Constructing Wealth Through Community: The Bay View Nonprofit Boot Camp Experience

On Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the San Francisco Bay View Foundation hosted its third annual Nonprofit Boot Camp at the Ruth Williams Opera House. The event embraced the theme “Black and Proud in the Face of Opposition,” highlighting Black-led nonprofits and providing them a platform to articulate their visions for equity in the Bay Area. The program kicked off with insights from Executive Editor of the San Francisco Bay View newspaper, Kevin Epps, who underscored the necessity for creating spaces for nonprofit leaders in advocacy. Morning highlights included Trevor Parham, entrepreneur and activist, who shared his inspiring journey with OakStop, a co-working space promoting community engagement. Theo Ellington, a director at the Ruth Williams Opera House, presented his organization, Black Citizen, which is dedicated to fostering equity for Black communities. While the boot camp was rich in knowledge, it could engage a younger audience more effectively, perhaps through interactive activities and enhanced social media outreach. With a focus on collaboration and sustained promotion, the San Francisco Bay View Foundation can elevate future boot camps to empower emerging leaders.