As 2024 comes to a close, MEDA is taking a moment to reflect on a year shaped by meaningful progress and key moments for our community. This year marked the 10th anniversary of our Community Real Estate (CRE) Program, created in 2014 to address the urgent displacement of working-class families in the Mission District. Over the past decade, this program has grown into a vital resource for preserving affordable housing and fostering neighborhood stability.

Let’s look back at some of the highlights that defined this year.

• With an election year on the horizon, our Policy and Advocacy team actively mobilized community members to champion affordable housing initiatives. Ahead of the March Primary Election, MEDA campaigned for Prop A, an affordable housing bond, through outreach events, voter engagement efforts, and developing detailed ballot guides in English and Spanish to educate and empower voters. These efforts continued into the November General Election, where MEDA partnered with allies to campaign for San Francisco Prop G and California Prop 5. Although Prop 5 was unsuccessful, the passage of Prop G marks a crucial step forward, securing a permanent funding source to guarantee stable housing for our most vulnerable neighbors.
  
• For over a decade, MEDA has been the backbone agency for the Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN) collaborative, providing a network of support services to help families achieve economic stability and improve children’s academic success. In March, Lynne Sacks and Michelle Sedaca from the EdRedesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education published an article titled “When Families Thrive, Children Succeed” that documented MPN’s trajectory, impact, and how it became one of the leading examples of a place-based prenatal-to-career partnership. Additionally, MEDA’s CEO, Luis Granados, and Chief Strategy and Advancement Officer, Jillian Spindle, further shared their insights in a webinar series exploring the findings from the article. 
• In March, MEDA had the pleasure of welcoming California’s State Treasurer, Fiona Ma, for an important conversation about financial literacy, wellness, and how families can start building generational wealth and prosperity by taking advantage of the free resources offered by the State Treasurer’s Office. This year, MEDA’s Free Tax Preparation program helped over 5,000 low- and moderate-income families in the San Francisco Bay Area prepare their tax returns. 
• The Mission community was filled with excitement when MEDA and Mission Housing were announced as co-developers of the highly anticipated affordable housing development known as “Marvel in the Mission,” located at the northeast corner of 16th and Mission St. When the development project is completed, it will provide around 300 affordable housing units to families at-risk of displacement. To celebrate this incredible milestone, community partners and advocates that secured the site for affordable housing came together to host a community gathering for a complete Sí, se pudo moment. 
  
