San Francisco
yli’s San Francisco office was established in 1992 and houses programs and our headquarters. This office grew the youth philanthropy program seeded in Marin into a nationally recognized program, Building Leaders in Innovative New Grant-making (BLING). Our innovative approach puts final decision-making authority into the hands of youth, and has invested over $300,000 in youth-led social justice projects to date.
Since then, the office has grown to include many more programs that identify and address key issues impacting San Francisco youth and their communities, and has led critical victories in substance abuse prevention across the Bay Area.
Check out the San Francisco office’s hours and resources on our LinkTree!
Current Programs
Past Programs
Timeline of Wins in San Francisco
The 23-24 BLING Youth Grantmakers Cohort reviewed, interviewed, and selected 12 youth-led projects to fund, totaling $100,000 dollars in grant dollars disseminated to the youth in the San Francisco community.
yli partners with Freedom Forward and moves into the San Francisco HYPE Center, increasing community outreach!
WPX3 launches their social norms media campaign via yli Instagram
Washington Positive Peer Pressure (WPX3), a youth group at George Washington High School, shared results of their school-based research on youth alcohol consumption to provide positive peer pressure that encourages … Continued
BLING grants $100,000 to 11 youth groups across San Francisco and celebrates 10 years of grantmaking
Community Action Model hosts a community event to showcase findings on tobacco
The event was held at Manny’s Cafe in San Francisco’s Mission District. It showcased youth leaders’ key data findings, PhotoVoice projects, and presentations from LGBT Minus Tobacco, Bay Area Community … Continued
BLING grants $85,000 to 9 youth-led projects in SF
Video PSA launched
WPX3 launched their most recent PSA showcasing data they collected from the past academic school year.
YAPC town hall offers self-care resources to youth and community
Wellness Clubs established at SF High Schools
Based off of the YPAR cohort‘s research, young people’s mental health has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. In response to this data, our youth leaders began the … Continued
Youth host townhall
YAPC hosts a youth town hall to share out about their newly published ‘zine along with findings from their community research project.
Youth publish ‘zine on healthy alternatives to drinking
YAPC publishes a ‘zine to reach young people across San Francisco to encourage healthy alternatives to drinking on top of providing resources and statistics on youth alcohol consumption.
Oakland youth successfully advocate to divest from policing and invest in community
Youth urge City Council members to uplift the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force recommendations that were prioritized by the Oakland City Council.
Board of Supervisors Unanimously Approves Tobacco 21 Ordinance Raising Purchasing Age
San Francisco Approves Smoke-Free Ball Parks
Tobacco Retail Density Ordinance Passes
Youth leaders passed an ordinance that reduced the density of tobacco retailers in the City of San Francisco. More information can be found in the case study authored about this … Continued
Landmark “Tobacco Sales Reduction Act” Passes
Electronic Cigarettes Prohibited Where Traditional Cigarettes Are Banned
San Francisco Schools Restrict Tobacco Promotional Items
Multi-Unit Rental Properties Must Disclose Smoke-Free and Smoking-Optional Designation
Smoke-Free Public Events Ordinance Adopted
San Francisco Bans Tobacco Companies from Sponsoring Social and Cultural Events
Smoke-Free Public Transit Vehicles, Stations and Stops Passes
Smoke-Free Service Waiting Lines Ordinance Adopted
Smoke-free Charity Bingo Games Ordinance Passes
Citywide Alcohol Fee Passed by Council
YLI staff and young people worked with community partners to mobilize support for a citywide fee on alcohol over the spring and summer of 2010. YLI staff and San Francisco … Continued
Smoke-Free Public Housing Adopted
Ordinance Bans Smoking in Common Areas of Multi-Unit Housing
City Bans Smoking at Farmers Markets
Smoke-Free Taxi Ordinance
Smoke-Free Entrances Ordinance Passes
Tobacco-Free City and County Property Policy Adopted
Tobacco-Free Pharmacies Policy Adopted
“Deemed Approved Ordinance” Adopted to Better Regulate Alcohol Sales
Tobacco-Free Parks and Recreation Fields
Smoke-Free Public Golf Courses
San Francisco Police Create Training for Youth Interactions
Tobacco Advertising Banned in City
Smoking Banned in Enclosed Parks and Recreation Areas
Tobacco Advertising Banned in City
All Tobacco Retailers Must Have Permits
City Restricts the Sale of “Bidi” Cigarettes
San Francisco Bans The Sale of Packages with Fewer than 20 Cigarettes
San Francisco’s Children’s Fund Reauthorized
The Children’s Amendment was passed by the voters for the first time in 1991, thanks to a grassroots community-led campaign, and was reauthorized by San Francisco voters in 2000. The … Continued