Community

A core value of Gelfand Partners is being connected to and serving our community and the world we live in. We engage in projects that serve the public interest, and encourage volunteering for community oriented organizations.

Leap Sandcastle Competition
Leap is an organization that provides arts education programs in public schools that help students build skills to reach their fullest potential. The Sandcastle Competition is their annual fundraiser. We partner with a contractor to  raise funds, and then we both team with an elementary school to build our sandcastle. It’s a great cause and a fun day on the beach.  www.leaparts.org

PARK(ing) Day
PARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform parking spots into temporary public parks. This year we used a sidewalk on SF’s Mid Market Street to create “Connection Site” using printer paper tubes. Hangtime Bluetooth Speakers in the tubes provided a soundtrack. The public was invited to answer the questions “What fuels you?” and “What gives you a sense of place?” by writing on the tubes or recording an answer on our smart phones. Their answers were then incorporated into the installation. PARK(ing) Day photos

Mission Street Community Planning
The Housing Services Affiliate of the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center engaged Gelfand Partners to conduct a two-year series of community design workshops for master planning a stretch of Mission Street from Cesar Chavez to Randall. Monthly workshops for neighborhood residents, including youth and seniors, are helping shape the street for the future.

Eighth Avenue Greening
A group of residents on 8th Avenue between Lincoln and Irving wanted to green their sidewalk. We provided pro bono drawings and participated in the neighborhood work days installing plants and sidewalk amenities.