$1.5 PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDS SECURED FOR ALICE GRIFFITH COMMUNITIES OF OPPORTUNITY

From the Mayor's Office of Communications

October 6, 2005

Mayor Gavin Newsom today launched Communities of Opportunity (COO) at the newly established Alice Griffith Opportunity Center. COO is an innovative collaborative effort between the Mayor's Office, City Departments, the philanthropic community and the residents of neighborhoods experiencing the most socio-economic challenges.

The opening of the new center, the first green building in the state and possibly the nation on public housing property, will serve as a community center, providing services such as: educational and vocational programs, youth services, supportive counseling, senior services, one-stop employment services, and civic activities.

"In truth, while we are one city united in name, we remain separate communities," said Mayor Gavin Newsom. "In our city's southeast, there's a San Francisco that is a community apart, separated by geography, violence, and decades of neglect," Newsom continued. "Despite over 40 years of promises, programs, speeches, high rhetoric, and good intentions, economic and social conditions in the southeast were getting worse not better."

Newsom also took this opportunity to announce over $1.5 million in philanthropic support that has helped Communities of Opportunity evolve into a cohesive movement, since he unveiled the initiative at his State of the City address almost one year ago. The funds will go towards a number of activities including programs at the Opportunity Center, a Parent University, Job Training programs, Microenterprise development, and a childcare enhancement center.

The Opportunity Center is the culmination of months of work between city departments (MOCD) the tenants association, parent association, San Francisco Housing Authority and the private sector. In addition to the community center, improvements to the development have included street paving, tree planting, new playgrounds, a community garden, computer hardware grants, high-speed Internet access and a new park. All of these improvements have gone from concept to implementation in an unprecedented amount of time. Future improvements include repainting and eventual rehabilitation of the entire development.

In order to transform the neighborhoods where children and families face the most significant barriers, the effort will remain focused on five key programmatic areas: Economic Opportunity, Safe and Affordable Housing, Family Support, Positive Youth Development, Neighborhood Safety and Beautification, and the Building of Social Capital.

The Alice Griffith Housing Development or "Double Rock" is one of the most isolated communities in San Francisco and the Alice Griffith Opportunity Center is just the beginning of a community transformation process. The Center is the direct result of the residents expressed need for onsite services.

Dwayne Jones, Director of the Mayor Office of Community Development, whose office is leading the effort said, "Never before has the city been so strategic in improving the lives of our poor and disconnected citizens. Communities of Opportunity will significantly change the way our government responds to community needs and the manner in which residents benefit from our efforts."

Over 100 attendees including city officials, residents as well as the business and philanthropic communities joined Mayor Newsom at the opening of the Alice Griffith Opportunity Center.

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