2020 Year in Review
A conversation with Code Tenderloin’s Executive Director, Donna Hilliard
Code Tenderloin is a nonprofit serving the Tenderloin community in San Francisco. Our programs typically focus on workforce development and technical education, but in 2020 we greatly expanded to meet the unprecedented level of community need that arose due to the many tragedies of 2020. Here’s Code Tenderloin’s Executive Director Donna Hilliard on Code Tenderloin’s work this past year:
Now that we’re at the end of such a challenging year, how are you feeling?
I’m feeling more excited and motivated than ever. We accomplished so much in 2020, and I know we are about to have a fantastic 2021!
It’s no secret that 2020 has been a difficult year, most markedly due to COVID-19 and social unrest due to racial injustice. Can you speak about Code Tenderloin’s efforts to provide the Tenderloin community a place to express their unrest during the George Floyd protests?
We realized that the community had so much pent up emotion about George Floyd’s death and racial injustice in the nation but no way to express it.
We wanted to create a space for the community to express themselves, so on August 10, 2020 we hosted a mural paint-in event and rally called “Housing Blacks” in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Community members came together to paint a mural on Golden Gate Avenue to promote income and housing equality for blacks in San Francisco. Local, award-winning artist Malik Seneferu designed the mural that spanned an entire city block of Golden Gate Avenue!
The finished mural was was 250 feet long
This was definitely something we’ve never done before, but it was incredibly valuable for the community. We distributed hygiene kits and masks at the event, and turnout was huge: 3 blocks worth of people showed up.
The top left photo is of our founder: Del Seymour
Another tragedy that started in 2020 was COVID-19 and the huge damage it did economically and physically to the community. Code Tenderloin rose to the challenge of COVID-19 and became a leader in the city’s COVID-19 response.
Tell us a bit about what Code Tenderloin did to serve members of the Tenderloin community?
Our COVID-19 response work was and continues to be centered around what the community needs. We realized early on that COVID-19 has caused really hard times for folks and created a huge need for basics such as clothing, hygiene supplies, and food. In response, we created our Calming the Corners program where we set up pop-up stands all around the Tenderloin and people come to get meals, shower referrals, clothing, and other resources. We also partnered with the Downtown Streets Team to create the C.A.R.E. Team: a group of Community Ambassadors who support people living on the streets and in tent encampments by physically visiting them and bringing them supplies.
We also noticed that during this crisis, access to a laptop and wifi became even more dire. Many folks couldn’t access the internet because they don’t have wifi or a computer. Senior citizens (who make up over 50% of the homeless population in San Francisco) require extra computer literacy instruction. So, in addition to providing access to laptops and wifi, we have been providing basic computer literacy training.
Our offices at 55 Taylor Street have become a COVID resource center where people know they can come to get support and supplies. We’ve actively increased donation drives and also begun doing case management work. Over the summer, we were given $1.6 million from Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall Initiative to continue our frontline COVID response work.
Code Tenderloin’s COVID-19 response is above and beyond our regular work.
For those who are brand new to Code Tenderloin, how would you describe the work we do on a regular basis, separate from our COVID-19 work?
Our regular programs focus on workplace development and technical education, and all of our programs are free. Our Job Readiness Program is 4 weeks long and helps participants prepare for, get, and keep the job they want. We provide multiple 6-week programs teaching computer programming: Code Ramp and Code Ramp++. These can lead to more advanced tech education programs or even software engineering bootcamps. All of these programs are taught and run by volunteers, which makes them that much more incredible! You can read the stories of some previous students here.
In 2020 we also started taking part in a city-wide summer youth program called Opportunities For All. This past summer we had 200 youth participants.
We serve people coming out of homelessness, returning home from incarceration, and a lot of people who just need help getting back into the workforce. Over 87% of our graduates get placed in jobs.
How many people do you think Code Tenderloin reached this past year?
We have reached over 1,000 people this past year and have served over 4,000 people since we began in 2015.
Wow, that’s amazing! How big is the Code Tenderloin team?
We have 7 employees right now, in 2020 we hired a Case Manager in addition to Operations and Program Managers. On top of that we manage about 80 regular volunteers.
Do you have a proudest accomplishment or moment from this past year?
We got a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year award! We stayed pivotal in the Tenderloin community, proving we are more than just a workforce development non-profit by becoming a strong source of community support for meeting basic needs while continuing our education programs virtually.
What are you most excited about going into 2021?
We have a full team of dedicated and passionate staff and volunteers going into 2021. We’ll continue our COVID response work, education programs, and also have other interesting special projects underway!
Stay tuned for future articles where we’ll continue to write about Code Tenderloin’s programs and special projects. All of us at Code Tenderloin wish you a happy 2021!