◈ Homepage — https://www.somosmayfair.org/Home About Us About Us Our Team Board Of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In The News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias A La Vida Community Resources DONATE SOMOS MAYFAIR Who We Are SOMOS Mayfair builds community power in East San José through leadership development and by organizing around resident-led solutions. Our mission is to support children, organize families, and connect neighbors to uplift the dreams, power, and leadership of community and address systemic inequities. Our vision is a thriving Mayfair. READ OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLATFORM What We Do We are working toward a vision where everyone is able to build their leadership capacity to ensure families have access to everything, including resources and opportunities to strengthen our community (Todo Para Todos). Believing all individuals have the agency, potential, and voice to shift power from institutions back into the hands of the community, we uplift the very people most affected by disparities to take action, to create meaningful connections with their peers, and to make an impact in Mayfair that supports their families’ immediate needs and future prosperity. We build community power through… Community Organizing Leadership Development Early Education Economic Opportunity Recent Wins Click the thumbnail to view our latest Annual Report! Since our founding in 1997, Somos Mayfair has been a community-led movement bringing hope and opportunity to our neighborhood. Some of our proudest achievements include: Building a network of more than 200 resident leaders trained to be community organizers, leaders, and advocates Providing over 1,600 parents and young children the resources and community they need to thrive at our Family Resource Centers Collaborating with partners to win the development of Quetzal Gardens- a new project making affordable apartments available to residents Securing $1.2M for translation services within our public schools Championing a local preference policy to protect residents from displacement View fullsize Where We Work Mayfair is a vibrant and historical neighborhood that has a huge legacy of social services, community organizing, and social justice movements. Mayfair was home to the renowned labor leader Cesar Chavez and a birthplace for the Mexican-American civil rights movement. Today, the Mayfair neighborhood is a working class, cultural hub drawing first- and second-generation immigrants from Latin American and Asian countries. Mayfair is both a community of transitions and new beginnings, where immigrants come and families settle to pursue their dreams. “What happened at Mayfair is more than anyone could have imagined. It is a reaffirmation of the resiliency of poor people and the depths of what they are capable of. Mayfair has given the larger world an understanding of people who had been seen as irrelevant, ignored; this was the invisible community that did not have a great deal of value put on it. But given support, given a belief in their capacity, they could create change.” — THE HONORABLE BLANCA ALVARADO Dilza’s Story Olivia’s Story SOMOS Mayfair Family Resource Centers (FRCs) FRC @ Quetzal Gardens (408) 834-8899 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 SOMOS FRC @ Early Learning Site (408) 928-7271 2000 Kammerer Ave, Room 20, San José, CA 95116 FRC @ Hubbard Media Arts Academy (408) 593-5454 1680 Foley Ave, Room H-2, San Jose, CA 95116 Home | About Us | Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. SIGN UP English ◈ Interior Pages — 20 pages crawledEarly Learning — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Early Learning   Our Family Resource Centers Our Early Learning programming focuses on engaging the whole family to ensure school readiness. We empower both caregivers and children to build strong family and community relationships and focus on educating and organizing families to advocate and create more equitable and just systems that are representative of our community. We operate Family Resource Centers (FRCs) as part of our strategy to create alternative systems that move families from isolation to connection, provide culturally-relevant programming and resources, celebrate our community’s language and traditions, and serve as a hub for community organizing, political education, leadership development, and root cause analysis. Family Workshops: We have a variety of bilingual parenting and youth workshops throughout the year at our Family Resource Centers with focuses on literacy, school readiness, child development, finances, healthy habits, positive discipline, etc. Workshops are typically 10-12 weeks. Adults participate in workshops while their children (Ages 6 mos-12 yrs) take part in relevant, enriching programming through La Escuelita. These FRCs are accessible, safe and free of cost.     Location: 2000 Kammerer Ave, Room #20, San Jose, CA 95116 Contact: Maria Martinez at (408) 593-5961 or [email protected] Serving ARUSD families at: Aptitud, Adelante II, Arbuckle, Chavez, LUCHA, Matthson Middle, Renaissance, San Antonio     Location: 500 Rough & Ready Rd, Room 10, San Jose CA, 95133  Contact: Brenda Garcia at (408) 593-5454 or [email protected]. Serving ARUSD families at: McCollum, Painter, Russo/McEntee, Sheppard Middle Location: 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San Jose, CA 95116 Contact: Maria Martinez at (408) 593-5961 or [email protected].   La Escuelita For children 0-10 La Escuelita exposes children to literacy and early learning development and offers materials and curricula for each stage of child development. Our trained Maestras also facilitate activities that stimulate growth in all areas of students’ physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Programs: Bebe y Yo (6-18 months): Creates a support system for babies’ development and a place for parents to socialize. Jardin de Niños (8-10 years): Focuses in the inclusion and special needs of each kid based on studies and strategies to meet their needs. Story Time Chavez & Painter : Builds the habit of reading, bilingual language learning, imagination, concentration, attention, vocabulary and feeds the kids’ curiosity. Co-Op Preschool Ben Painter (3-4 years) : The Painter Co-Op is a no-cost preschool for families who do not qualify for State or Federal-funded preschool. It is designed for families who want to get involved in their student's classroom as part of the teaching team. This is a partnership with First 5 Santa Clara County, County of Santa Clara, Think Together and Ben Painter Elementary School. Parent Child+ For children ages 1.5-3 ParentChild+   supports families with young children living in the Alum Rock School District in accessing a path to possibility. Highly trained, community-based early learning specialists (ELSs) conduct home visits with families to model reading, conversation, and play activities to support school readiness and child development education. key Partners     Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Financials — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Financials     SOMOS Mayfair is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that takes pride in our financial stability and transparency. Our Taxpayer ID is #77-0499813 IRS Determination Letter   IRS Form 990 SOMOS 990 - FY24 SOMOS 990 - FY23 SOMOS 990 - FY22 SOMOS 990 - FY21 SOMOS 990 - FY20 SOMOS 990 - FY19 SOMOS 990 - FY18 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SOMOS Audit - FY24 SOMOS Audit - FY23 SOMOS Audit - FY22 SOMOS Audit - FY21 SOMOS Audit - FY20 SOMOS Audit - FY19 SOMOS Audit - FY18       Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Our Board — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Our Board   Fernanda Perdomo-Arciniegas - Vice Chair City of Sunnyvale Joseph Zullo - Treasurer PwC Jacqueline Franco East San José PEACE Co-Chair, Promotora Jahmal Williams San José State University Claudia tercero San José State University Jeremy Madsen Built It Green Allie hughes Government Affairs Associate for Canyon Snow Consulting, LLC, Lizeth Sanchez Kitchen and Home Solutions John Sanchez SV2 Member, Retired Anaïs Broer U.S. Bank Veronica Amador - Secretary Sacred Heart Community Service Cayce Hill Santa Clara County       Contact Our Board To reach the SOMOS board, please contact [email protected] . Become a Board Member If you’re interested in joining SOMOS Mayfair’s Board of Directors, please reach out to [email protected] .   Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Annual Reports — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Annual Reports FY22 Annual Report FY21 Annual report FY20 Annual Report FY19 Annual Report FY18 Annual Report Fy17 Annual Report   Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! in the news — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE in the news In the News   Media Contact: Fernando Rivera (408) 910-9895 | [email protected] HOUSE POOR: How price hikes hurt the most vulnerable by Julia Prodis Sulek & Kaitlyn Bartley San Jose Mercury News December 8, 2019   Featured Story Underserved Kids, Families get boost at East San Jose Early Learning center By Shawn Chitnis CBS Bay Area September 7, 2023 SOMOS Mayfair’s La Escuelita fills need for child care in East San Jose By Yunery Ramon Reyes The Mercury News June 29, 2023 Silicon Valley school board races focus on mental health, drugs By Loan-Anh Pham San Jose Spotlight October 24, 2022 Protecting our neighbors’ homes will keep Bay Area diverse By Jesse Arreguin, Keith Carson and Peter Ortiz The Mercury News April 15, 2023 San Jose Schools Prioritize student wellness over cops by Loan-Anh Pham San Jose Spotlight February 17, 2023 San Jose School district still weighs cops on campus by Loan-Anh Pham San Jose Spotlight December 19, 2022 San Jose Renters Rally for more rights by Tran Nguyen San Jose Spotlight January 11, 2023 New Laws Coming from Silicon Valley Lawmakers by Loan-Anh Pham San Jose Spotlight October 3, 2022 Bringing COPA to the Community by Heather Bromfield The Bay’s Future October 10, 2022 Este de San José: 71 familias de bajos ingresos obtienen una vivienda en el este de San José Telemundo 48 June 29, 2022 San Jose gives more fee breaks to commercial developers by Jana Kadah San Jose Spotlight March 29, 2022 San Jose renters call for affordable housing and eviction protections Univision March 29, 2022 Should noncitizens vote in San Jose elections? Officials vote to study charter change by Lauren Hernández San Francisco Chronicle January 11, 2022 San Jose Councilmembers Seek To Extend Voting Rights To Noncitizens by Tran Nguyen San Jose Spotlight / SF Gate January 11, 2022 Should renters get first dibs in Bay Area real estate deals? by Marisa Kendall San Jose Mercury News December 21, 2021 Belonging in the Bay: Camille Llanes-Fontanilla by Alicia John-Baptiste KALW Public Media November 4, 2021 Why East San José Residents Are Calling for Action by Natalia Ospina Natural Resources Defense Council August 13, 2021 Downtown West sets new standard for addressing displacement and community voice Op-ed by Camile Llanes-Fontanilla, et al San Jose Spotlight May 25, 2021 Undercount May Explain Lag in Latino Vaccinations in the County by Damian Trujillo NBC Bay Area May 17, 2021 SJ Approves Commission Funding to Grow Governance Outreach by Jana Kadah, Bay City News San Jose Inside April 29, 2021 Activists Work to Get More Vaccinated in South Bay's Hard-Hit Latino Community by Damian Trujillo NBC Bay Area April 22, 2021 San Jose Pays Tribute To Filipino Farmworkers With Delano Manongs Park by Christina M. Oriel Asian Journal April 15, 2021 San Jose explores policy allowing nonprofits to purchase affordable housing by Lloyd Alaban San Jose Spotlight March 31, 2021 Trusted Leaders Are Fighting COVID-19 Vaccine Fears in Black and Latino Communities by Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí KQED February 22, 2021 How lawmakers plan to make East San Jose safer for cyclists and pedestrians by Carly Wipf San Jose Spotlight January 30, 2021 East San Jose’s political power is rising — a movement years in the making by Lorraine Gabbert San Jose Spotlight January 4, 2021 Alum Rock begins search for new trustee, again by Madelyn Reese San Jose Spotlight December 18, 2020 Local Leaders Take Charge in San Jose by Lauren Hernández San Francisco Chronicle December 15, 2020 South Bay Latinx community starts push for immigration reform in Biden Admin by Lorraine Gabbert San Jose Spotlight November 19, 2020 Latinx advocates urge incoming Admin immigration reform by Omar Perez KRON Channel 4 November 13, 2020 Future of San Jose airport back on the drawing board by Madelyn Reese San Jose Spotlight November 13, 2020 Bay Area voters turn out on Election Day though many ballots already turned in by John Woolfolk, George Kelly, Louis Hansen The Mercury News November 3, 2020 Census Workers Push on in Santa Clara County Despite Challenges by Lorraine Gabbert San Jose Spotlight September 22, 2020 Santa Clara County to hire 50 contact tracers from hardest-hit communities by Mauricio la Plante San Jose Spotlight September 16, 2020 Influential commission to guide SJ development finally gets citywide representation by Maggie Angst The Mercury News June 30, 2020 Silicon Valley orgs fill gaps for prevention by Katie Lauer San Jose Spotlight June 5, 2020 Distribuyen pañales a familias impactadas por el coronavirus en SJ by Damian Trujillp Telemundo 48 April 27, 2020 Fears, misinformation spreads in SJ over police enforcement of orders by Nadia Lopez San Jose Spotlight March 25, 2020 Organizing From the Heart Varrio Voices March 17, 2020 Report: Minorities in SCC are overrepresented in homeless population by David Alexander San Jose Spotlight February 18. 2020 Bay Area partnership to exceed $500m goal Times-Herald February 4, 2020 How Census officials are reaching SJ’s hard-to-count neighborhoods by Adam F. Hutton San Jose Spotlight January 13, 2020 Citywide Anti-Displacement Strategy by City of San Jose January 2020 New report paints a bleak picture of displacement in SJ by Katie Lauer San Jose Spotlight January 19, 2020 South Bay Parents Protest Alum Rock School District 'Bad Governance' by Len Ramirez CBS San Francisco December 12, 2019 ‘Posada’ asks for solutions to the housing crisis in San José by Maria Antonieta Mejia Univision December 5, 2019 S an Jose City Council Mulls Changes to Ellis Act Ordinance by Grace Hase San Jose Spotlight November 4, 2019 Production vs. preservation: San Jose leaders split on anti-displacement by Nadia Lopez San Jose Spotlight October 2, 2019 After a hard battle, East San Jose wins a seat on the planning commission by Nadia Lopez San Jose Spotlight October 1, 2019 Alex Padilla joins Santa Clara County leaders to tackle voter suppression by Katie Lauer San Jose Spotlight September 27, 2019 East Side leaders call for more equity on powerful panel by Nadia Lopez San Jose Spotlight September 26, 2019 One City’s Inspiring Approach to Connecting the Generations by Aanchal Dhar Gen2Gen September 18, 2019 The Eastside Fights Back by Demone Carter San Jose Spotlight September 6, 2019 2020 census citizenship debate erodes trust in Santa Clara County by Nadia Lopez San Jose Spotlight July 15, 2019 Bitter divide in San Jose over how to approach rise in juvenile crime by Emily DeRuy San Jose Mercury News April 26, 2019 Following outcry, major changes coming to San Jose Planning Commission by Ramona Giwargis & Grace Hase San Jose Spotlight April 18, 2019 Unshackle Measure A by Gilroy Dispatch Staff Gilroy Dispatch April 4, 2019 As Bay Area residents struggle with housing, so do the people who help them by Marisa Kendall Times-Herald February 21, 2019 Embattled Alum Rock Union School District selects new trustee by Carina Woudenberg San Jose Spotlight February 7, 2019 East San Jose Residents Urge Santa Clara County Supervisors to Close Reid-Hillview Airport by Sabreen Kadhim San Jose Inside December 5, 2018 Partners in Philanthropy Silicon Valley Business Journal November 9, 2018 SJ “March on the Polls” event targets disenfranchised voters by Ann Rubin KTVU Channel 2 November 2, 2018 Public Health Department, FIRST 5, Announce “Cut the Sugar” Campaign by Sentinel News SOMOS Fuertes — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE SOMOS Fuertes We are reimagining what work can look like in East San Jose and cultivating true wellbeing for workers, our families, and our communities. We organize and support the leadership of excluded workers, promotores, and worker-owned cooperatives to radically expand access to just, dignified, healthy, democratic, sustainable, and cooperative work. The mission of SOMOS Fuertes  is to bring civic-minded institutions closer to their stakeholders, with insight and knowledge on issues and trends, through the engagement of community members via trusted relationships with  Promotores .  We believe that when institutions and community come together to work on an equal playing field founded on deep respect, change can be monumental .  Our vision is to create a vibrant network of well-trained, highly-skilled Promotores  across the South Bay that increase access to economic opportunity for the workers, and serves as a bridge between institutions and local people supporting the transformation of communities.     Promotores SOMOS Promotores carry out community engagement, education, and organizing projects in East San Jose that advance community wellbeing and justice. These initiatives provide Promotores access to well-paid and dignified work where they apply their skills and experience and support partner institutions to respond to real neighborhood needs. Economic Justice TEJER, East San Jose’s excluded workers committee, trains and organizes community members to advocate for economic justice, including expanding investment in worker-owned cooperatives. Professional Development We offer radically inclusive and accessible professional development for workers who are often excluded from these spaces. These opportunities include workshops, tools, learning exchanges, accompaniment, referrals, and other forms of support. Co-Op Hub Together with Latino Business Foundation, Excite Credit Union, and other partners, we’re building a Co-op Hub at Quetzal Gardens where excluded workers receive support to start and sustain co-ops that benefit our communities. We offer technical assistance, financial services, leadership development, and opportunities for co-ops to connect and organize with each other. How does SOMOS Fuertes work? Fuertes is a program of SOMOS Mayfair, providing clients with coaching, consulting and placement of Promotores (peer educators) for community engagement to improve organizational capacity. The program utilizes a mix of leadership development tools and hands-on training to both the workers and clients. Those hired through the Network are provided professional development opportunities. Fuertes places well-trained, highly-skilled, certified community workers/peer educators in community projects. Promoters in the network are paid at a living wage-level ($20+/hour) Learn More About Co-ops!           Interested in working with SOMOS Fuertes? Let us know!       Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Strategic Plan — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Strategic Plan   SOMOS Mayfair’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan represents our collective vision and focus areas for the next 5 years as we work to build power in our neighborhood. Our In Our Hands campaign , spanning the last decade, brought our Promotor model, our commitment to popular education, and a wealth of community-driven projects that blossomed in our neighborhood. Today we expand on this work with a sharper analysis of the larger racial and economic systems at play and a deep leadership base trained and ready to fight back. Now that we’ve learned to harness our power, we are positioned to Build Our Home as a place where we will organize, heal, laugh, learn and build together for generations to come. The plan is laid out as a set of strategic goals and milestones that were co-created over a 10-month process with staff, community, Board and partner input. It grounds us in our core organizational competencies, responds to the real needs of our community, and looks forward towards our vision of a more vibrant East San José .   Strategic Goal 1 · Strategic Goal 1 · Strategic Goal 1 · La vivienda es un derecho humano, hagámoslo realidad People of Mayfair and the Eastside have access to affordable and dignified housing. Our communities and neighborhoods are thriving because people can stay in their homes, collectively control the places they live, and continue to nurture their roots and traditions. Milestones · We’ve launched alternative community-controlled housing projects in East San José, by responsibly stewarding the land and taking properties off the speculative market, to care for living systems and our health. · There is a robust and thriving preservation ecosystem in East San José including strong partnerships · We’ve passed policies that fight displacement · Tenants are organized · We’ve shifted culture and public narrative through popular education to establish community-owned properties as a proven solution · Community and partner education, including environmental justice and land stewardship · Within our Collective, we’ve shifted our understanding and see housing as a basic human right Strategic Goal 2 · Strategic Goal 2 · Strategic Goal 2 · Gobernanza comunitaria en acción SOMOS is governed by our Collective and we have strong decision-making practices. We have personal and community autonomy on the issues that affect us to get solutions that our community needs to protect current and future generations. Milestones · We have clarity on who is a part of the SOMOS Collective, and what it means to belong and tied to our governance · We have clear decision-making structures and processes in SOMOS and we utilize them for decision-making · We continue exploring different electoral governance strategies and our organizational infrastructure needs · Our Collective is represented in external decision-making spaces on our issues · We have strong political education spaces and partnerships that center community to take part in governance Strategic Goal 3 · Strategic Goal 3 · Strategic Goal 3 · Un hogar de líderazgo We strengthen our Collective’s compañerismo and we deepen and sustain many forms of leadership, rooted in our commitment to justice for our communities. Milestones · We prioritize and practice our leadership model across the organization with consistency and rigor · Build deep networks of relationships with our base in East San José · We have a robust youth leadership base that is active in integrated into our model · We have a thriving community learning institute (UPM). Our Collective (including, staff, community, and our Board) can teach and learn what we want together and are engaged in ongoing learning · We have the tools, training, information, and practices to thrive in our different leadership roles · People feel a sense of belonging and that SOMOS is their political home Strategic Goal 4 · Strategic Goal 4 · Strategic Goal 4 · Justicia económica y bienestar comunitario para nuestra gente. We exercise our human rights by strengthening hubs as sites of community-led collective wellness, redistribution of resources, and advocacy for dignified and sustainable work. Milestones · Our Family Resource Centers are sites for the community-driven reclamation and redistribution of resources, where communities have access to the resources they need · We have a unifying vision for our FRC’s that embodies our unique approach · We have a vision of economic justice as SOMOS and we foster and steward a collaborative of economic justice partners in alignment with that vision · We’ve shifted the local landscape through worker-led advocacy to expand access to just, dignified, healthy, sustainable work and resources for excluded workers in East San José · We’ve shifted culture and public narrative through popular education to advance our economic justice points of unity · East San José is a cooperative hub with an ecosystem that supports and sustains different kinds of cooperatives. Strategic Goal 5 · Strategic Goal 5 · Strategic Goal 5 · SOMOS como sistema alternativo We strengthen our internal practices and policies to honor our SOMOS cultural identity and worldview to continue disrupting white supremacy and challenging systems of oppression. We use our strength as a convener to challenge systems and nurture a local regenerative ecosystem. Milestones · We have a shared culture at SOMOS and reclaim old and cultivate new SOMOS traditions to celebrate and honor our values · There is alignment between our administrative teams and our programmatic teams · SOMOS’ structures, practices and culture supports and sustains our SOMOS model and facilitates our collective wellbeing and impact · We center our most vulnerable folks in our policies and practices and continue uprooting white supremacy · Our Collective members are centered and we’ve removed barriers to access to work and leadership opportunities through or within SOMOS · We use our power and influence as a convener to steward a vision that is community centered and promotes the common good. We are a leader in collaboratives that are committed to a thriving Mayfair · We implement a community-centric resource development strategy that influences funding institutions and individuals to create deeper alignment with our vision   Check out the full strategic plan here! el plan estratégico completo en español Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! contact us — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE contact us Contact Us For media inquiries, please contact Raylene hernandez at [email protected]   Our Family Resource Centers (FRC’s)   SOMOS Frc @ Quetzal Gardens 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10 San José, CA, 95116 United States Phone : 408-834-8899 Fax : 408-649-6276 SOMOS frc @ Chavez Elementary 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 2000 Kammerer Avenue, Room 20 San José, CA, 95116 United States Phone : 408-928-7271 SOMOS frc @ Hubbard 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 1680 Foley Avenue, Room H-2, San José, CA, 95122 United States Phone : 408-593-5454 How Can We Help You? Find Us On Social Media Stay in touch! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates on what’s new in Mayfair. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up We respect your privacy and will not share this information. Thank you! Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! MACSA — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE MACSA   macsa UPDATE On August 29, 2025, MACSA, a space that has held our community’s stories, culture, and strength for generations, was engulfed in flames. For so many of us, this building was more than just bricks and mortar. It stood as a powerful symbol of resilience, hope, and home. A true East Side San José landmark. To lose it this way is deeply heartbreaking. Although we are saddened by the fire at MACSA, we are grounded in gratitude for the ways our community has shown up. From gathering for a vigil to raising our voices at the emergency Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) Board meeting, you have made it clear: MACSA matters. ARUSD UPDATE On August 30, 2025, the Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) Board held an emergency vote to demolish MACSA. The ARUSD board voted unanimously to approve the resolution declaring an emergency at MACSA. This resolution authorizes emergency site assessment, demolition, and remediation work. While this decision moves us into a new phase, our commitment has not wavered. SOMOS Mayfair, the School of Arts & Culture, the Si Se Puede Collective and the MACSA Coalition Partners remain deeply committed to rebuilding MACSA into a space that truly serves East San José. NEXT STEPS Rebuild MACSA Rebuilding MACSA will take resources. We created the Rebuild MACSA Fund to help sustain the work that is needed through our efforts to rebuild MACSA. All funds will go towards The Mayfair Neighborhood Trust (MNT), which is a community-led effort co-founded by SOMOS and the School of Arts and Culture to prevent displacement and ensure development in East San José reflects community priorities. No matter how you contribute, whether donating $1, showing up at board meetings, or spreading the word, it will take all of us to ensure East San José families have the resources and space they deserve. DONATE     Join Us! Stay Connected Stay up to date with everything MACSA, we encourage you to: Follow Us on Social Media Fill out MACSA Interest form MACSA Video Series In partnership with School of Arts and Culture at MHP, we created a video series highlighting the importance of MACSA and our collective efforts to now rebuild it. We'll be showcasing a new part every couple of weeks, so we encourage you to stay tuned as well as sharing these videos to bring more awareness.     