Advocacy & Referral
While San Francisco is host to many nonprofits and other community-based agencies, there are still many barriers, whether language-related, cultural, or political, that come between the available services and the people that need them. For this reason, GUM places a high priority on developing relationship and partnership with outside organizations, as well as strengthening the social-service competencies of its staff, and the congregations we serve, in order to effectively advocate for individuals and refer (and often accompany) them to the appropriate agencies or congregation members with specific expertise. Such services and expertise include those related to domestic violence, immigration, land-lord tenant relations, public education, and employment.
From our latest newsletter…
Demitria Gallaread writes: “I am not a public speaker. But this past year, I have had the opportunity to work with GUM to develop a presentation on the city’s health programs, Healthy SF and SF Health Plan. I have given two presentations…at both events I inevitably experienced a turning stomach, a rapidly pounding heart…The feeling of inadequacy was not a dull pain but a jarring throb…”