Felton Institute’s Senior Services helps older adults flourish in their communities with dignity and security. Our Visitacion Valley programs (66 Raymond Community Services & Visitacion Valley Senior Health & Wellness) provide health and wellness activities, community engagement, and advocacy to reduce social isolation of older adults in the southeast sector of San Francisco. Understanding the value of community engagement, Felton Institute partner’s with Visitacion Valley Community Unity (VVCU), a coalition of Visitacion Valley’s residents, groups and organizations who work together to change social policy, increase educational standards, improve financial opportunities, and more. “Our mechanism is to bring people together from various groups to share information with them, find solutions, and help them bring those solutions to the decision makers,” VVCU member Pastor Robert Cowan explained.
VVCU brings people together to create equitable outcomes. Visitacion Valley is home to immigrants and a POC community, historically under-represented and under-resourced populations. “Our mission,” Pastor Cowan said, “is to bring voice to people who have been ignored in this area of the city and to help them shape their voice and say what they want to say.” Felton’s Visitacion Valley Programs Director Edith Yamanoha, who sits on the Board of VVCU explained, “they bring stakeholders together and connect residents with city departments such as DPW, SFPD, DPH, MOHCD, OEWD through town halls,” adding “working together is collectively beneficial to the community.”
Felton’s partnership with VVCU supports community endeavors and uplifts community members. Ms. Yamanoha shared, “Our partnership enables Felton to deepen our relationship with residents and grow together by striving toward a common goal of serving the Visitacion Valley community.” Pastor Cowan said of the partnership, “Felton comes through with a lot of great ideas and a lot of experience and great perspective in terms of helping to create that voice for the city.”
To learn more about our programs for older adults in Visitation Valley, visit our 66 Raymond Community Services and Visitacion Valley Senior Health & Wellness program pages.
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.