Join us for a celebration of our new space in North Fair Oaks!
PARKING:
Parking is limited in the neighborhood, so be sure to carpool and get here early! You can park in the Stanford parking lot. Click the photo below for a link in Google Maps.
Angie Ibarra Miller shares her story and her heart for the North Fair Oaks community.
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Dear Friend,
In Spanish-speaking countries, we celebrate “El Día del Amor y de la Amistad” or “The Day of Love and Friendship” on Valentine’s Day. As we reflect on our friends and the love we wish to share, we are thankful for you.
We are so blessed to be called to this work and find that sometimes the best way to support families is to STAND with them. Generations United (GU) is about lifting others to a place where they can thrive. Right now, many of our neighbors are in fear, so we remain close and continue to provide a listening ear, safe space, and arms to embrace. We are grateful for all of you, who do that with us. We are grateful for the resources we have to be on the front lines. We share them with you and ask you to consider how you too can stand with our neighbors. There are things we can do to help prepare ourselves for the sweeping changes in our midst. A warm smile, caring interaction, and helping hands can all benefit our work today and we invite you to hear the cry of our community up close. It could be a friend of your child, coworker, grocery store clerk, gardener, restaurant worker, or childcare provider. The invitation is wide open to engage and participate in the solution. Please let me know how I can help to educate your workplace, families, and churches. It is indeed what GU does well: mobilize others with broken hearts. 2025 will be a year of LIFTING UP for our organization and we can’t wait to fill you in on what has been brewing as we move into a season of expansion and new opportunities to serve. We are in search of our new location in North Fair Oaks…please pray. A recent article shares more about our journey (Click to Read). Let´s do this together friends.
We love our Volunteers!
One of our faithful volunteers, Genevieve, organized a special afternoon for our students. She enlisted her Woodside Priory basketball team classmates to visit our Academic Enrichment Center. The students (big and small) enjoyed some basketball challenges, a rousing game of sharks and minnows, and then some downtime with small group reading.
They even hosted a fundraiser at the basketball games! We also have an art group that meets from WPHS. THANK YOU to Woodside Priory for your gift of time and fun!
Volunteer Today!
Salud Sabrosa
Kelly Walker leads nutrition classes in our community through a program called Salud Sabrosa (Tasty Health). Participants learn and participate in discussions about healthy food choices, undoing food perceptions, and then get to share a meal! We are blessed to have this partnership with Sequoia Healthcare. Our families are being transformed through healthy nutrition options as we eat together at these gatherings.
Welcome Back, Crystal!
This month, Crystal Ibarra Tapelu has returned to California and we are grateful for her contributions and presence. She continues in her role as Social Media Manager as well as training support for our staff. You can reach her at crystal@genu.wearelevantar.org.
Black History Month
This month our students are celebrating and remembering the people and communities who have shaped our country by honoring Black History Month. If you have a story to share or want to be a part of our activities, please contact Josselin 650-422-1658.
Calendar:
Tuesdays 2/25, 3/4,3/11,3/18,3/25 – Beyond OK (Mental Health workshops)
Thursday, 3/13 – Angie’s Birthday & Daniela’s Birthday
Our work is fuled by dedicated staff, faithful volunteers, and generous and caring donors. Please consider a financial gift in any amount and click below. Donations on Zelle and through ACH have zero fees. Both Stripe (our online processor) and PayPal offer the option to give an additional gift to offset the processing fees.
Our local news source highlighted the challenging issues we have faced as gentrification ravages our community.
Click below to read the February 8, 2025 article on Redwood City Pulse’s site.
Much-needed nonprofit looks for return to North Fair Oaks
Organization faces inrceased costs with move by Carla Wells
Click below to read the November 18, 2024 article in the San Mateo Daily Journal
Organizations in North Fair Oaks feel weight of gentrification
Generations United displaced by Stanford in Redwood City by Ana Mata
Thank you to Carla Wells, friend of GU, for your help and effort to get this story told.
Join us today in the fight to continue providing impactful programs and services to our community in Redwood City.
Thank you to all the people and organizations who have supported our work in 2023. We remain committed to the important work ahead of us: to keep hard-working immigrant families in our community and help them thrive!
Dearest Generations United Partners,
For 17 years, Generations United has radically lived out compassion by advocating for children and families in North Fair Oaks, Redwood City, and East Menlo Park. We have faithfully served the most vulnerable, providing essential support despite economic hardship.
Over many years, gentrification has impacted our community. GU has now felt this pain directly.
In December, we were advised that the land on which our Academic Enrichment Center sits was sold, and medical labs will be constructed on eight parcels. This displacement means we must find a new home for our center by September 30th.
We remain committed to our students and families and are excited by the unforeseen opportunities this challenge presents. We are actively searching for a new location within our service area. This may present a rate increase, as we currently enjoy under-market rent. We are resolute and impassioned by our vision, believing this move is a blessing in disguise.
