Home - Coleman Advocates

support the next generation of changemakers.

Our Mission

Since 1975, Coleman Advocates has partnered with San Francisco families through grassroots organizing to improve public schools, strengthen community safety, and shape public policy for children and youth. With a dedicated focus on leadership development in communities of color, we believe that preventing adverse outcomes is the key to transforming our future. Coleman unifies communities to have an influential voice in the decisions shaping our city.

Create Systemic Change

Updates

Coleman Advocates Statement On SFUSD Redlining

"Equity requires more than a new map. It requires addressing the unequal conditions that made the map necessary in the first place." -Rachel Jones, Youth Justice Director Coleman Advocates

October 8, 2026

Stories

Our Current Work

We are dedicated to empowering children, youth, and families to create lasting, positive change in our communities.

Founded in 1975, Coleman Advocates has a proud history of victories that have improved the lives of tens of thousands of low-income children in San Francisco.

From the Children’s Amendment to the Children & Families First Initiative (Prop C), our member-led campaigns have secured over $125 million in annual funding for education and children’s programs.

Our programs empower community-led systemic change.

Demanding SFUSD to pause its push to close, merge, and co-locate schools

SFUSD has implemented an inequitable and untransparent process for deciding when, why, and what schools will be closed in the 25-26 school year.

We are advocating for a Pause on the Process until a more equitable and transparent plan is created. Our Black and Brown students and families are at the most risk for harm if their schools are on the line. When families lose their neighborhood schools, they lose an important community.

Bringing Black Family and Youth Leadership to the Front

Our Black families are the most knowledgeable in their experiences and the most impacted by systemic racism. Our youth are our future and have tremendous potential. Investing in their leadership development and abilities can create an equitable San Francisco for everyone.

Advancing Educational Equity through Holding SFUSD and CCSF Accountable to Students and Families

Our members have spearheaded impactful campaigns for resolutions that have created ripples statewide for closing the achievement gap and ending the school-to-prison pipeline. The passing of AB705 and AB 1705 has made access to transfer-level courses easier for our Black and Brown community college students.

Organizing San Francisco's Black, Latinx, Pacific Islander & Indigenous families for health and racial equity

We advocate for policies that uplift our members and create bridges to healthy, successful lives. Residents of Bayview-Hunters Point face severe health challenges due to environmental racism, including higher rates of asthma and other chronic health conditions. This area suffers from longstanding pollution issues that exacerbate these health problems.

Increase Civic Engagement in Black, Brown, First-Time Young Voters

Our civic engagement efforts include door-knocking, phone banking, and tabling outreach in SF’s District 10 and 11 neighborhoods. As founding members of the Immigrant Parent Coalition, we strive to ensure that our members’ voices are heard in their student’s education through their right to vote.

Dismantling Policing, Criminalization & Pushout of Black & Brown Students in San Francisco

Our members have led the closure of juvenile halls in San Francisco, and have advocated for restorative practices in their schools that mitigate the rate at which students are suspended or sent out of class.

creating student success

The rate of chronic absenteeism surged among African American and Pacific Islander students, reaching 45% and 47%, respectively, up from 38% and 34% the previous year.

When Coleman Advocates is present, our youth feel empowered to show up to and participate in schools.