I Am Black History
To celebrate Black History Month, we’re showcasing a ‘Wall of Quotes’ at our East Bay headquarters in Alameda! Felton staff sent us a collection of inspirational, funny, and touching quotes from Black leaders, family, friends, mentors, and themselves.
“Teamwork makes the dream work.”
“Each one teach one.”
“We grow better together.”
— Wilona Harrel
Chef, Mother Brown’s Kitchen
Felton Institute’s Bayview Programs
“History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.”
— Michelle Obama
First African-American First Lady of the United States.
Submitted by Jaimee Alonzo, HR Project Manager.
“Institutionalized rejection of difference is an absolute necessity in a profit economy which needs outsiders as surplus people. As members of such an economy, we have all been programmed to respond to the human differences between us with fear and loathing and to handle that difference in one of three ways: ignore it, and if that is not possible, copy it if we think it is dominant, or destroy it if we think it is subordinate. But we have not patterns for relating across our human differences as equals. As a result, those differences have been misnamed and misused in the service of separation and confusion.”
— Audre Lorde
Self-described “black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet” who dedicated her life and talents to confronting all forms of injustice.
Submitted by Joseph Nolan, Lead Case Manager, Flexible Subsidy Housing Program.
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
— Dr. Mae Carol Jemison
The first African-American female astronaut (NASA).
Submitted by Robyn Miller, STARR Program Manager.
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”
— Angela Yvonne Davis
Submitted by Nita Kirby, Development Director.
“‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ Until you change your thinking, you will always recycle your experience!”
— Dr. E. N. Crawford
Senior Pastor at Praises of Zion Baptist Church.
Submitted by Ellaynna Benson, Lead Case Manager, APSCM
“Soy porque somos.”
— Francia Márquez
Colombian human rights and environmental activist who is also the first Afro-Colombian vice president.
Submitted by Andres Cepeda, Child Development & Parenting Specialist, CYFTAY.
“Until the philosophy that holds one man superior and another inferior is finally, and permanently discredited and abandoned everywhere is war.”
— Robert Nesta Marley, aka Bob Marley
Jamaican pioneer in reggae music, a guitarist, and songwriter.
Submitted by Dr. Michelle Clark, Medical Director, Justice Division.
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Submitted by Nicole Verduzco, Project Manager, Communications Department.
“When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.”
— Ava Marie DuVernay
Filmmaker and Culture-Shifter.
Submitted by Cathy Purcell, Case Manager, APSCM.
“When you educate a man, you educate a person. When you educate a woman, you educate a Nation.”
— Fante’ tribe in Africa
Submitted by Mona Blake, Program Director, SMI and M2M.
“Why can’t we all just get along?”
— Based on a quote from Rodney King
Submitted by Ugo Baldassari, Job Developer, Back 2 Work Program.
“You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”
— Malcolm X
Submitted by Eleanor Lee, Program Director, APSCM.
“We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society.”
— Angela Davis
Submitted by Cathy Purcell, Case Manager, APSCM.
Felton Institute responds to the needs of our community by providing innovative, evidence-informed social services to transform lives. Our organization offers 50+ programs that address mental health, the unhoused, early care and education, those impacted by the justice system, transitional age youth, as well as aging adults. Our award-winning programs, which have been recognized as national models, combine the latest scientific research with cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to supporting and reflecting the communities we serve.
Founded in 1889, Felton is the oldest secular non-profit social services provider in the City and County of San Francisco. We have expanded our services across most Bay Area counties and continue to be at the forefront of pioneering new approaches to meet the emerging needs of underserved populations.
We know what it looks like to successfully build community.
We foster impactful change by strengthening the community as a premiere service provider. We also strengthen other service providers by supporting them in their fiscal, human resources, communications, IT and overall agency operations. With Felton’s support, they are able to focus on providing the best services to their clients, doing the work they were meant to do.
Felton empowers the community and ensures successful outcomes to all we engage with.
Felton Institute is a tax-exempt organization registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 94-1156530.