Thank you for your commitment to caring, giving, volunteering, supporting, and praying for a good outcome as we move forward. This Impact Report details what we have accomplished collectively to help those struggling daily with losing hope.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Donate now: Help cover moving costs and continue summer camps
- Sponsor a Student for Summer Camp – $400 per student/5 weeks $50,000
- Help GU Move! Anticipated yearly rent increase of $30,000
- Set up a new facility and help with location tenant improvements (paint, carpet, etc.) $50,000
- Visit us: Volunteer or visit the Academic Enrichment Center before we relocate or see our potential new home
- Spread the word: Share our story and encourage others to get involved
Together, we can ensure a brighter future for our community. Stand with Generations United!
“He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints, Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.” Proverbs 2:7-9
Please use the “FULL SCREEN” (4-arrows icon in the bottom middle) option for best viewing
Additional resources on gentrification in Silicon Valley
Click to read an article from 2022 in the San Mateo Daily Journal on development in the area.
Three-story research building approved in Redwood City
The Bay Area Equity Atlas provides research and data about our region and gives tremendous insight into the issues our families face. Click the buttons or photos to explore the facts about housing shortages and who is most impacted.
In 2020, Latino, female renters in San Mateo County, CA were the most burdened by housing costs with 65% spending more than 30 percent of income on rent.
UrbanDisplacement.Org has additional resources on gentrification in our area.
Gentrification in North Fair Oaks
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We love YOU! We are grateful and blessed to spend time in community every day! Families, volunteers, partners, and donors – what a joy sharing this journey with you is. It’s been an eventful 2024 and we have lots to share in the coming days. Join us for our monthly prayer gathering at 895 2nd Avenue, Redwood City, Friday the 16th: Prayer at 9 am.
We love watching our students make their Valentines and share stories about how they show love. We launched coffee dates with moms and have had amazing life conversations. We’ve also continued to encourage college-aged students to intern with GU, and it’s been a blast to have Enrique Rodriguez, Daniela Gochez, and Yordi Chavez! All three graduated from high school last year. Generations United has also been blessed with the BEST volunteers. It’s been amazing to see the children come alive, as the center has been full every day! Relationships are formed and nurtured as they play games, dance, read, and do math and art. We also have three students attending Wyldlife Woodleaf Weekend Jr. High camp this weekend! A big thank you to Kim Yuen from the Salvation Army, who has helped us secure weekly food for snacks and additional food for the families. Our wonderful moms also make great food for the children, and our dear Sharon King brings amazing baked goods monthly and leads our prayer efforts!
We can only do what we do working together with YOU!
This month, we are celebrating love and friendship and honoring the contributions of Black leaders and community members for Black History Month. We invite you to visit our center for “Tacos & a Tour” – a chance to see our work in North Fair Oaks and how you can be a part of the big things happening in our community. We anticipate lots of changes in the coming months, and caring friends can help our students feel secure and loved amidst these shifts. Read below for ways to be involved.
Spread the Love
One of our favorite partnerships is with Cake4Kids, a national organization with regional chapters. Each chapter has volunteer bakers who make up sweet treats for birthdays and special events.
Please click the button below or the photo to the right for a fun video highlight of the cakes our students have received this year.
Cake4Kids on IG
Volunteer opportunities
We welcome new and returning reading buddies as we look forward to Spring and Summer. Join us one hour per week to significantly impact a student’s academic success. We have weekday opportunities from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. We also need support for special events, crafts, celebrations, and Summer camps! Please consider joining us AND telling a friend! We welcome High School students interested in completing community service hours or seeking a service project during Spring Break. Our upcoming calendar is below, and updates are always available on our website.
THIS WEEK: Friday is an early dismissal day, and we welcome additional helpers to support our staff and students on this longer day. Walking with students after school is a great opportunity to get to know them and help them to feel safe as they head to our AEC. Click below for more information or to sign up.
Volunteer Spotlight:
John Becker
John leads missions internationally for a good portion of the year and comes to Generations United AEC when he is not traveling. John doesn’t just make time to come to the center and work with students, but he recently also picked up a few of “his boys” and took them to the movies (with pops Keith) to see a Marvel movie, Blue Beetle.
In December, he took them to the ice skating rink in SF. We are grateful for his love, his witness, and his commitmentto loving the children and families of North Fair Oaks. Thank you, John! We are so grateful for you!
Impact Report
2023 was one for the books and we have so much good news to share. Stay connected with us on social media and email list to get the latest news. We will publish our Impact Report this month!
Share a meal and Share the LOVE
Providing lunch or snacks for our 17 students would greatly benefit our Academic Enrichment Center. You can sign up to make or donate one time or on a regular basis. The greatest needs are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fresh-cut fruit, sandwiches, packaged chips, or cookies are great ideas. On early dismissal days like this coming Friday, a hot meal (like mac & cheese pictured here) goes a long way to warm students’ bellies and set them up for homework success.
Email Cindy to Help
Calendar:
Feb 19 – AEC Closed (Presidents’ Day)
March – Business Classes Resume
3/2 Saturday – GU Choir launch w/teacher Raissa
3/13 – Angie’s Birthday
3/15 – Prayer
3/28 – Easter Celebration!
