Barry Newstead, Joe Doctor, and Don Howard

The neighborhoods of southeastern San Francisco have long been islands of poverty, largely hidden in an otherwise affluent city. Periodic efforts to address the challenges their residents face all have failed to create lasting change. Now, an influx of investment in the area represents a huge opportunity – and a huge challenge. Will current residents benefit, or will they be pushed aside by the market forces of economic redevelopment?

San Francisco’s leadership recognized that revitalizing these neighborhoods would take collaboration among a diverse group of stakeholders: city agencies, private philanthropy, community-based organizations, and the residents themselves. And so in 2005 the “Communities of Opportunity” initiative was born, led by the City and supported by all other stakeholders. They joined with the Bridgespan Group to develop clear goals, a strategy for change, and an approach for working together. The result: a highly collaborative plan for flooding the neighborhoods with opportunities for residents, jumpstarted by quick wins, and implemented in a way that balanced the desire for clear direction and the need to incorporate real-time learning along the way.

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