• Amid looming budget cuts at the state level, families from the MPN collaborative traveled from San Francisco to Sacramento to advocate for essential resources and services for the community and ensure that community voices were heard by state officials. Since 2012, MPN collaborative has been on the ground engaging, educating, and empowering families and students by connecting them to vital resources and organizing impactful activities, including coordinating with community partners to host an “Excellence Dinner” where the academic achievements of newcomer immigrant students are celebrated. 
• Over the past year, our Equitable Recovery Institute (ERI) team spearheaded MEDA’s participation in 23 conferences at the local, statewide, and national levels, where we shared our expertise, key insights, and innovative models to address critical issues such as affordable housing, small business development, and advancing education and economic equity. A standout highlight was MEDA’s participation at the UnidosUS conference in Chicago this past summer, where our CEO, Luis Granados, delivered an inspiring farewell to his tenure as UnidosUS Board Chair and shared a hopeful vision for the future of the Latino community. 
• In the summer, MEDA hosted a multi-neighborhood retreat aimed at creating a vision for a Promise City–a city where the multiple neighborhoods across San Francisco are committed to improving the economic and academic outcomes of children and families. Rooted in the MPN accomplishments of the past decade and the spirit of cross-collaboration to achieve collective impact, this retreat was attended by a wide range of partners looking to uplift children and families, including Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, Jamestown Community Center, SFUSD School Board members, and then-Department of Children Youth, and their Families (DCYF) Director, Maria Su. Through innovation, collaboration, and accountability to results, this was a crucial step towards making a Promise City, a reality for families.
• This past fall, MEDA celebrated a momentous milestone at our annual iVIVA MEDA! gala, marking 51 years of being at the forefront of audacious strategies that advance equity, build prosperity, and increase political and economic power for the Latino community. With the spirit of the theme “Nuestro Momento, Nuestra Misión,” we honored Client of the Year, Leonardo Luna, for his unwavering commitment to improving his family’s wellbeing since 2010. We also heard powerful testimonies from our CEO, Luis Granados, and keynote speaker, California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, that highlighted MEDA’s commitment to building community power. Our goal for the future is the same as always: to advance equity and prosperity for Mission families. 
• October was a special month when award-winning Chicana artist Lorraine Garcia-Nakata unveiled their new mural series “Make Things New” at Casa Adelante–2828 16th St. to honor the neighborhood’s rich Latino legacy, the American Indian Cultural District, and the Black and Asian Pacific Islander communities, bridging generations from youth to elders. Commissioned in partnership by MEDA, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), San Francisco Arts Commission, and Galería de la Raza, these beautiful eight 20-foot murals at the entrance of Casa Adelante–a vibrant affordable housing community–with a welcoming space that celebrates diversity, history, and community well-being.
• Every year, the MEDA family comes together to reflect, connect, and celebrate our accomplishments. Organized by our very own Fun Committee, we had our annual Fun Day at the Sports Basement, located near the new Presidio Tunnel Tops park and iconic Golden Gate Bridge. MEDA CEO Luis Granados kicked off the day with inspiring remarks about our achievement in 2024, and followed by a day of activities that included scavenger hunts, sumo wrestling, tandem bike rides, and leisurely walks to enjoy the stunning views. As the day came to a close, we gathered for a team photo with a surprise guest (see picture!). Taking time to rest, reflect, and celebrate our successes is vital as we look ahead to the future. 
• With two weeks before the November General Election, our Policy and Advocacy team organized a community forum with the candidates running to represent San Francisco’s District 9. Held in Spanish and attended by over 150 community members, the forum was an opportunity for the candidates to speak directly to community members, and share their vision and solutions to problems most heavily impacting the Mission, Portola, and Bernal Heights communities. 
• MEDA’s Policy and Advocacy team successfully campaigned for the passage of San Francisco Prop G, which will fund much-needed affordable housing development projects for low-income seniors, families, and people with disabilities. Through community-informed and -driven mobilization efforts, our Policy and Advocacy team will play a key role in ensuring our most vulnerable communities are protected in the years to come. 
• MEDA’s CRE Program ended the year on a high note as two apartment buildings were successfully acquired, totaling 98 low-income units and 12 commercial spaces. In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Small Sites program, and the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund (SFHAF), this acquisition was a tremendous stride towards reversing displacement and preserving the vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich communities that have been calling the Mission home for generations.
• Every holiday season, MPN collaborative organizes a turkey giveaway to support San Francisco families. This past November, MPN was able to distribute nearly 60 turkeys and pumpkin pies, ensuring that families could gather around the table and enjoy a nourishing meal during the holiday season. But MPN’s work does not stop there. On December 12th from 3:30pm to 5:30pm at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, MPN will be hosting their annual book giveaway. Similar to previous years, we anticipate that hundreds of families will arrive and pick-up culturally relevant books that cover important topics like mental health. These books not only foster a love for reading, but also help children build healthy reading habits from an early age. The holiday season is about more than just giving—it’s about strengthening our community, nurturing the future of our children, and ensuring they have the tools to thrive.

This is just a small glimpse of everything we accomplished together. Our collective efforts are making a real difference, and we are excited to share the full scope of our impact in the upcoming 2024 Impact Report, coming this Spring.

 If you are passionate about partnering with MEDA to advance equity, create opportunities for San Francisco families, and make meaningful and lasting change, please reach out to development@medasf.org for more information about how you can get involved.

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