Our children and youth have faced significant setbacks—emotionally, socially, and academically—due to school closures, forced digital learning, restrictive health policies, and the post-pandemic problems. Latino youth are more vulnerable to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, with only 36% accessing mental health services compared to over 50% of white peers, often due to cultural and socio-economic barriers.

Our group of moms has raised concerns with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), but we have been consistently ignored and excluded from the decision-making process. It has become clear that both parents and children are being left out of the SF educational system.

In response to SFUSD’s failure to provide a safe and effective learning environment, the Latina mothers who are part of IntegrArte SF decided to act. Through our combined efforts, we’ve provided vital outdoor educational activities, such as:

• Workshops: Clay and Science 

• Classes: Art and Physics 

• Field trips: Russian river trips, farm visits, and summer camps

• Social gatherings: Dia de los Muertos Altars, Las Posadas, and Raymis Andean Celebrations

• Support the well-being and mental health of our children: Outdoors, Gardening, Permaculture, and Convivios.

With your generous support, we will be able to:

• Restart our music program, Ritmo y Tradición, to provide cultural education and creative expression.

• Secure a permanent space where we can host workshops, tutoring, and community events that provide academic and emotional enrichment.

• Launch our permaculture project, teaching children about the importance of growing their own food and reconnecting with nature.

How Your Donation Will Be Used

• Purchase necessary equipment for music and arts programs.

• Rent space for our workshops and programs.

• Buy native plants, seeds, and gardening tools to expand our Healing & Learning Garden.

• Fund parent workshops, educational support, professional development, and leadership training for youth and moms.