On July 17, 2025, community members, advocates, and city leaders gathered to celebrate a historic milestone: the ribbon-cutting for the nation’s first publicly funded Disability Cultural Center (DCC) in San Francisco.
SF DCC Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sf_dcc
I had the honor of attending as an advisor to the DCC, representing both my work with Calling Up Justice and my long-term commitment to disability justice. The opening was more than just an event—it was a joyful community reunion. I connected with friends and fellow leaders like Alice Wong, Robin Wilson-Beattie, and fellow advisor Dennis Billups, alongside many others who have been fighting for this vision for years. The food was a reflection of our community’s warmth and cultural richness, with delicious plantains, Jamaican patties, and a rice-and-vegetable mix fueling the celebration.
A Long Road to Realization
The idea for the DCC began in 2017, when the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) and the Office on Disability initiated a vision for a dedicated cultural hub. A strategic plan by the Longmore Institute in 2019, deeply rooted in community input, laid the foundation. Though the pandemic caused delays, a partnership with The Kelsey eventually secured space for the center. In 2023, Haven of Hope and a team of co-directors were selected to lead, and by 2024, the DCC had already engaged nearly 5,000 people across 110 virtual programs, demonstrating the urgent demand for this space.
A Home for Disability Culture
The DCC now resides inside The Kelsey Civic Center, a disability-forward housing development across from City Hall. The space is designed with accessibility at its core, featuring:
- An event space for community gatherings
- A hybrid meeting room available for free community rentals
- A patio designed to include immunocompromised guests
Programming will expand both in-person and online, including activities for those experiencing chronic pain, lectures on disability studies, and community-driven cultural events.
A Historic Opening
This grand opening carries symbolic weight beyond the Bay Area. Coming just before the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the DCC represents a continuation of the movement for equity and justice. Rooted in decades of Bay Area disability rights organizing, the center is poised to serve as both a cultural anchor and an incubator for future activism.
For me, the day felt both monumental and intimate—a reminder that disability justice is built not just in policies and buildings, but in community, friendship, food, and shared vision. The San Francisco Disability Cultural Center is more than a building; it is a living testament to our resilience, creativity, and power.