & Ladies Golf equipment of the Peninsula (BGCP) within the fifth grade, Sarahi Perez was grappling with persistent bullying and self-doubt. At present, she is a teen employees member and fierce youth advocate for these which have been in her footwear earlier than. She is considered one of many who discovered themselves and a household on the heart. Watch the story right here.
FREEDOM FIGHTER: Every single day, Julia Arroyo watches younger women and trans youth stroll by the doorways of the Younger Girls’s Freedom Heart as pictures of her youthful self. After being concerned with the underground road financial system, foster care and homelessness, Co-Government Director Arroyo works to pave the way in which for others like her and contribute to structural change. Watch the story right here.
INNOVATING INDEPENDENCE: IN: San Francisco has helped folks with mental developmental disabilities discover development and independence for the final six years. The rising success tales inspire Co-Founder and Government Director Joe Femino to proceed supporting these he believes are sometimes underestimated. Watch the story right here.
PROUD ADVOCATE: The LGBT Asylum Venture offers accessible authorized illustration to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. That life-saving work helps this neighborhood to beat previous or potential persecution, trauma of unjust remedy and combat to acquire asylum. Co-founder Brooke Westling is devoted to serving to purchasers acquire greater than acceptance and love within the Bay Space, however a household. Watch the story right here.
TAIKO TITAN: The highly effective sound of the taiko drum has been echoing by the streets of the Bay Space for 50 years, connecting communities and serving as an emblem of energy, resilience, and cultural id. Birthed within the coronary heart of San Jose Japantown, San Jose Taiko is a nonprofit performing arts firm devoted to the event of the taiko artwork type in addition to instructional packages. Watch the story right here.
GREEN GUARDIAN: Since 1962, Inexperienced Foothills has served as a guardian for the open areas, farmlands, and pure sources of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Board President, Ian Bain, shares extra concerning the group’s ongoing advocacy and present campaigns to assist Construct a Higher Bay Space. Watch the story right here.
HOPE AMBASSADOR: Founder Zara Babitzke describes Ambassadors of Hope and Alternative Venture (AHO) as a calling of the center. The Marin-based non-profit is a protected place the place at-risk younger adults can discover the assist wanted to beat hardship and obtain their private objectives. Watch the story right here.
PURE GENIUS: Led by CEO Brandon Nicholson, The Hidden Genius Venture connects younger Black males with the talents, mentors, and experiences that they should develop into high-performing entrepreneurs and technologists. Watch the story right here.
ANIMAL RESCUER: Victoria (Vicky) Ho Lynn, founder and president of Angels for People, Animals and Nature is dedicated to educating the general public on animal and environmental welfare. The work of Lynn and AHAN seeks to seek out animals their endlessly residence. Watch the story right here.
ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH MUSIC: Music can change the world as a result of it could actually change an individual. This Bay Space program is creating change by bringing musical schooling into the lives of youngsters in San Rafael and even serving to them get into school. Watch the story right here.
NATIVE LAND PROTECTOR: The CEO of The Cultural Conservancy Sara Moncada is dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous agriculture and transcending non-nutritious meals diets in direction of extra wholesome methods of residing. Watch the story right here.
HOLISTIC HEALER: Bay Space nonprofit Internal Metropolis Bliss is pushed by a single purpose: Bringing extra BLISS into the world. Founder Andre Humphrey cultivates inside peace throughout the neighborhood by trauma-informed, holistic wellness practices that assist with trauma restoration. Watch his story right here.
INSPIRING COURAGE: Samantha Ramirez has made it her life’s mission to at all times present up with coronary heart and stand for justice. Named San Rafael’s “Citizen of the 12 months,” Ramirez leads with braveness, kindness, and inclusivity to encourage the youth neighborhood all through this month and at all times. Watch her story right here.
HABITAT HERO: Woman scout Faline Howard’s deep admiration for monarchs motivated her to spearhead a motion tackling the monarch’s declining inhabitants, whereas selling conservation and restoration. With each milkweed planted, Howard helps protect monarch butterflies. Watch her story right here!
STEERING INDEPENDENCE: Meet the lady empowering neighborhood members with Down syndrome to maximise their particular person skills and assist them shine! Laura von Savoye of Down Syndrome Connection presents distinctive leisure actions, like bike using, to counterpoint and affect the lives of individuals with disabilities. Watch her story right here!
