About us: living into a village vision of Bayview/Hunters Point
Our History
Village Life started during the height of the pandemic. While most San Franciscans were sheltered-in-place, Bayview-Hunters Points (BVHP) was still bustling with frontline workers taking public transportation for childcare and work. We started serving socially-distanced meals from a church parking lot and then pivoted to fresh grocery bags. Around the same time, we started meeting youth at local parks who started volunteering. Over a few months and with the help of 8 volunteer youth, we served a total of 200 bags to an estimated 180 families
At the time, two of our founders felt a call to invest in BVHP youth. Both of them had grown up there and seen the difficulties, pain, and pressures that young people experience. They were already mentoring neighbors and kids’ friends but started seeing the need for time and structure. We knew a weekly meeting or occasional activity wouldn't be enough to have the kind of transformational impact we desired, so they left their jobs and started Village Life.
Our mission is to live into a “village” vision of BVHP, where young people are supported in community, see their self worth, and activate their leadership in ways that serve and add value to the community. Our purpose is to be a long-term community, a village, that supports young people through their transition from youth into productive adulthood. Our focus areas are youth empowerment and community building—including mentorship, positive peer communities, STEM workshops, work opportunities, and volunteer projects that support the thriving of BVHP.
Why Mentorship Matters
Research published by ACEs Aware and the National Library of Medicine show a “significant prevalence” of Adverse Childhood Experiences in our neighborhood of Bayview/Hunters Point. These ACEs are associated with learning/behavior problems and health issues, but that same research names supportive relationships as one of the most effective interventions. Village Life is primarily a mentorship program that supports middle- and high school aged youth. We interweave Bible lessons and conversations on character development and decision-making to support the moral and intellectual development of youth.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Village Life is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. We’re a youth mentorship organization that provides community, volunteer and enrichment activities, and paid youth internships. We build long-term, meaningful relationships. Scroll through the site to found out more about our history and current projects.
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Stay in touch! Subscribe to our newsletter to get updates on current projects and needs.
Support financially: Give a one-time donation, give through your employer’s matching program, or become a monthly donor.
Volunteer: Connect with us if you’re interested in leading a workshop (1-2 hours) or overseeing a time-bound project that teaches a life skill or exposes youth to a career field.
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We are funded through individual donations from community members like you and grants from organizations and churches. All donations are tax-deductible. If you’d like to introduce us to a grant-giving organizations or your church’s missions board, contact us through the contact page or email give@villagelifesf.org.