SOMCAN founded after small businesses housed in the Mint Mall receive simultaneous eviction notices. In response, the community mobilizes to save these local institutions and the evictions are subsequently halted.

Negotiated a community benefit agreement with the developer of a high rise hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, resulting in a series of community education workshops for low-income and SRO hotel tenants, youth and families, seniors, and Filipino WWII veterans with the Continental Collaborative,

Realizing that residents can’t fight for their rights when they’re too busy trying to survive, SOMCAN launches United Families to provide linguistically- and culturally-competent support services to neighborhood families.

Preserved 366 rent-controlled units slated for demolition, and negotiated an additional 135 affordable housing units with the Trinity Plaza Tenants Association.

Led the community in winning a historic mitigation package, a $20 million Community Stabilization Fund, to offset the gentrifying impacts of the Rincon Hill area plan, through the South of Market Community Coalition.

Expanded Bessie Carmichael Elementary from pre-K-5th to pre-K-8th, in coalition with parents and teachers through the K-8th Grade Initiative

Partnered with Bessie Carmichael parents and teachers to build a new middle school facility in the SoMa.

Victoria Manalo Draves Park, named after the first Filipina olympian, opens to the public. Draves grew up along Sixth Street.

Fought for SF’s first SoMa Youth & Family Special Use District (SUD), a 12-block area that recognizes and acknowledges the concentration of youth and families and encourage affordable housing, clinics, and grocery stores, open space, and recreational centers that are youth- and family-friendly

After years of community-led planning, the Youth and Family Special Use District passes as part of San Francisco’s Planning Code, designating an area of Eastern Neighborhood for land uses promoting their livelihood and quality of life.

Educated, organized and mobilized over a thousand SoMa voters around ballot measures that protect tenants, ensure that the rich pay their fair share, and other pro-people measures.

534-536 Natoma Stree

Before SOMCAN had its Tenant Rights program, tenants still come to us for help and we were approached by tenants from the building when it was up For Sale by their landlord. SOMCAN approached the SFCLT to purchase the 5-unit property that was at risk of Ellis Act eviction in January 2013 which we use the SoMa Stabilization Fund to help purchase.

Youth Organizing Home & Neighborhood Action is formed to cultivate the next generation of resident leaders. Free muni for youth and free city college. Land is Life summer internship program.

As part of the Jobs with Justice coalition, Focus groups, Formula Retail Workers Bill of Rights, On December 5, 2014, the Retail Workers Bill of Rights officially became law in San Francisco, 10 days after the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the ordinances for the second time.

Put public pressure on the owners of two rental buildings to sell them to the San Francisco Community Land Trust to prevent the evictions of long-time residents and keep the units affordable in perpetuity.

First-ever people-led lawsuit to challenge development 5M.

Ignite Open Mic, SoMa’s youth-led open-mic event, is established, drawing in hundreds of local youth and adult allies.

SoMa is designated as a “Filipino Cultural Heritage District” by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

The Kapitbahay Program is launched to increase tenant outreach and organizing efforts

In partnership with Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, published the "Speaking Up Speaking Out" report, a recommendation for the implementation of Filipino language access in San Francisco.

SOMCAN engaged over 500 residents of SOMA, whose ideas have influenced how City departments integrate community planning and design guidelines from seniors, adults, transitional age youth, children, and their families into SFMTA, Department of Planning, and Public Works projects. As a result, the Reclaiming Our Space (ROSe) program was established.

SOMCAN became a founding member of the Transit Justice Coalition, which advocates for fair improvements to the municipal transportation system.

YOHANA presented their findings to the Housing Environment and City Services committee, gaining full support and incorporating their campaign into the 2018-19 Budget and Policy Priorities. At the subsequent full Youth Commission hearing, they received unanimous support. This led to engagement with Supervisor Norman Yee, who invited YOHANA to present at a Board of Supervisors meeting on May 25, 2018, focusing on pedestrian safety under the Vision Zero initiative, which aims for zero pedestrian fatalities by 2024. 

SOMCAN fighting to preserve the first-ever building owned by a Filipino organization in North America, the Gran Oriente Filipino Hotel, in South Park as a community resource.

SOMCAN stands in full support of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) legislation that would allow qualified nonprofit organizations to more easily purchase multi-unit residential buildings in San Francisco.

"S/Heroes In Our Windows" was created as a mural honoring the leaders and legacies that contributed to the development of SOMA Pilipinas, the Filipino Cultural Heritage District. Located on the façade of the Bayanihan Community Center, facing Mission Street at the corner of Sixth Street, the mural features portraits of eight key figures, including organizers, artists, educators, historians, and local residents.

SOMCAN launched Kalusugan ng Bayan/Our Health, Our Community a three-year initiative developed to improve the well-being of Filipinos in San Francisco. This initiative is of, by, and for the people! We make sure to address the community’s chronic health issues such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, overweight/obesity, and improve built environment conditions that contribute to these.

 A community health assessment report titled “Our Health, Our Community: A Closer Look at Chronic Disease Among Filipinos in San Francisco” was conducted by SOMCAN in July 2020 among focus neighborhoods of SoMa, Tenderloin, and Excelsior to better understand chronic diseases among Filipinos in San Francisco.

 We Live Here, in partnership with FEC GALING BATA, features artwork by Mel Vera Cruz  The flashcards display the Filipino alphabet and the pre-colonial script, Baybayin. Vera Cruz’s colorful designs reflect the handwoven textiles of indigenous Filipino communities. This project honors the parents and teachers in the South of Market who provide vital linguistic and cultural support to empower youth.

400,000+ Muni riders did not receive fare increase due to SOMCAN’s Citywide Transit Justice: “No Fare Increase” campaign.

SOMCAN officially launch LILA* Women's Empowerment Group and open it for membership for all women in the community. SOMCAN aims to bring together women to solidify their collective strength to bring about substantive change in the community and to the socio-political systems in San Francisco.  LILA will focus on important issues that have been identified by the women themselves such as the pandemic, housing, workplace discrimination, safety in the streets, hate crimes, women's health and mental health.