Building Community Through Service
- Mara Matosic
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
At Ocean Beach
Leadership in Action
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, members of SFA’s Leadership Academy spent the morning giving back to the community through a beach cleanup at Ocean Beach, an experience that was both hands-on and deeply aligned with the values at the core of SFA’s work.
Accompanied by SFA staff members Nakia Lemon and Kiani Shaw, as well as SFA Board Member Aakar Vachhani, who joined with his son, our young men came together to care for one of San Francisco’s most iconic public spaces. What may appear on the surface as a simple act of service was, in reality, a meaningful lesson in responsibility, stewardship, and collective impact.
At SFA, leadership is practiced through action. When our students step into community spaces with intention and care, they learn that meaningful change often starts with small, consistent efforts.
Through hands-on community service, participants deepen their understanding of what it means to lead with integrity, care, and purpose, skills that extend far beyond the day’s activity.
“ I believe community service is important because I want to be a leader in my community and give back to my community.”
— Zylis, Leadership Academy Participant
Why Community Service Matters in the Leadership Academy
Community service is a core component of the Leadership Academy curriculum. At SFA, leadership is not defined solely by academic success or career readiness—it also means developing young men who understand their role within the broader community and recognize their ability to contribute positively to it.
For young Black men in San Francisco, opportunities to engage in visible, affirming acts of civic participation are especially important. Too often, public narratives focus on deficits rather than leadership, care, and contribution. Experiences like this beach cleanup actively counter those narratives by reinforcing that our participants are not only members of the community, they are stewards of it.
Through this experience, students practiced:
Collective responsibility, understanding that caring for shared spaces requires shared effort
Environmental awareness, recognizing how individual actions impact the health of our city and coastline
Leadership by example, showing up consistently and taking action without expectation of recognition
Modeling Leadership Across Generations
The presence of SFA staff and board leadership added an important layer to the day. Seeing trusted adults actively participate alongside them reinforces one of SFA’s core principles: leadership is practiced, not prescribed.
Having a board member participate with his child also highlighted the intergenerational nature of community care, illustrating that giving back is not a one-time activity, but a lifelong responsibility and a value passed from one generation to the next.
More Than a Cleanup
At SFA, experiences like these are intentional. They are part of our commitment to the holistic development of African American young men—academically, socially, and civically. By integrating service learning into our programming, we help participants build a sense of belonging, agency, and pride in the communities they call home.
This cleanup at Ocean Beach was not just about removing trash. It was about reinforcing the idea that leadership begins with showing up, caring deeply, and taking responsibility for the world around us.
We are proud of our Leadership Academy participants and grateful to the staff and board members who continue to model what it means to lead with purpose.
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