Meal2Lead

San Francisco youth deserve more than survival.

animated depiction of children adventuring in Africa

Program available in

San Francisco, California

Meal2Lead is a one-year program for Black and Latino youth ages 14 to 24 in San Francisco’s hardest-hit neighborhoods, Bayview, Mission, and SoMa.

Through Mental Health, Education, Arts, and Leadership,
young people move from healing to learning to leading.

Two paths, one future

Every session begins with a shared meal. Around the table,
trust is built. From there, the journey unfolds.

Scholars

14-17 yr olds

A track that builds confidence, strengthens school success, and prepares them to step into
college ready to excel.

Fellows

18-24 yr olds

A track that equips young adults with leadership, communication, and cultural awareness to enter
jobs and civic life ready to thrive.

MLIFE opens our eyes to a to a broader perspective and teaches life changing lessons on gratitude, humility, and purpose.

Lazarus Tulali, MLIFE Scholar

Why It
Matters

Nearly 40% of all shootings involve youth under 25. Most of the people shot or arrested in gun cases are Black and Latino youth under 25. Black people make up just 5% of San Francisco’s population, and Latinos 15%. Yet together, they account for 61% of homicides in the city.

These numbers are staggering, but they are not the whole story. Behind every number is a young person who can reclaim their future.

Healing

January – March

Youth find belonging in circles of care, learning emotional resilience, and connecting with their ancestry.

Learning

April – June

They master our Afrocentric 4Cs curriculum—reading critically, thinking creatively, writing clearly, speaking confidently.

Expression

July – September

Through music, poetry, and art, they turn pain into creativity and vision.

Leadership

October – December

As Youth Ambassadors Representing Africa (YARA), they present their growth to families and the community, taking a step into leadership.

A Year of Transformation

Healing

January - March

Learning

April - June

Expression

July - September

Leadership

October - December

Youth find belonging in circles of care, learning emotional resilience, and connecting with their ancestry.
They master our Afrocentric 4Cs curriculum—reading critically, thinking creatively, writing clearly, speaking confidently.
Through music, poetry, and art, they turn pain into creativity and vision.
As Youth Ambassadors Representing Africa (YARA), they present their growth to families and the community, taking a step into leadership.

The Journey to Kenya

Upon completing the year, youth are invited to embark on a life-changing experience: a 10-day trip to Kenya. They walk Nairobi’s bustling streets, witness the great migration in the Maasai Mara, and visit historic sites in Mombasa.

Youth also meet peers and leaders who show them Africa not as a stereotype, but as a heritage, an opportunity, and a future. For many, this is their first time leaving San Francisco. For all, it is a return to roots and a reminder that they belong to a global story.

Are you a Black and/or Latino youth ages 14 to 24 in San Francisco?

Become one of us

We make it easy for you to make a difference. Add your name to our growing list of leaders making change.

Meal2Lead

Meal2Lead creates a path from trauma to leadership, rooted in community and culture.

Two paths, one future

Scholars

Fellows

MLIFE opens our eyes to a to a broader perspective and teaches life changing lessons on gratitude, humility, and purpose.

Why It Matters

Healing

Learning

Expression

Leadership

A Year of Transformation

Healing

Learning

Expression

Leadership

The Journey to Kenya

Become one of us

Why It
Matters