Special thanks to School of Arts and Culture at MHP and our amazing collaborators: ¡Sí Se Puede! Collective, Center for Employment Training, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, East San Jose PEACE Partnership, and Concrete Rose Coalition MEDIA COVERAGE Fox 2 KTVU Community leaders in East San Jose hopeful new youth center can rise from ashes of one that burned By Ann Rubin San Jose Spotlight Damaged East San Jose youth center demolished By Lorraine Gabbert San Jose Spotlight East San Jose school district waits for burned youth center assessment By Lorraine Gabbert abc 7 news Vacant San Jose Latino youth center demolished after fire amid restoring plans: Here's what's next By Lauren Martinez San Jose Mercury News East San Jose organizers rally to clean up MACSA site By Kyle Martin San Jose Mercury News After fire, Alum Rock organizers fight to save treasured San Jose community hub By Kyle Martin TELEMUNDO Realizan vigilia frente al edificio MACSA tras voraz incendio en San José By Flavio Lacayo CBS News San Jose activists seek rebuild of MACSA building after fire By John Ramos ABC 7 NEWS Large fire destroys vacant former youth center in San Jose that community members wanted to restore By Zach Fuentes and Lauren Martinez Telemundo 48 Apoyan reconstrucción de MACSA tras voraz incendio en San José By Johanna Ochoa Alianza News SOMOS Mayfair: Salvando a la juventud latina del Este de San José Alianza News MACSA ARDE PERO NO MUERE EAST SAN JOSE SE UNE PARA RECONSTRUIR San Jose Spotlight Future of East San Jose youth center uncertain after fire By Lorraine Gabbert Telemundo 48 Continúa lucha para evitar demolición de lo que era el Centro Juvenil MACSA en San José By Flavio Lacayo Alianza News Salvemos a MACSA Alianza News PRESERVAR Y RESTAURAR MACSA Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE SOMOS Mayfair SOMOS Mayfair   Who We Are SOMOS Mayfair builds community power in East San José through leadership development and by organizing around resident-led solutions . Our mission is to support children, organize families, and connect neighbors to uplift the dreams, power, and leadership of community and address systemic inequities. Our vision is a thriving Mayfair. Read Our Neighborhood Platform   What We Do We are working toward a vision where everyone is able to build their leadership capacity to ensure families have access to everything, including resources and opportunities to strengthen our community ( Todo Para Todos ). Believing all individuals have the agency, potential, and voice to shift power from institutions back into the hands of the community, we uplift the very people most affected by disparities to take action, to create meaningful connections with their peers, and to make an impact in Mayfair that supports their families’ immediate needs and future prosperity.     We build community power through… Community Organizing Leadership Development Early Education Economic Opportunity   Recent Wins Click the thumbnail to view our latest Annual Report! Since our founding in 1997, Somos Mayfair has been a community-led movement bringing hope and opportunity to our neighborhood. Some of our proudest achievements include: Building a network of more than 200 resident leaders trained to be community organizers, leaders, and advocates Providing over 1,600 parents and young children the resources and community they need to thrive at our Family Resource Centers Collaborating with partners to win the development of Quetzal Gardens - a new project making affordable apartments available to residents Securing $1.2M for translation services within our public schools Championing a local preference policy to protect residents from displacement       View fullsize Where We Work Mayfair is a vibrant and historical neighborhood that has a huge legacy of social services, community organizing, and social justice movements. Mayfair was home to the renowned labor leader Cesar Chavez and a birthplace for the Mexican-American civil rights movement. Today, the Mayfair neighborhood is a working class, cultural hub drawing first- and second-generation immigrants from Latin American and Asian countries. Mayfair is both a community of transitions and new beginnings, where immigrants come and families settle to pursue their dreams.       “ What happened at Mayfair is more than anyone could have imagined. It is a reaffirmation of the resiliency of poor people and the depths of what they are capable of. Mayfair has given the larger world an understanding of people who had been seen as irrelevant, ignored; this was the invisible community that did not have a great deal of value put on it. But given support, given a belief in their capacity, they could create change. ” — The Honorable Blanca Alvarado Dilza’s Story Olivia’s Story     SOMOS Mayfair Family Resource Centers (FRCs) FRC @ Quetzal Gardens (408) 834-8899 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 SOMOS FRC @ Early Learning Site (408) 928-7271 2000 Kammerer Ave, Room 20, San José, CA 95116 FRC @ Hubbard Media Arts Academy (408) 593-5454 1680 Foley Ave, Room H-2, San Jose, CA 95116 Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Careers — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Careers Career Opportunities     #SOMOS el Cambio SOMOS Mayfair staff is a team of connected, passionate, and diverse individuals with a broad range of knowledge and expertise in public health, early education, and community organizing. We are rooted in the belief that working alongside the community is the most effective method of affecting change.     WE ARE HIRING 📢 WE ARE HIRING 📢 WE ARE HIRING 📢 HOW CAN YOU BE A #CHANGEMAKER AT SOMOS Browse through our Open Positions to see how you can join the team!   Senior Human Resources Manager Expected Start Date: July 2026 SOMOS Mayfair is seeking a mission-aligned Senior Human Resources Manager (Senior HR Manager) to support and strengthen our people-centered strategies and practices through an equity-focused HR lens.The Senior HR Manager is a newly defined role. . . . Learn More. Apply Now   Community Organizing Manager Expected Start Date: July 2026 We’re seeking a Community Organizing Manager deeply grounded in intersectional equity to help us transform our community. From housing justice to early childhood education, you’ll act as a lead strategist and vital team. . . . Learn More . Apply now   More Positions Coming Soon... 📝 More Positions Coming Soon... 📝 More Positions Coming Soon... 📝 Ready to join la lucha?   Forge your own path to #SUCCESS   SOMOS Mayfair acknowledges that there is more than one path to success and economic prosperity. We strengthen and maintain many different forms of leadership as an equal opportunity employer, and no matter your background, we are excited to learn from YOU and the unique perspective you bring to our team. SOMOS Mayfair’s human resources policies and practices are built upon a set of core values that include a strong belief in treating all staff with dignity and respect. In accordance with this belief, we make it our responsiibility to “even the playing field” that comes with job searching, and be as transparent and fair as possible throughout our recruitment process. applied or interested ? Here’s what you can expect!     The Recruitment Process You’ll notice that each of our open positions has a designated Apply By date! Whether you apply early on or one day before the date, any and all applications received before the deadline will be accepted and considered for the position. If the job doesn’t display an Apply By date and is Accepting Applications on a Rolling Basis that means that we are evaluating and interviewing candidates as we receive applicants. After the Hiring Lead has reviewed all candidates, if you are amongst those being considered for the position, you will move onto the next phase of the recruiting process. You should expect to receive an email from our Hiring Lead, asking for your availability to schedule an Introductory 1st Call to get to know you a little better. This may be held via phone call, Zoom or in person. Following 1st Calls, you may be extended the opportunity to participate in an in person Panel Interview . Depending on the position, and at the discretion of the Hiring Lead, if there is a need for a 2nd Panel Interview , you may be asked to come in a second time. Once all interviews have been held, should you be offered a position, you may expect a phone call from the Hiring Lead at which time a Job Offer may or may not be made to you. If after reviewing all of the job details and having any last minute questions answered you choose to ACCEPT the offer, you did it! Welcome to the team! We’re so excited to meet you!   Don’t take it from us, Take it from the #TEAM   Why SOMOS? Building leaders is not linear, and there is no single path. Hear directly from our staff who’ve come from different backgrounds, with different experiences, and how they’ve gone through SOMOS’ leadership pipeline.         Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Gracias a la Vida — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Gracias a la Vida   Thursday, April 9, 2026 ❁ Thursday, April 9, 2026 ❁ Thursday, April 9, 2026 ❁ save the date and Join us Next year for our biggest event of the year! Our annual fundraiser is a chance to welcome guests to the neighborhood to share our stories, accomplishments, and vision. Click Image Below To Purchase Tickets   SPONSOR OUR EVENT If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor, please review our Sponsorship Packet and connect with Raylene Hernandez at [email protected]. Join Good Company By sponsoring Gracias a la Vida, you help build a thriving, united East San José rooted in love, justice, and community. Our 2026 Gracias a la vida sponsors Previous Sponsors INCLUDE Below you will see a recap of our 2025 Gracias a la Vida. As we gathered just before Mother’s Day, we took that special moment to honor the Mothers of Mayfair—the remarkable women, mothers, mother figures, guardians, and protectors whose love and strength have paved the way for us to thrive. Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Community Organizing — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Community Organizing         Community organizing supports movement building in our neighborhood and schools. Parents, youth, and neighborhood residents engage in participatory action, analysis, priority setting, relationship building, and tactical strategies to advance an equity platform developed by community, for community.     Read Our Mayfair Platform   Request Campaign Support Read our Equity Platform, created by community. We are working to build a vibrant neighborhood!   Do you want SOMOS Mayfair to be involved in your policy or action? Fill out this form to help us learn how we can support you!       Jóvenes Activos Jóvenes Activos is a youth-led program that nurtures leadership, creativity, and community involvement in young people by offering mentorship, workshops, and opportunities to practice digital and traditional organizing through the lens of a creative change-maker. The group is designed for East San Jose youth ages 12-18. EMPUJE Parents throughout the Alum Rock School District develop their leadership, organize meetings and actions to shift policy, and improve the quality of education for students and families through policy change and action. Parents take the lead in identifying the issues and guiding strategy. Current Campaigns Building youth leadership, youth lead solutions and youth power Organizing to demand equitable distribution of county and city resources for youth, children and families Voter Engagement and developing a Youth Justice Platform Preserving and creating cultural and historical murals in East San Jose Learning digital Activism , pod casting to educate youth in families.   Current Campaigns Developing a base of adult allies to support Jovenes activos Organizing to demand equitable distribution of county and city resources for youth, children and families in East San Jose Organizing for sustainable school-based funding Voter Engagement View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize     Current Campaigns Advocating for an anti-displacement policy in San Jose and Neighborhood Preservation funding for Mayfair Organizing to pass a Local Tenant Preference in San Jose Developing a Cooperative Housing pilot for BIPOC/Latinx families Educating community about tenants’ rights and supporting policies that protect renters Demanding equity and representation at decision-making tables View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Vecinos Activos Vecinos Activos organizes tenant families in Mayfair and across San José. Community members conduct root-cause analysis of neighborhood issues that impact and advance the Mayfair community platform. Through direct action and policy change, families are organizing to address permanent affordability, neighborhood development without displacement, and create alternative housing opportunities.     View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize         Current Campaigns Census outreach Reducing barriers for voting Building a base of local organizers View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Civic Engagement Key leaders from East San Jose and the Si Se Se Puede Collective educate, engage and mobilize families to take part in the democratic process in order to increase the voice of undocumented families in the decision making process and build a deeper democracy.       Past Campaigns   Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE SOMOS Mayfair SOMOS Mayfair   Who We Are SOMOS Mayfair builds community power in East San José through leadership development and by organizing around resident-led solutions . Our mission is to support children, organize families, and connect neighbors to uplift the dreams, power, and leadership of community and address systemic inequities. Our vision is a thriving Mayfair. Read Our Neighborhood Platform   What We Do We are working toward a vision where everyone is able to build their leadership capacity to ensure families have access to everything, including resources and opportunities to strengthen our community ( Todo Para Todos ). Believing all individuals have the agency, potential, and voice to shift power from institutions back into the hands of the community, we uplift the very people most affected by disparities to take action, to create meaningful connections with their peers, and to make an impact in Mayfair that supports their families’ immediate needs and future prosperity.     We build community power through… Community Organizing Leadership Development Early Education Economic Opportunity   Recent Wins Click the thumbnail to view our latest Annual Report! Since our founding in 1997, Somos Mayfair has been a community-led movement bringing hope and opportunity to our neighborhood. Some of our proudest achievements include: Building a network of more than 200 resident leaders trained to be community organizers, leaders, and advocates Providing over 1,600 parents and young children the resources and community they need to thrive at our Family Resource Centers Collaborating with partners to win the development of Quetzal Gardens - a new project making affordable apartments available to residents Securing $1.2M for translation services within our public schools Championing a local preference policy to protect residents from displacement       View fullsize Where We Work Mayfair is a vibrant and historical neighborhood that has a huge legacy of social services, community organizing, and social justice movements. Mayfair was home to the renowned labor leader Cesar Chavez and a birthplace for the Mexican-American civil rights movement. Today, the Mayfair neighborhood is a working class, cultural hub drawing first- and second-generation immigrants from Latin American and Asian countries. Mayfair is both a community of transitions and new beginnings, where immigrants come and families settle to pursue their dreams.       “ What happened at Mayfair is more than anyone could have imagined. It is a reaffirmation of the resiliency of poor people and the depths of what they are capable of. Mayfair has given the larger world an understanding of people who had been seen as irrelevant, ignored; this was the invisible community that did not have a great deal of value put on it. But given support, given a belief in their capacity, they could create change. ” — The Honorable Blanca Alvarado Dilza’s Story Olivia’s Story     SOMOS Mayfair Family Resource Centers (FRCs) FRC @ Quetzal Gardens (408) 834-8899 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 SOMOS FRC @ Early Learning Site (408) 928-7271 2000 Kammerer Ave, Room 20, San José, CA 95116 FRC @ Hubbard Media Arts Academy (408) 593-5454 1680 Foley Ave, Room H-2, San Jose, CA 95116 Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Leadership Development — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Leadership Development     Our belief that change should be community-driven guides all our organizational decisions. As an anchor non-profit in East San José, SOMOS Mayfair aims to challenge the status quo of our sector--- one which often provides services without prioritizing community voice or need. At SOMOS, we use a unique model to train, support, and coach Promotores (community workers, peer mentors) to take ownership of their neighborhood, in order to catalyze significant gains in community development, educational success, and economic opportunity. These leaders are parents in the community with a passion for justice and equity, and they organize neighbors, facilitate workshops, and guide our programmatic priorities.       Promotor Model Each year, SOMOS recruits, trains, and mentors a cohort of neighborhood residents to serve as Promotores.  Trained in SOMOS' unique Promotor Model   influenced by international best practices,  Promotores  impart lessons and support families to adopt practices that foster successful students and healthy families. This work is done in people’s homes, in parks, at the community center, in church halls...anywhere people gather in Mayfair. By taking the “classroom” into traditional and non-traditional spaces, our Promotores  do their work in a very public and visible fashion. This is intentional.  In order to turn our work into a neighborhood movement, the work must enter the consciousness of the community, and must be perceived as a cultural norm and practice of Mayfair. Promotores are effective because of their strong relationship-building and ability to identify with the language, culture, and lived experience of their peers.   Universidad Popular de Mayfair Leadership development begins with community members recognizing their own strengths and experience. Through mentorship, learning, and practice we build a leadership that generates more leaders. Universidad Popular de Mayfair ( UPM )  is an ongoing program that offers these leaders trainings and tools, as they work towards becoming certified Promotores . UPM offers open houses, community movie nights, neighborhood dialogues, retreats and more. For more information, contact Amelia Post at [email protected]   Testimonials “We volunteer as SOMOS Promotores because we saw how these programs have helped our own children. We have learned how to support our children’s learning; we have improved our exercise and eating at home; we have learned skills to find a style of parenting that works in our home. We want to help other Mayfair families do the same.”   –Imelda & Jose Luis,  SOMOS Mayfair Promotoras   “It gives me pride that the work of engaging Mayfair residents is now in our hands.  I feel that we as Promotores  have the power to pass on to other Mayfair residents everything that we have learned at Somos Mayfair so that they also have the opportunity and desire to move forward.” –Nelly Blas, SOMOS Mayfair Promotora   “I am more open, I have been able to heal the pain of my past and I am able to value myself.  I can see the needs of other women and have the words to talk in public.  Here with so many women, with so many problems, some worse than my own. It’s a place where you can talk, express yourself.”   –Carmen,  SOMOS Mayfair Promotora     Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! SOMOS Blog — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE SOMOS Blog Check Out What's New! Cesar Chavez Early Learning Center Grand Opening Brenda Martinez August 23, 2023 Una solución colectiva para frenar el desplazamiento de viviendas Brenda Martinez July 10, 2023 10 East San José Spots to Visit Brenda Martinez January 6, 2023 On Thanksgiving, We Remember We are holding space for the stories not often heard during the Thanksgiving season. To uplift, celebrate and resource indigenous people who are still here in the Bay Area today. And to slow down and express gratitude to the land and history that have made this place our home. Read More John Thanh November 23, 2022 We Choose Solidarity, Not Division We stand with our Asian American colleagues and friends across the region, who are calling attention to and condemning the racist, classist messaging that many of us have seen across recent local campaigns. Read More John Thanh November 1, 2022 Victor Vasquez and Saúl Ramos Appointed as SOMOS Co-Executive Directors The Board of Directors of SOMOS Mayfair (SOMOS) appointed Victor Vasquez and Saúl Ramos as Co-Executive Directors during a public vote, recognizing the leadership the two have shown as Interim Co-Directors over the last six months. Read More John Thanh July 20, 2022 Quetzal Gardens Grand Opening Excite Credit Union, Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley, and SOMOS Mayfair will participate in the grand opening of Quetzal Gardens on Wednesday, June 29. The three community-service organizations will be ground floor tenants of the recently completed Quetzal Gardens affordable housing complex in East San Jose. Read More John Thanh June 29, 2022 Victory! Reid-Hillview Airport to Close After 40 years of delayed justice, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to pursue closing the Reid-Hillview airport and remove lead-based fuel from the airport Read More John Thanh August 24, 2021 Sobrato Philanthropies Appoints Camille Llanes-Fontanilla as Vice President, Silicon Valley Programs Along with our partners at Sobrato Philanthropies, we are thrilled to announce that Camille Llanes-Fontanilla will join Sobrato Philanthropies as the organization’s first Vice President, Silicon Valley Programs on September 1, 2021. Read More John Thanh July 6, 2021 A Continued Call for Justice With a sense of urgency, we demand greater accountability from leaders and more investment in systems of community care. We will always advocate for community-led solutions: those who are most impacted by systems should be at the decision-making table, with their experiences centered and uplifted. Read More John Thanh May 7, 2021 Felicidades, Zelica! Congratulations to our very own Zelica Rodriguez-Deams, who will be leading SCC’s Office of Immigrant Relations Read More John Thanh July 15, 2020 The Need for Equity on the Planning Commission The City can do more to address inequities that still plague communities of color in our city—- starting with the Planning Commission. Read More John Thanh June 29, 2020 We Stand with DREAMers & the LGBTQ+ Community  At SOMOS Mayfair we are guided by the belief that  ALL people should live without fear of persecution and inhumane treatment . Read More John Thanh June 18, 2020 Statement on San Jose Preference Policy This statement was released by the Si Se Puede! Collective and The Affordable Housing Network Read More John Thanh August 20, 2019 SOMOS Visits Fruitvale Village Today our team had the great opportunity to visit  Fruitvale Village , and learn about all the work that the  Unity Council is doing in Oakland. Read More John Thanh July 10, 2019 Non-Profit of the Year Press Release SOMOS was nominated by Ash Kalra as Non-profit of the year; the organization was recognized on the state level and is honored to receive such a prestigious award. Read More Chelsey Taylor June 4, 2019 Healthier Kids Foundation Visits Painter Co-op Healthier Kids Foundation Santa Clara generously visited and gave check-ups to all the kids at the Painter co-op. Read More John Thanh May 22, 2019 SSPC Statement on Alum Rock Village Plan This statement is a collection of input from the Alum Rock community spanning over 16 months; the goals in the Alum Rock Village Plan are to further improve the community and represent the true needs of residents. Read More Chelsey Taylor May 16, 2019 Si Se Puede Collective Recognized by ALF The American Leadership Forum recognizes the Si Se Puede Collective and their work in the East San Jose community at the Exemplary Leadership Celebration. Read More Chelsey Taylor April 26, 2019 Camille's Gracias Address Read the full transcript of Camille’s Executive Director Address. Read More John Thanh April 19, 2019 Older Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Rapid Response Resources — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Community Resources Find essential immigration and Know Your Rights resources on our Rapid Response Resource page. Get the latest legal information and support. Find essential immigration and Know Your Rights resources. Due to the political climate we are in, SOMOS Mayfair knows that in these times the powers that be are seeking to divide us, instill fear, and make us question our power and belonging, but we also know that our movement is greater than this moment. For centuries, our gente have endured and resisted injustice and oppression, always finding ways to survive, protect one another, and build something beautiful rooted in love. SOMOS is committed to continuing this legacy by creating a political home where families in East San José can thrive—living, playing, learning, and growing with collective power, self-determination, Brown Culture, and well-being at the center. Our survival depends on staying connected, rebellious, and resisting fear’s isolating force. This page will be used for Community Voice to share essential resources for our immigrant community. Rapid Response Network The Rapid Response Network (RRN) in Santa Clara County is a community defense project developed to protect immigrant families from deportation threats and to provide accompaniment support during and after a community member’s arrest or detention. Anyone can call the 24/7 HOTLINE (408) 290-1144 to report ICE activity in our county and receive help in real time! Know Your Rights Red Card     Legal Immigration Resources/Recursos Legales de Inmigración Asian Law Alliance Bay Area Legal Aid SIREN Amigos de Guadalupe Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County Center for Employment Training Human Agenda International Rescue Committee Immigration Services of Mountain View Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center Pangea Legal Services Pars Equality Center Step Forward Foundation YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley Domestic Violence/Violencia Domestica Food/Comida Mental Health/Salud Mental Youth/Jóvenes Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence AACI (Asian Americans for Community Involvement) YWCA Community Solutions National Domestic Violence Hotline Second Harvest Food Bank Catholic Charities Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen Salvation Army City Team Martha's Kitchen Alum Rock Youth Counseling Center Bill Wilson Center Gardner Health Services National Alliance for Mental Health Illness Bill Wilson Center The Hub Downtown Youth Wellness Center San Jose Conservation Corps LGBTQ Youth Space Unity Care StandUp for Kids - Silicon Valley Housing/Vivienda Eviction Law Foundation of Silicon Valley City of San Jose Eviction Help Center Asian Law Alliance Emergency Shelter Support Family Supportive Housing Salvation Army HERE4YOU LifeMoves - Villa Housing Choices Rental Assistance Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System Sacred Heart Community Services Amigos de Guadalupe   DACA Recipients Resources Higher Education Assistance Immigrants Rising DACA Renewl Asia Law Alliance SIREN Cooperative Business Information Democracy at Work Institute Resources for People Detained/ Recursos para personas detenidas Family safety plan/Plan de seguridad familiar Learn more Learn more Book for immigrant community This book was made by Marlene Huerta and focuses on coping skills for children of immigrants and mixed-status families. Due to the recent ICE activity in our area, it is important to share this book with your children in hopes it helps them understand the situation a little better. Please click on any picture below if you are interested in downloading the free version of this book. Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! About Us — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE About Us     Our Mission SOMOS Mayfair supports children, organizes families, and connects neighbors to uplift the dreams, power, and leadership of community and address systemic inequities.       