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 put final decision-making authority into the hands of youth, and has invested over 300,000 dollars in youth-led social justice projects to date.
The office has also led key victories in substance abuse prevention. In 2007, SF Community Action Live youth leaders successfully advocated for a “Deemed Approved Ordinance,” which established an annual citywide fee to educate business owners and help them responsibly monitor alcohol sales in the city’s 1,000-plus stores that sell alcohol.
In 2014, the Tobacco Use Reduction Force (TURF) — a 6-year, multi-generational youth campaign — succeeded in passing San Francisco’s Tobacco Retail Density Policy on tobacco. The first of its kind in the country, the policy reduced the number of tobacco retailers through attrition, as well as the percentage of storefront space that could be used for advertising.
Today, these programs continue to thrive through our Community Action Model (CAM), which invests in building leaders from the community to advocate for health equity campaigns. Through the San Francisco Prevention Coalition, YLI provides technical support to prevention providers to address citywide youth alcohol and substance use.
Current Programs
Timeline of Wins in San Francisco
Board of Supervisors Unanimously Approves Tobacco 21 Ordinance Raising Purchasing Age
San Francisco Approves Smoke-Free Ball Parks
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 Community Action Live (SFCAL) youth developed key messages, created an educational video targeted at youth and prevention providers, and carried out a youth-lobby day at … 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 Children’s Amendment mandates that the City sets aside approximately 3% of the city’s property tax revenue (in what’s called the “Children’s Fund”), to be spent … Continued