Kai Frazier

Community, Both Sides Of The Conversation is writing to express our deep concern about the recent funding cuts and media narrative affecting the Dream Keeper Initiative (DKI) and the broader implications these cuts have on Black community organizations and leaders in San Francisco. The Dream Keeper Initiative was created to address systemic inequities and provide essential support to Black communities throughout the city. Over the past four years, DKI has successfully funded organizations that work toward economic empowerment, health equity, educational access, and social justice for Black residents. However, despite the positive outcomes of this work, we are seeing an alarming trend of misrepresentation, criticisms, and targeted attacks aimed at undermining the initiative and those who support it. It’s deeply concerning to see Black community leaders and elected officials, who tirelessly work to uplift and support Black residents, being targeted and undermined. Instead of acknowledging their dedication to justice and equity, they are facing criticisms that foster division and erode trust within the community. The media has played a significant role in perpetuating this cycle by publishing misleading and inaccurate information about DKI and its supporters, often failing to correct these inaccuracies even when presented with facts. This lack of accountability has amplified the harm, spreading misinformation that fractures the community and weakens the crucial work being done to support Black San Franciscans. Rather than celebrating DKI’s accomplishments, recent narratives have distorted the initiative's impact and fueled funding cuts that threaten the future of Black organizations and the communities they serve, stifling the progress and support systems that have been built. As outlined in the 2020 resolution, anti-Black racism is a public health crisis, and the structural barriers that Black San Franciscans face remain deeply rooted in healthcare, housing, education, and the justice system. Black residents continue to experience disproportionate rates of poor health outcomes, lower life expectancy, and economic insecurity. The Dream Keeper Initiative was designed to address these inequities, but the recent cuts and harmful narratives hinder the progress it was meant to foster. These attacks on DKI, Black community organizations, leaders, and elected officials are not just harmful to Black organizations but to the entire San Francisco community. They undo the progress made in uplifting the Black community and advancing equity across the city. We must not allow misinformation and criticisms to jeopardize the resources and leadership that are critical for our community’s growth and resilience. We call on the City of San Francisco to take a stand against these funding cuts and to reaffirm its commitment to racial equity by continuing to support the Dream Keeper Initiative, Black community organizations, and the leaders who champion these causes.