Our Health / Kalusugan, Our Community / Bayan Project

Ruby N. Turalba (left) and Alyssa Daulat (right) at the October Natoma Block Party, a community development and engagement effort to create camaraderie among the residents and community members of Natoma Street and the surrounding neighborhood in SOMA Pilipinas, Filipino Cultural Heritage District.

As early as the 1900’s, Filipinx have been part of San Francisco’s rich history, specifically in the South of Market neighborhood, which was recently recognized in 2017 as the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural Heritage District. Since the urban redevelopment of the 1960’s to the dotcom boom in the 1990’s until today, the South of Market neighborhood has felt the pressures of the rising costs of living, lack of affordable housing, and displacement. Despite these challenges, community residents continue to organize the neighborhood to preserve their existence, heritage, and legacy in the neighborhood.

As part of her fieldwork internship, Health Education student Alyssa Daulat is currently working with San Francisco State University faculty Ruby N. Turalba and the South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN) to research the health impacts of gentrification among Filipinx residents in San Francisco. SOMCAN is a multi-racial, community-based organization serving low-income immigrant youth and families. Alyssa is currently developing a comprehensive literature review and community health assessment plan which will be implemented during spring 2020. The goal of the project is to increase the visibility of Filipinx residents, elevate their voices and stories, and develop policy recommendations to improve the health of San Francisco residents impacted by gentrification.

With support from the San Francisco Public Health Foundation, a new partnership between the South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN) and SFSU Health Education Department Lecturer Ruby N. Turalba aims to support the empowerment of and build capacity among Filipinx residents of San Francisco. Our Health/Kalusugan, Our Community/Bayan is a three-year project designed to engage community members so they may have the agency to lead healthier lifestyles and advocate for healthier neighborhoods. Free health education workshops and physical activity classes that are culturally and linguistically relevant will be offered to Filipinx residents in the SOMA, Tenderloin, and Excelsior neighborhoods. In addition, community members will be trained in public health frameworks, community-based participatory action research, and policy advocacy. The long-term goal is to address socio-economic, neighborhood, and environmental factors that contribute to health inequities affecting Filipinx - - chronic diseases such as hypertension/cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and overweight/obesity.