Earning trust
Proven Models. Shared Lessons.
From national think tanks to local policy initiatives, MEDA’s work is cited as a model for community-led strategies that drive housing stability, educational opportunity, and long-term economic mobility
Case studies written by outside partners and researchers offer insight into our strategies, while awards and select publications recognize the tangible outcomes we’ve achieved alongside the community.
MEDA staff receiving the Nancy Zimpher Courage in Leadership Award from StriveTogether in 2025.
Case Studies
Real-world examples of MEDA’s programs in action—from housing stabilization strategies and equitable capital deployment through Fondo Adelante, to cradle-to-career support through the Mission Promise Neighborhood. These case studies offer a closer look at how MEDA’s place-based approach drives lasting economic mobility for families and communities.
- Cultural Placekeeping Through Community Ownership in San Francisco’s Mission District | Small Business Anti-Displacement Network>
- Community-Led Solutions Aim to Measure Systemic Barriers | NeighborWorks America>
- “When Families Thrive, Children Succeed” | EdRedesign, Harvard Graduate School of Education>
Awards & Recognitions
MEDA’s work has been honored throughout its five decades of service by elected officials and peer organizations alike. Highlights include being named Affiliate of the Year by UnidosUS in 2019, and receiving the Nancy Zimpher Courage in Leadership Award from StriveTogether in 2025 for our comprehensive cradle-to-career approach.
Publications
Reports, briefs, and research that showcase MEDA’s work and share insights from our place-based strategies. From housing and small business to cradle-to-career education, these publications help inform the field and advance economic mobility for working-class communities.
- Explore Mission Promise Neighborhood reports>
- Health Equity Through Housing: The Impact of Housing Conditions and Other Social Determinants of Health on San Francisco’s Low-Income Latinos During COVID-19 (Provided upon request)