Our Vision For Our Children Every child in Mayfair... Is prepared with the early learning and literacy skills needed to develop and thrive Has access to equitable opportunities and resources to discover and develop their passion, talents, and gifts. Can analyze, read, and question the world, contributing unique voice, perspective, and action. Is supported in developing a positive self-identity, with a deep connection to culture, heritage, and language. Is moved to thrive in college, in the workforce, and in life to be a leader in our community. For Our Families Families have networks of mutual support and equitable opportunities and resources to achieve their personal visions. Families have a deep connection to community and choose to exercise their leadership in meaningful ways. For Our Community Our community is united, healthy, and safe when exercising our power. Our community has a strong analysis of systems of oppression and is ready to develop alternative systems and advocate for change. Our rich histories, migration journeys, cultures, and languages are uplifted and celebrated. Our sustainability as a community radiates from within through shared ownership and collective action.         Our Values We believe that all people are valuable and can contribute to building a movement for justice and that we all have power to change the world around us. We believe it is our responsibility to take action and support one another, our collective heritage, and the common good. We struggle to reclaim the power that is denied to our community and communities like ours. Mayfair is a permanent community and our home: we commit to making Mayfair the most supportive neighborhood possible for working poor people, families, and children. We do not accept the chronic crises caused by the inequitable distribution of power and resources. We believe that urgent action , even in the face of conflict and risk is necessary       Our Theory of Change   By activating the leadership of the neighborhood, we take collective action to make meaningful changes in the lives of children and families and build sustainable communities. The Power of Community SOMOS recognizes that many in our community are struggling to keep a roof over their children’s heads. Even as we ask parents to become more involved in the their children’s lives, we often spend time sharing information and resources to help address other underlying issues that make that engagement difficult for parents We have to change the course for families in Mayfair, and the best people to chart the path forward are the parents in our community SOMOS focuses on recognizing each individual’s power to transform their community through taking collective action together to pursue our collective vision for Mayfair.  Community Transformation Community transformation is a formidable challenge.  The root causes of crisis in Mayfair are complex and deep.  That sheer complexity defeats efforts towards solutions from the very beginning.  We know this, yet, even in the face of this, and maybe even because of this, Somos Mayfair’s In Our Hands  campaign begins first and foremost with simplicity.  We first eliminate the impulse to design a strategy that is as complex as the proverbial “rocket science”; ours is the “anti-rocket science” campaign. We do this because we are putting the campaign in the hands of community residents and out of the hands of professional nonprofit staff.  Furthermore, we assume constant transition of community members in and out of Mayfair and thus our strategy will continually have to be picked up and carried by newly arrived leaders.  Simplicity and clarity are sheer necessities.   Read SOMOS' Community Engagement Philosophy     Our History SOMOS Mayfair SOMOS Mayfair was founded in 1997 (originally as the Mayfair Improvement Initiative) to address chronic crisis in Mayfair, a working-poor and immigrant neighborhood in East San Jose.  In the early years, SOMOS partnered with government, corporate, and nonprofit allies to renovate community infrastructure, catalyze new community investment, and develop new coalitions. Over the years, SOMOS revamped itself to most effectively operate in line with the needs of the community, and opportunities for regional partnerships evolved. In the past three years, this has led SOMOS to focus our efforts on two long-term community priorities –  fostering early school success and nurturing family wellness . The Mayfair Neighborhood The Mayfair neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the City of San Jose. First established in the early 1900s, Mayfair has always been home to working-poor immigrant families, primarily from Mexico.  Today, Mayfair is home to 14,828 residents , still predominantly first and second-generation Mexican-origin families, but increasingly home to immigrants from the Philippines, Vietnam, and India. The median household income is roughly half ( $84,449 ) of the Santa Clara County median income ( $151,300 ). [Data comes from the 2019 Census] In the face of these and other challenges the neighborhood relies on community assets unique to Mayfair. First among these assets is the living legacy of grassroots leadership.  Mayfair was home to United Farm Worker founder César Chávez .  It was in Mayfair where César first learned the craft of community organizing. Mayfair was also home to the first generation of Latino leadership that emerged from the Chicano Movement of the 1960’s and 70’s.  Many of today’s regional elected and institutional leadership began their work in Mayfair. That legacy animates the work of Somos Mayfair with today’s generation of leadership.     Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you! Our Team — SOMOS Mayfair #menu { ... width:800px; } .menuitem { display:block; float:left; margin-left:25px; position:relative; min-height:35px; max-width:125px; padding-bottom:10px; text-align:center; } Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Our Team Get to know our team! (Listed Alphabetically) Adrian Parra | Father & Community Engagement Coordinator Alondra Vizcarra | Finance Coordinator Amelia is a longtime popular educator and organizer. She follows in the footsteps of generations of women in her family who have organized communities of care. She was born and raised in Berkeley and graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Before moving back to the Bay Area, Amelia was based in Tennessee, helping to build a youth organizing program and organizing campaigns around education access, worker rights, community defense, and language justice. Amelia joined SOMOS Mayfair in 2012. She supports the Learning and Leadership Development team and the Universidad Popular de Mayfair, a community institute where members share knowledge and skills to carry out solutions for our collective wellbeing. Amelia Post | Director of Economic Justice & Workforce Development Angelica was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico where she imported goods from the United States and sold them in her family’s store. In 1997, Angelica moved to San José to join her family. She volunteered with Nuestra Casa in the Mayfair neighborhood, leading a women's group for over ten years to organize for health and education access. The women from these groups have gone on to become powerful decision-makers across San José. Angelica has been certified in a number of best practice and evidence based parenting programs, including the Family Development Credential from Cornell University and Santa Clara County’s Parent Project for K-8 parent leaders. She credits SOMOS' Universidad Popular de Mayfair as her main source of personal transformation: it is the place she learned to critically analyze systems, tap into her own power, and build strong relationships. Her personal mission is to support her community's liberation through leadership development. Angelica Lujano | Program Director Antonio was born in Bogotá, Colombia and grew up in Ciudad de México. He also lived in Jakarta, Indonesia & St Louis, Missouri before studying Business Management & Environmental Studies at Santa Clara University. SInce graduating, he has focused his career on supporting worker cooperatives in the South Bay first by incubating and launching one at Veggielution and now launching the La Esquina Coop Hub with SOMOS as its Manager. Antonio is deeply passionate about Worker Cooperatives and is excited to continue developing the ecosystem in the Mayfair Neighborhood. He is also passionate about Salsa Dancing & Djing, vintage cars, vinyl music swell as exploring food with friends. Antonio Amore Rojas   | La Esquina Manager Ashley Guerrero was raised in the East Bay and became the first in her family to graduate from college, obtaining a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies and Public Administration from San José State University. Growing up in a mixed immigration status family, Ashley is passionate about policies that uplift her family and community.  