PODER’s mission is to organize with Latino immigrant families and youth to put into practice people-powered solutions that are locally based, community led and environmentally just. We nurture everyday people’s leadership, regenerate culture, and build community power. We organize in San Francisco’s Mission, Excelsior and other southeast neighborhoods, & forge alliances to achieve transformational change. Contributions to PODER will help sustain a range of initiatives:
Bicis del Pueblo exists to develop bike skills and environmental justice awareness of low-income communities of color by engaging in bike based workshops, classes, and community activities. BDP encourages families, youth and communities of color to incorporate bicycling in everyday activities that strengthens public health, deepens community resiliency, and reduces toxic pollution.
The PUEBLOTE campaign reclaims neighborhood assets, like parks and other sites, to meet the needs of existing low-income communities. The campaign seeks to provide jobs to local residents as part of community development projects. We bring the neighborhood expertise of residents to community planning efforts.
PODER Youth is developing a new generation of leaders because we want to transform our neighborhoods and the City for years to come. Young leaders develop cross cultural solidarity, learn critical thinking and organizing skills.
Civic Engagement – meaningful democracy can only come about if all the City’s communities are actively involved in coming up with solutions to the economic and environmental challenges facing San Francisco. That means removing language barriers for the approximately 34% of San Franciscans who are immigrants. We work to enforce San Francisco’s language access laws, which are among the strongest in the country.
Since 1991 we have won important advances in public health, the availability of affordable housing, access to parks and open space and accountable government.