Growing Together:

The DCYF Newsletter

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Applications for DCYF's Youth Empowerment Cohort Close on June 15

The Youth Empowerment Project Cohort is all about youth voice, leadership, and action. San Francisco youth ages 18-24 are invited to learn how local government works, to build skills, and to team up with other young people to shape policies that impact kids and youth across the City.

Cohort Eligibility

• Must be a resident of San Francisco
• Must be between the ages of 18–24
• Must be available to participate in the full duration of the summer program, and attend a minimum of 8 in-person sessions between July and August

Incentives

• Participants will receive a stipend for their participation in the program. 
• Mentorship from facilitators to support leadership development. 

How to Apply

Visit this link to access the application form. Hurry: the deadline to apply is Sunday, June 15, 2025!

Help Us Spread the Word!

Visit this link for a PDF flyer about the Youth Empowerment Cohort. If you would like a JPG or PNG version of the flyer, ask us at info@dcyf.org. 

Questions?

If you have questions about the Youth Empowerment Project Cohort, please email Astrid Flores at astrid.flores@dcyf.org.  

Free Summer Meals for Children and Youth

Every weekday from June 9 to August 15, 2025, sites all around San Francisco will offer free summer meals to all children and youth under age 18.  No registration or other documentation is required to receive a meal at open Summer Meals sites: children and youth just need to arrive at these sites during their serving times, and they will receive a free meal! 

Summer Opportunities for San Francisco Youth Ages 14-24

Summer Jobs, Programs, and Opportunities for Youth Ages 14-24

Time is running out to apply or register for summer jobs and other programs for youth ages 14-24: several of them close within the next week! If a young person you know is still looking for an opportunity, send them to our Opportunities for Youth page (and tell them to hurry!).

Our415 Resource Website

Use the new Our415 website to find summer programs, services, and anything else you need to raise a family and grow up in San Francisco. 

More Important than Ever: Resources for Immigrant Children, Youth, and Families

DCYF and the entire City & County of San Francisco want to help immigrants, asylees, and refugees connect to resources, opportunities, and more. 

Immigrant Services and Resources Landing Page

Created by the SF Immigrant Forum, this page is a comprehensive source of services, resources, and events. 

The page includes Know Your Rights information, links to immigration legal help, healthcare access, housing and shelter support, financial assistance, and much more. The Immigrant Services and Resources Landing Page can be translated into Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Filipino.

Want to get involved? The next meeting of the SF Immigrant Forum will take place online on Wednesday, July 30. Learn more and register here. 

Now Recruiting: Children and Youth Fund Oversight & Advisory Committee

The Children and Youth Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) is DCYF’s advisory body. The OAC provides a forum for community members and service providers to discuss decisions related to the Children and Youth Fund, and provides advice for DCYF. All OAC members are appointed by the Mayor or the Board of Supervisors.

To learn more about the open OAC seats and how to apply for them, visit the OAC page on our website.  

Announcements and Events

Youth-Led TAY Resource Fair

In partnership with Unity Care’s Youth Advisory Board, SFCASA's YOUth Empowerment Board is hosting a Resource Fair designed by and for system-impacted young people ages 18–24. This vibrant, youth-centered event connects foster, probation-impacted, and TAY communities to vital services, opportunities, and healing-centered spaces.

✨ Come through for:

• Job & Internship Opportunities
• Housing & Transitional Support
• Education & Training Programs
• Mental Health & Wellness Resources
• Creative Spaces, Music, Giveaways & More!

📅 The Resource Fair will take place on Wednesday, June 11 from 3pm to 7pm.

Know a Graduating SFUSD Senior? Tell Them to Claim their K2C Money!

SFUSD students in the Class of 2025, and in the Classes of 2023 and 2024, all have at least $50 in their Kindergarten to College (K2C) accounts, plus any contributions or incentives, to continue their education after high school!

Get Your Summer Reading On with Summer Stride 2025

Get ready, get set, STRIDE! It’s time for San Francisco’s biggest summer reading and learning challenge for all ages. From June 1 through August 31, complete Summer Stride to earn an irresistible tote bag decorated by local artist Ken Pak to carry your books!

Heart of the Richmond Night Market is Back!

The massively popular Richmond Night Market is back for its second season!

