Embarcadero

Kids our everywhere.  And they are our future.

A few blocks from the hum of downtown, the South of Market district is a neighborhood where 85% of children live below the poverty level, most with parents who speak English as a second language.  If you take a train or bus downtown but get off at the Civic Center and walk south  downtown's familiar landscape of granite, steel and concrete gets a little lower to the ground and a lot more gritty.

Buildings are smaller and the buses less frequent. At first glance, you would notice adults--troubled adults.  Looking more closely, children would appear.  There, that woman pushing that shopping cart has a child trailing behind her.  Oh, that man yelling is being heard by a teen who is smiling at him.

This is SOMA, home of the Hall of Justice, the local jail and numerous single room occupancy hotels.  Most people think of it as a nightclub area or spot for new lofts.  They don't realize how many low-income families call those single room occupancy hotels "home."

For more than 100 years, the Embarcadero YMCA has served the waterfront and SOMA community. 

Parents here rely on YMCA professionals for three childrens' after school programs.  The Embarcadero YMCA began on the bustling docks of San Francisco.  As skid row and community needs moved west, so did our community programs.  All of our after school programsare growing becauses children need safe places and in a city survey in 2006 more than 80 % said they would attend after school programs if they were available. Like all children, these kids need nurturing and the opportunity to learn, grow and play.  If we imagine the future: we should think outside those concrete, steel and granite boxes downtown and realize these children hold our future in their hands.

This is what the YMCA does. It serves those with the greatest need in our community.  Through the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we have the privilege to serve the next generation of leaders.  We to help them learn to make the right choices now and in the future.

Most people look at the Embarcadero YMCA and see a gym with very few children present.  What they don't see are all the invisible programs we have that help us build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

Canon Barcus Community House

Children living in this supportive housing community for formerly homeless families find consistent caregivers and comforting, challenging routines every day after school.  Academic enrichment, values education and supportive caring adults assure that the children finish homework, explore local sites on  field trips and enjoy fun, challenging enrichment activities.

Orrick Year Round Enrichment Program at Bessie Carmichael Elementary School

For 15 years, we have operated an enrichment program for the students of Bessie Carmichael school, the only elementary in the South-of-Market area on 7th Street at Folsom. More than 125 students, 85% of whom live below the poverty line, benefit from one-on-one tutoring and homework help.  Participants show improved test scores and higher self esteem resulting in reduced behavioral challenges in the classroom and at home. Recreational activities and supportive services give students opportunities for personal help after hours they might need.

Mentoring high school dropouts, reading to formerly homeless kids, coaching youth sports or raising money for all of our programs...these are just a few of the ways you can serve the community as a volunteer at the Y.  Go to our volunteer job listsings to see how you can help.