Her professional journey began with the City of San José, as an intern for former Council member Magdalena Carrasco and later a Community Relations and Policy Aide for Council member Peter Ortiz in East San José. In these roles, Ashley has led community advocacy and organized cultural and educational events on topics like housing and animal welfare. Ashley has also worked as a Public Information Representative at Valley Water, guiding the community through the advanced recycled water treatment process at the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center. In her free time, you can find Ashley drinking coffee, watching movies, making playlists, rock climbing, spending time with her dogs and cats, and volunteering as the Membership Director for the Silicon Valley Young Democrats. Ashley Guerrero   | Mayfair Coordinator, Jóvenes Activos Brenda was born and raised in San Jose her entire life. Growing up with two Mexican migrant parents introduced her to the challenges her community faced. What she loves most about SOMOS is the authentic collaboration with community--- she believes that nobody should be left empty-handed, and all should be given the same educational opportunities to succeed. She first got involved with SOMOS by participating in the parent workshops. The more she learned, the more she was impressed by the work being done, and in 2017 officially started working as a Maestra supporting SOMOS' programs. She is currently studying for a degree in Early Childhood Education at San Jose City College, specializing in infants and toddlers. Brenda is passionate about helping families and parents thrive and achieve to make a difference in their home. Even the smallest action can make a difference in a family and child's life. Brenda Garcia Lujano | Painter FRC Program Supervisor Citlali was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. At the age of 9 migrated to the United states with her family. Raised in the heart of East San José, she faced the harsh realities of housing, overcrowding, and landlord injustices from a young age.  Immediately she felt the weight of powerlessness in her community. However, through her mother's involvement in SOMOS Mayfair, Citlali discovered a supportive community dedicated to empowering, and uplifting. Initially hesitant to step out of her comfort zone, Growing up Citlali was constantly encouraged by her mother to participate in various activities. As she witnessed her mother's tireless dedication to SOMOS and their community, she found herself inspired to follow in her footsteps. Each workshop attended and community event participated in became a stepping stone towards personal growth and empowerment. Through this, she unearthed a newfound courage and resilience, realizing that growth often lies beyond fear. Citlali emerged as a passionate advocate for her community. Now, a part of SOMOS Mayfair’s staff, her work is not just a profession but a heartfelt commitment—a continuation of a lifelong dream to empower and uplift her community.  She is deeply grateful to her parents Juan Martinez and Norma Chavez, whose unwavering support made this journey possible. With inspiring mentors by her side, Citlali's dedication burns brighter than ever, inviting others to join in the mission of creating a community where every voice is heard and every dream is achievable. Citlali Martinez | Vecinos Activos Coordinator Claudia Cordero | FUERTES Network & Development Coordinator Cristina Martinez | Maestra Damaris bio: Damaris Estrada, an immigrant woman from Guatemala, has passionately and committed and dedicated more than 30 years of her life to community service, organizing and developing the leadership of women, men, and children through popular education in the pursuit of social and economic justice, personal healing, and the building of collective power.  Damaris Estrada | FUERTES Economic Justice Manager Elizabeth Quezada | Community Navigator Esmeralda is a first generation college student who was born and raised in San Jose. She is a recent graduate from the University of California, Irvine where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Anthropology. Sh About Us — SOMOS Mayfair Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE Home About Us About Us Our Team Board of Directors Financials Impact Strategic Plan Annual Reports In the News SOMOS Blog Our Work Leadership Development Community Organizing Early Learning SOMOS Fuertes MACSA Careers Contact Us Gracias a la Vida Community Resources DONATE About Us     Our Mission SOMOS Mayfair supports children, organizes families, and connects neighbors to uplift the dreams, power, and leadership of community and address systemic inequities.       Our Vision For Our Children Every child in Mayfair... Is prepared with the early learning and literacy skills needed to develop and thrive Has access to equitable opportunities and resources to discover and develop their passion, talents, and gifts. Can analyze, read, and question the world, contributing unique voice, perspective, and action. Is supported in developing a positive self-identity, with a deep connection to culture, heritage, and language. Is moved to thrive in college, in the workforce, and in life to be a leader in our community. For Our Families Families have networks of mutual support and equitable opportunities and resources to achieve their personal visions. Families have a deep connection to community and choose to exercise their leadership in meaningful ways. For Our Community Our community is united, healthy, and safe when exercising our power. Our community has a strong analysis of systems of oppression and is ready to develop alternative systems and advocate for change. Our rich histories, migration journeys, cultures, and languages are uplifted and celebrated. Our sustainability as a community radiates from within through shared ownership and collective action.         Our Values We believe that all people are valuable and can contribute to building a movement for justice and that we all have power to change the world around us. We believe it is our responsibility to take action and support one another, our collective heritage, and the common good. We struggle to reclaim the power that is denied to our community and communities like ours. Mayfair is a permanent community and our home: we commit to making Mayfair the most supportive neighborhood possible for working poor people, families, and children. We do not accept the chronic crises caused by the inequitable distribution of power and resources. We believe that urgent action , even in the face of conflict and risk is necessary       Our Theory of Change   By activating the leadership of the neighborhood, we take collective action to make meaningful changes in the lives of children and families and build sustainable communities. The Power of Community SOMOS recognizes that many in our community are struggling to keep a roof over their children’s heads. Even as we ask parents to become more involved in the their children’s lives, we often spend time sharing information and resources to help address other underlying issues that make that engagement difficult for parents We have to change the course for families in Mayfair, and the best people to chart the path forward are the parents in our community SOMOS focuses on recognizing each individual’s power to transform their community through taking collective action together to pursue our collective vision for Mayfair.  Community Transformation Community transformation is a formidable challenge.  The root causes of crisis in Mayfair are complex and deep.  That sheer complexity defeats efforts towards solutions from the very beginning.  We know this, yet, even in the face of this, and maybe even because of this, Somos Mayfair’s In Our Hands  campaign begins first and foremost with simplicity.  We first eliminate the impulse to design a strategy that is as complex as the proverbial “rocket science”; ours is the “anti-rocket science” campaign. We do this because we are putting the campaign in the hands of community residents and out of the hands of professional nonprofit staff.  Furthermore, we assume constant transition of community members in and out of Mayfair and thus our strategy will continually have to be picked up and carried by newly arrived leaders.  Simplicity and clarity are sheer necessities.   Read SOMOS' Community Engagement Philosophy     Our History SOMOS Mayfair SOMOS Mayfair was founded in 1997 (originally as the Mayfair Improvement Initiative) to address chronic crisis in Mayfair, a working-poor and immigrant neighborhood in East San Jose.  In the early years, SOMOS partnered with government, corporate, and nonprofit allies to renovate community infrastructure, catalyze new community investment, and develop new coalitions. Over the years, SOMOS revamped itself to most effectively operate in line with the needs of the community, and opportunities for regional partnerships evolved. In the past three years, this has led SOMOS to focus our efforts on two long-term community priorities –  fostering early school success and nurturing family wellness . The Mayfair Neighborhood The Mayfair neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the City of San Jose. First established in the early 1900s, Mayfair has always been home to working-poor immigrant families, primarily from Mexico.  Today, Mayfair is home to 14,828 residents , still predominantly first and second-generation Mexican-origin families, but increasingly home to immigrants from the Philippines, Vietnam, and India. The median household income is roughly half ( $84,449 ) of the Santa Clara County median income ( $151,300 ). [Data comes from the 2019 Census] In the face of these and other challenges the neighborhood relies on community assets unique to Mayfair. First among these assets is the living legacy of grassroots leadership.  Mayfair was home to United Farm Worker founder César Chávez .  It was in Mayfair where César first learned the craft of community organizing. Mayfair was also home to the first generation of Latino leadership that emerged from the Chicano Movement of the 1960’s and 70’s.  Many of today’s regional elected and institutional leadership began their work in Mayfair. That legacy animates the work of Somos Mayfair with today’s generation of leadership.     Home  | About Us |  Media [email protected] 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10, San José, CA 95116 Subscribe to our newsletter! Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up Thank you!