Creating transformation like mine

Photo of Elizabeth, Youth Services program participant

In today’s world, it can feel as though everything is shifting under our feet—especially for young people like me, navigating the complexities of being a lesbian and Mexican American while facing an uncertain future. I still remember the first time I walked into the SF LGBT Center in 2023, unsure of what to expect but hoping to find support and guidance. At that time, I was struggling with managing my small business, facing housing insecurity, and coping with the social isolation of the pandemic.

Thankfully, the Center exceeded my expectations. What I gained was more than just essential resources—I found a supportive community that embraced me and helped me build the foundation I needed to move forward.

I first connected with the Center in 2021 through a virtual small business workshop to seek advice for my business. But as financial struggles mounted, my business became unsustainable, and I was living in a homeless shelter that felt unsafe. A friend introduced me to the Center, and I began visiting the youth drop-in space weekly for essentials like hygiene supplies, pantry items, and clothing. At first, I felt out of place and isolated, but the Center’s dedicated staff encouraged me, listened without judgment, and reassured me of my worth. Their support helped me find work, regain my confidence, and become more involved with the youth program.

With encouragement from the Center, I joined the Youth Leadership Committee (YLC), gaining hands-on experience in event planning, program organization, and peer support, which solidified my goal of becoming a social worker. This experience gave me valuable direct service skills and made me a more appealing candidate to prospective employers. By early 2024, I secured a full-time position at Mission Neighborhood Resource Center. Today, I have stable housing, a reliable income, and work that fulfills my goal of helping others.

Thanks to the Center’s dedication and support, I’ve been able to turn my life around. As a social worker, I now help others who, like me, have faced housing insecurity, mental health challenges, and isolation. I often think back to the Center’s team: the people who believed in me before I believed in myself. Now, I’m proud to pay that support forward, helping others through their hardest times.

Thank you for standing by the Center and being a part of our community of hope and resilience.

With gratitude,

Elizabeth Ramirez (she/her)

Youth Services – Youth Leadership Committee | Financial Services – Small Business Program Participant

At first, I felt out of place and isolated, but the Center’s dedicated staff encouraged me, listened without judgment, and reassured me of my worth.