Our work is fuled by dedicated staff, faithful volunteers, and generous and caring donors. Please consider a financial gift in any amount and click below. Donations on Zelle and through ACH have zero fees. Both Facebook and PayPal offer the option to give an additional gift to offset the processing fees.
Join us on a journey of becoming proximate with our neighbors!
THESE WORKSHOPS WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE…STAY TUNED!
You may already be aware of what’s happening in the news, of systemic issues that impact marginalized communities, and of the greater historical context which affects our current events today. If you are not aware, we encourage you to start learning in those areas. But part of this journey towards proximate living also involves listening to people’s stories, engaging with people you may not normally talk to, and getting to know them personally. Begin to push beyond the familiar into a new way of seeing the world and asking how we as Christians are to engage it, and our hope is that this discussion time will help you to do so.
In order to seek awareness, embrace proximity, and lean into the life of justice, we must constantly be paying attention to who we are, what we bring, why we react the way we do, and what our history is. If we can cultivate this self-awareness and humility it will allow us to further embrace others’ stories and see our own role in the road to justice.
Angie has previously shared some thoughts on the Power of Proximity, but we have included an updated video below.
Please read touching stories and review helpful info about what we do through empowering the community!
Greetings,
An incredible 2019 for Generations United (GU) included twists and turns as well as divine surprises, sacrifices and a willingness to reach well beyond our comfort zone. Critical choices paid off in ways we never imagined as we partnered with more community members and organizations, got closer to new children and families as well as grew our staff and funding to new levels. Thank you to many who trusted in us as we met our changes and influx of families to reach into our community like never before.
January found us meeting with a new church partner: the Pastor of Redeemer Church in Redwood City joined me as I shared the challenging stories of the families in North Fair Oaks. Through tears we agreed that there was something we could do together. By March, we were dreaming of a summer camp for children displaced by the closures of four schools in Redwood City. So many of these precious families were heartbroken and there was only one thing we knew… we need to serve and honor them in a special way as they grieve the loss of their school community. Summer STEAM camp was already part of what we’ve offered over the years, but this was a newer (enhanced) model. Being on the beautiful Redeemer campus in June brought such dignity and joy to the families. We experienced community in a unique and special way with 120+ new volunteers from Redeemer, YMSL, and Street Code who served cross culturally with mothers in the kitchen preparing hot meals while offering whole family activities in a larger space. As we reminisce about this summer we are still brought to tears as we remember the lives that were impacted.
On the heels of a tremendous summer outreach, we headed right into the launch of a new school year. With the school closures we focused our efforts on developing new relationships while maintaining a presence where GU’s heartbeat lies, in North Fair Oaks. Formerly Fair Oaks school campus now has close to 1,000 students with 2 charter schools housed together. We began the school year with the intent of serving children on the campus, but found that in order for us to offer quality programming, while developing long term impact and relationships, we needed more space. Our surprise was when we took a risk and contacted a long time friend at a local church. Stewart Chapel AME Zion is the spot where our latest outreach center has been located since October 1st. It was no easy feat and we were thrust into planning and moving into a church we hoped would be blessed by some TLC with the smiles of 40 children. Just like Redeemer Church, a pastor opened his arms and church to a GU dream to serve children and families. This new location is just blocks from KIPP Excelencia and has brought such a confirmation of a dream to provide a safe place for those who live in fear, trauma, and pain. Please know that we’d love to have you come take a tour of any of our locations and see firsthand the beautiful families we serve.
The uneven wealth of the tech economy along with the spike in housing costs is causing systemic displacement. GU seeks to empower this community through our centers which provide academic and whole-family support. As we head into a new year and a new decade, I’m incredibly grateful for what is on the horizon. We are fortunate to have you consider joining the GU family as we remain committed to reach our city in love.
Our joy is to be on the forefront of serving the most vulnerable in our midst. May you find great joy in wrapping up 2019 and moving into a new decade. We hope you enjoy the holidays and will consider a generous investment in families. Our commitment remains to steward your finances well and see the lives of many transformed in Redwood City. We believe in the power of love. Please respond today with your generous and sacrificial financial support. Every year we have been fortunate to have generous donors who will allow for your gifts to be doubled! Our miracle challenge is for $100,000 that will be matched by 1/31/19. This is the biggest financial endeavor we have had, but know that we will accomplish this only with your help. As our work to serve women, children, and vulnerable and poor immigrants in our city is so important, we hope to be at the top of your year-end giving list.
This has sustained us and allowed us to witness first hand the beauty of a dream fulfilled by teaming with amazing people like yourselves. For this we are forever humbled and grateful. Thank you for standing with us and believing in us. Filled with gratitude and more determined than ever to launch full force into 2020 with a new vigor and focus.
– Angie Ibarra
“When we build relationships where we live, we discover the complexities of standing with the vulnerable and the commitment needed for long-term change.”
– Michelle Warren The Power of Proximity
Up to $100,000 match! Double your giving to reach more children & families!
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