José joined MEDA in 2018 at a pivotal moment when the organization was beginning to invest in the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. José began as a project assistant and later became Associate Director of Preservation, playing a key role in expanding MEDA’s portfolio through the Small Sites Program. Today, he reflects on his personal history, his journey, and the responsibility of leading MEDA’s Community Real Estate team.
In April, Malea Chavez joined the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) as Chief Programs Officer, bringing decades of experience in community-based leadership. Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, Malea has a long-standing connection to the neighborhood and previously worked at MEDA during two earlier chapters of her career, contributing to legal services and program development.
Irma Soberanis has called San Francisco home for over 30 years. Like many long-time residents of the Mission District, she worked hard to make a living—taking on jobs in caretaking, cleaning homes, and providing child care.
Driven by our commitment to meet community needs, we utilized a capacity building grant from Listen4Good in 2024 to conduct a client satisfaction survey. This initiative allowed us to gain deeper insight into what our small business development clients value most about our services, explore their perception about MEDA’s role in their small business journey, and identify ways to enhance client experience. Now, we are excited to share the results.
An evening of entrepreneurial stories, music, and food to celebrate our small businesses community.
With 168 affordable units and on-site community services, the development marks a significant step toward housing stability and economic mobility in the Mission.
Quetzal IT will offer a much-needed option for repairing devices like computers, cell phones, and video game consoles. Behind the venture, located at El Mercadito in Plaza Adelante, is Zuly Ortega — a skilled technician whose journey MEDA has proudly supported every step of the way.
For the past decade, the MPN scholarship has helped graduating seniors from John O’Connell High School in San Francisco’s Mission District take the next step toward higher education.
MEDA is proud to be one of the five community-based organizations selected to participate in this critical effort.
Yessenia’s Boutique is a fashion clothing and accessories store that opened its doors in 2024 at El Mercadito de Plaza Adelante, MEDA’s business incubator.
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