About Us
Our Mission
community. We do this by creating opportunities for youth, families and
community to grow and share in a safe and diverse place.
assets for personal success and learning. We provide a fun, safe,
supportive environment for youth, participants and staff.
We recognize and appreciate personal and community contributions. We
build friendship and healthy relationships through honest and open
communication.
The San Francisco Beacon Initiative is a public-private partnership among
the County of San Francisco, schools, non-profit organizations and local
foundations that promotes the development of youth and family centers
(Beacon Centers) in public schools in urban neighborhoods. The Beacon
Centers serve as a gathering place in the community and are open year-
round, before and after school, evenings and on weekends, offering a variety
of services to children and families in a safe, protected environment. Center
programs aim to involve youth in constructive relationships with caring
adults; maintain consistently high standards for youth in school and in the
community; provide youth with real, challenging opportunities to learn,
practice skills and contribute to the community; and offer cross-cultural
opportunities to build harmonious and diverse relationships. Youth
development activities include educational support (such as tutoring,
homework clubs, computer classes), youth leadership development, peer
counseling, career development, community service projects, arts
programs, recreational activities, and health programs (such as support
groups or drug prevention). Family and parent support programs include
classes in parenting, ESL, health and mental health, and citizenship skills
building, as well as child care and early enrichment, community gatherings,
and cultural events. All services are provided at no charge.
A non-profit community-based agency works with each designated school to
coordinate the daily operations of the school’s Beacon Center. Each site
convenes a community council of youth, parents, residents, teachers,
school administrators and community agencies to provide program
guidance. More than 70 community organizations, city-wide, partner with the
centers to provide service programming.
- To provide high-quality youth development programs for youth.
- To keep youth safe.
- To provide more opportunities for healthy relationships with adults and peers.
- To provide structured activities for youth between school day and evening hours
when they are most likely to be left unattended and most likely to be the victim or
perpetrator of harmful or criminal behavior.
- To increase the quality of youths’ discretionary time. LESS TV, hanging out on
corners, being home alone. MORE engagement in healthy activities, a safe
environment supportive adults and peers.
- To promote educational achievement of students at James Denman Middle
School and surrounding schools.
- To bring back many of the extra-curricular programs that schools have lost to
budget cuts (Particularly in arts and sports.)
- To expose youth to new activities and opportunities their families might never be
able to afford (Particularly in music, dance, drama, computers and sports.)
- To increase the security of the host school.
- To increase school connection with youth, parents and community.
- To enhance parent participation on campus through structured adult activities,
family activities, cultural events, and collaborating with school efforts at parent
involvement.
- To be a resource to the surrounding community.
The Beacon is governed by the Beacon Initiative Steering Committee, made up of
representatives of DCYF, SFUSD, JPD and the collaborative of private
foundations. The Steering Committee defines and maintains the operating
agreements between the lead agencies, funders and the SFUSD and raises
funds to sustain the Initiative. At the site level, the Beacon is lead by the
Leadership Site Team. At Denman, the team is composed (at minimum) of the
Denman School Principal, the Beacon Director, and the Director of Student
Support Services. The OMI/Excelsior Beacon is also guided by a community
Executive Committee made up of interested and committed community
members, school administrators, teachers and other Beacon staff. Many of the
current community members of the Executive Committee were instrumental in
advocating for, planning and funding the OMI/Excelsior Neighborhood Beacon
Center. Teachers are always invited and encouraged to join either the Site
Leadership Team or the Executive Committee. Beacon programs are carried out
by the Beacon Staff and numerous subcontracted service providers.
The Beacon Center offers services for youth and adults in these five key areas:
Educational Supports
Homework Assistance
Academic Coaching
Literacy Classes
Project-based Learning activities
Arts & Recreation
Sports
Dance
Drama
Arts & crafts
Leadership Development
Beacon Youth Leadership Council
Career and Vocational Development
Computer literacy
Career exploration
Computer graphics and web design
Health/Mental Health
Case management
Substance abuse assessment and counseling
Mentor program.
The Beacon runs programs during each of the four seasons. The summer
program runs for nine weeks, both during and after summer school.
The principles and practices of youth development guide the Beacon Center. The
goal of the youth development is to produce healthy adults who can have healthy
family and social relationships, economic self-sufficiency, and community
involvement.
Desired Youth Outcomes:
Youth learn to be productive
Youth learn to be connected
Youth learn to navigate through life
Youth Development Practices:
Relationship building
Youth participation, meaningful involvement and leadership
Community involvement
Skill building in a variety of interesting learning experiences
Practices of a High-quality Youth Development Organization:
Provide a range of diverse, unique skill-building opportunities
Effective youth/adult ratios
Youth involvement in planning and decision-making
Accessible, reliable and safe space
Consistency of practice among staff
Continuity of care over time
High, consistent and fair standards
Professional supports