TRANSLATINAS ADVOCATE: Nicole Santamaria was pressured to flee El Salvador due to her advocacy work for human rights with the LGBTQI neighborhood. She has introduced her experience to the Bay Space and offers assist for transgender ladies. Watch her story right here!
COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR: After 20 years of incarceration, Sakhone Lasaphangthong transforms ache into objective to domesticate a cleaner, safer Oakland Chinatown. On any given day, you may discover him and his staff cleansing the streets, abating graffiti, and organizing volunteers. It is all to assist restore a way of public security and neighborhood satisfaction. Watch his story right here!
PLANTING JUSTICE: Simone Robinson and Maya Salcedo are addressing structural inequalities and reworking the meals system one backyard at a time. ‘Planting Justice’ has constructed over 550 edible permaculture gardens and created 1000’s of inexperienced jobs. Watch their story right here!
RIVETING ROSIES: Two tradeswomen who labored in residence entrance shipyards throughout World Struggle II share their tales of sacrifice whereas celebrating profound social change. They’re often called “Rosies” within the spirit of Rosie the Riveter’s “We Can Do It!” mindset. Watch their story right here!
BAKING WITH PURPOSE: Rize Up Bakery founder Azikiwee Anderson reinvents sourdough bread with distinctive components whereas feeding Bay Space communities in want. When clients purchase two loaves of his “Pay It Ahead” bread, one is donated on the purchaser’s behalf to Bay Space meals banks, homeless shelters, and extra. Watch his story right here!
CHINATOWN CHAMPION: Meet the person preserving Chinatown’s cultural id whereas tackling meals and housing inequities. Malcolm Yeung helps Chinatown preserve its cultural id whereas guaranteeing inexpensive housing for its most weak residents. Watch his story right here!
CANINE COMPANIONS: Main the service canine trade, “Canine Companions” expertly trains puppies to develop into expert assistants for adults, youngsters, and veterans with disabilities. The furry helpers are paired up with purchasers for distinctive assist that is freed from cost. Be taught extra about Canine Companions right here.
HIP HOP HERO: One man is setting the stage for neighborhood empowerment by Hip Hop tradition, and he is passing the mic to youth within the Bay Space. Musical artist and neighborhood organizer, Khafre Jay merged activism and expressive arts to discovered HipHopForChange. The nonprofit group makes use of Hip Hop tradition as a car for schooling and storytelling, uplifting voices by efficiency. Watch his story right here!
YOUTH CHANGEMAKER: Activist Tiana Day conjures up youth to face up, take cost, and be the optimistic change they’d wish to see on this planet. Her nonprofit group Youth Advocates for Change hosts fundraising occasions, organizes rallies, and information podcasts–all with youth voices on the forefront. Watch her story right here!
MAN WITH A MISSION: One man helps to mobilize the Mission District throughout these difficult occasions. He is Roberto Hernandez, recognized locally because the mayor of the Mission. Roberto just lately based Mission Meals Hub, a company that tackles meals inequity whereas strengthening neighborhood belief in COVID-19 vaccination. Watch his story right here!
COMMUNITY CRUSADER: Well being and environmental justice group Greenaction mobilizes neighborhood energy to activate change in communities that want it most. On the forefront of the environmental justice motion, Greenaction’s Co-founder Bradley Angel champions cleaner air in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Level neighborhood. Watch his story right here!
ARTISTS IN ACTION: A vibrant mural has been unveiled on the nook of considered one of San Francisco’s busiest intersections. The highly effective message and the enduring location are symbols of satisfaction for San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood, and for the gifted artists who created it–Juan Manuel Carmona and Simón Malvaez. Watch their story right here!
COMPASSIONATE HEALER: Medical psychologist Dr. Nira Singh has made it her life’s mission to supply culturally delicate psychological well being companies to marginalized communities all through Santa Clara County. Watch her story right here!
CLIMATE CHAMPION: A bunch of youth local weather activists is championing social and environmental change not solely throughout Earth month, however on a regular basis. Main the cost within the Bay Space is 18-year-old Isha Clarke whose work is rebuilding an equitable and sustainable planet. Watch her story right here!
POWER BUILDER: At each stage of life, having the instruments to succeed makes a distinction. For a bunch of ladies in West Berkeley, these instruments are powered. Actually. They’re members of Ladies Storage. Based by Emily Pilloton, it is a workshop constructed to foster confidence and company, so younger ladies can construct the lifetime of their desires. Watch their story right here!
TRANS DISTRICT TRAILBLAZERS: Since as early because the Nineteen Twenties, San Francisco’s Tenderloin District has been a house for transgender residents–and that is nonetheless true as we speak. Inside a 6-block part of the Tenderloin, often called Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, three Black trans leaders are Constructing a Higher Bay Space, by making a protected, welcoming, and empowering neighborhood, led by trans folks, for trans folks. Watch their story right here!
COMMUNITY BUILDER: In lots of communities throughout the Bay Space, individuals are in want. Whether or not it’s from affect of the COVID-19 pandemic or for different causes, a necessity is felt. In East Oakland, one neighborhood group Trybe is stepping as much as assist. Watch Trybe’s story right here.
DANCING OUT LOUD: Antoine Hunter is an expert dancer and the inventive director of the City Jazz Dance Firm. He’s additionally deaf. Hunter based the Bay Space Worldwide Deaf Dance Competition, an annual occasion that showcases the inventive contributions of deaf and onerous of listening to folks from everywhere in the world. Watch his story right here.
NOBLE RIDER: On the morning of Might 29, Brianna Noble took her 17-hand horse “Dapper Dan” to a protest in Oakland towards police brutality after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. With a “Black Lives Matter” signal slung over Dapper Dan’s again, Brianna was not conscious of the affect she was about to have as she trotted down Broadway.Watch her story right here!
SWAN DREAMER: Being a black girl in a world dominated by white dancers isn’t straightforward. Aesha Ash travels the nation with the message that expertise should not be constrained by race or socio-economic standing. Her purpose: to encourage younger folks to persevere and dare to dream. Watch her story right here!
PASSION CREATORS: Three Bay Space filmmakers are following their ardour and utilizing it to inform tales concerning the human expertise. Sephora Woldu, Nicolas Jara and Reid Davenport are native filmmakers who shared with us what drives them to inform tales. Take a look at their tales and learn how they’re utilizing their craft to inform necessary tales.
RAISING THE BARRE: San Francisco Ballet’s youngest male principal dancer believes in spreading kindness when he is off stage. Benjamin Freemantle can be a self-taught barber and hits the streets round Civic Heart to supply free haircuts to those that are down on their luck. Find out about his story right here!
AMBASSADOR OF DANCE: Because the Oakland Ballet Firm celebrates its forty eighth season performing the Nutcracker, ABC7 Information is recognizing a person, making a distinction for his dancers and to the neighborhood round him. Learn on to seek out out why Creative Director Graham Lustig is that this month’s ABC7 Star!
GREYWATER RECYCLER: Sixteen-year-old Shreya Ramachandran is not simply TALKING about saving the planet, she’s taking her personal steps on-line, within the classroom and on the worldwide stage. Her nonprofit Gray Water Venture is the results of years of analysis and advocates repurposing evenly used water from the house to flush bogs and irrigate panorama. Watch her inspiring story right here!
SEWING INSPIRATION: Style and footwear designer Devlin Carter’s sneakers have blown up on Instagram. His distinctive model has gained the eye of 1000’s of individuals and celebrities everywhere in the world. Inside Carter’s Oakland present room, you may discover his designs. However, upstairs on the weekend, an interesting operation is underway. He is educating youngsters the way to sew. Here is his story!
Lisa Gauthier has earned star standing by her inspiring journey to reclaiming her schooling. Lisa isn’t your typical school student- she’s additionally a 3rd time period East Palo Alto Mayor! Via her place as Authorities Affairs Supervisor at Examine.com, she paved a brand new path for herself and others like her who lack the time or cash to enroll in a standard school setting. Gauthier just lately graduated and acquired a Bachelor’s diploma from Thomas Edison State College whereas concurrently serving as Mayor. Lisa proved her personal motto as true: Schooling delayed isn’t schooling denied. Go right here for her full story!
Go right here to see extra ABC7 Stars or right here for extra Allies in Motion.