Every third Saturday of the month this summer, Clement Street between 22nd-25th Avenues will host delicious local eats, amazing local talent, and beautiful local goods.

The kickoff Night Market on Saturday, June 21 will showcase a Family Zone designed just for families with young children, packed with engaging activities and giveaways!  

Youth Art Gallery

In collaboration with City Youth Now, SFCASA's YOUth Empowerment Board invites you to a powerful Youth Art Gallery that honors the voices and creativity of system-impacted artists, performers, and makers. Come on out for an evening of storytelling through art, music, and expression in this celebration of the brilliance and resilience of our City's youth.

🎤 Expect:

• Visual Art, Music, & Live Performances
• Personal Storytelling Through Creative Work
• Community Celebration & Connection

Come support, connect, and uplift the next generation of changemakers and creatives!

📅 Youth Art Gallery will take place on June 27, 2025.

Funding Opportunity: WE Initiative

The WE Initiative is a new grantmaking strategy under the Walter & Elise Haas Fund’s recently launched Social Well-being program that focuses on activating and sustaining a sense of belonging among Bay Area residents. It builds upon our purpose to support community well-being in Oakland and San Francisco so that all people can reach their fullest potential with dignity and joy. Twenty-five organizations will be selected to receive $100,000 annually as general operating funds over a five-year period, totaling $500,000 each.

📅 Applications are due by June 27, 2025.

MUNI Fare Increase Coming July 1

Starting July 1, some fares will increase as part of the SFMTA’s 2024–2026 budget, shaped by extensive public input during SFMTA’s spring 2024 budget outreach campaign. These updates reflect community feedback and the need to support a sustainable transit system. 

Applications Open for O2 Sabbatical Award

The O2 Sabbatical Award honors dedicated nonprofit executive directors in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties with an essential three-month break for rest and renewal.

The O2 Sabbatical Award Includes:

• $50,000 toward the cost of the executive director’s three-month sabbatical
• $15,000 in flexible funding to support staff professional development, as well as stipends for the interim leadership team in recognition of the additional responsibilities assumed in the executive director’s absence
• 25 hours of coaching to help organizations prepare for the sabbatical, advise interim leadership teams during the executive director’s leave, provide support with re-entry, and achieve organizational development goals (e.g., greater shared leadership, succession planning)
• Participation in the O2 Peer Network, including annual gatherings and shared learning opportunities. O2 alumni also mentor new awardees and serve on the O2 Selection Committee

📅 Applications are due by August 13, 2025.

Free, Fun, and Fabulous: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival!

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is back with a summer season of fun, fabulous events for the whole family! There's something coming up for everyone, from circus performances to dance classes to art exhibits and so much more. And it's all free! 

Free Fun Family Activities at the Salesforce Transit Center 

The Salesforce Transit Center has released their calendar of free events from May to November! Check out what’s coming up at the Transit Center, including family-friendly special events, performances, fitness and wellness classes, story times, and much more.

Find Sites Near You Serving Free Meals for Children and Youth 

The CA Meals for Kids Mobile App can help you find sites serving free afterschool and summer meals all over the state of California! You can use the app to find sites by address, county, city, zip code and partial site name. Download it for free on your iOS, Android, or Microsoft devices.

Visit Museums for FREE with Museums for All 

Through the City’s Museums for All program, San Francisco residents with EBT or Medi-Cal cards can get free or reduced admission to more than 25 local museums and cultural centers! 

Visit the San Francisco Museums for All page to find out which museums are participating, and to learn how to get free tickets. 

California Golden Bear Pass for CalWORKS and Tribal TANF Recipients

California’s state parks offer a fun, affordable, and healthy way to connect with family, friends, and the outdoors. The State of California believes that all residents should have access to our parks, and that families should be able to enjoy nature’s benefits regardless of income.

If you receive CalWORKS or Tribal TANF benefits, you can apply for the California Golden Bear Pass, which provides free vehicle day-use access at over 200 California State Parks! 

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Land Acknowledgement Statement

The San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF) acknowledges that it carries out its work on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original inhabitants and stewards of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the government agency that stewards the Children and Youth Fund, we accept the responsibility that comes with resources derived from property taxes upon unceded and colonized land. We recognize the history and legacy of the Ramaytush Ohlone as integral to how we strive to make San Francisco a great place for life to thrive and children to grow up.

Learn about the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone.