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Horizons
Newsletter
March 2026
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Happy Women's Herstory Month!
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During Women’s Herstory Month,
we honor the women, girls, queer, trans and gender-expansive
people who shape our community and our world:
·
Healers
who lead with care, creating space for rest, reflection, and collective healing, reminding us that healing is not separate from justice
·
Culture
keepers
who carry
forward our traditions, language, memory, and stories, ensuring our histories live on and remain visible, heard, and valued across generations
·
Teachers
and Mentors who guide with intention, opening doors, sharing wisdom, and
expanding what’s possible
·
Organizers and Advocates who mobilize communities into action,
ensuring voices and experiences are included and uplifted
·
Artists who amplify our narratives,
opening space for truth, visibility, and deeper connection
We recognize that the rights and opportunities we hold today are the
result of generations who organized, resisted, and reimagined what equity looks like.
This work laid the foundation for more voice, choice, and possibility for all.
At Horizons, that legacy lives in our everyday work, walking alongside women, girls, queer, trans
and gender-expansive people, and nurturing spaces where all can feel seen, supported, and empowered.
This month, we are proud to honor four remarkable women who have collectively dedicated nearly 75 years to Horizons. Their
commitment reflects the depth of care, resilience, and community-rooted impact that Herstory represents.
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Honoring Nearly 75 Years
of Collective Impact at Horizons
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Nancy Abdul-Shakur joined Horizons
in 2010 and currently serves as the Program Director.
A self-proclaimed nonprofit baby, Nancy grew up doing youth organizing in San Francisco and has built her career around supporting young people and the communities that raised her.
Over the years, she has mentored youth into leadership roles across the city and throughout the United States, always focused on opening doors and creating opportunities for young people to lead.
Rooted in cultural humility and liberatory pedagogy, Nancy finds her purpose in supporting the on-the-ground work that helps youth discover their voice, creativity, and power.
She is a daughter, sister, friend, and ally; a mother to a giant teen; and married to her partner of more than 23 years.
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Donna Saffiotti-Johnson
began working at Horizons in March 1988 in the HIV Prevention and Early Intervention Program, providing HIV education to youth in schools and community sites across San Francisco.
This work included providing needle exchange for 15 years to young people injecting drugs.
Her work expanded to support marginalized and street-affiliated youth, leading to long-standing partnerships and youth-focused outreach programs.
She later earned her CATC certification and continues to support youth and families through counseling, training, and educational programs.
Awards: Mujeres Adelante | Heroes of the AIDS Epidemic | The Samuel Puckett Memorial Award | The
Wedge Program’s Distinction Award | Concordia Award for Community Work | Cheyenne Bell Award | Mission Peacekeeper.
🍰
This month, we celebrate
Donna’s birthday and honor her 38 years
of commitment and impact at Horizons.
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Phyllis Lozano
brings more than
30 years of experience in corporate accounting and transitioned to the nonprofit financial sector in 2012.
She currently oversees Horizons’ daily finance, accounting, and HR operations.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cleaning, and gardening.
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Linda Mack-Burch
is a
Strengthening Families Facilitator with Horizons and a Pre-Kindergarten Special Education teacher with the San Francisco Unified School District.
She is also a member of the
Black Early Educators Policy Council through the Children’s Council of San Francisco,
where she contributes to advocacy and leadership efforts supporting early childhood educators and families.
Linda holds a Master of Public Health and received an
Honorary Doctorate in Christian Education from New Hope International School. She is currently pursuing a
Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education at San Francisco State University.
Through her work in
education, public health advocacy, and community leadership, Linda Mack-Burch is committed to empowering families, supporting educators, and creating inclusive opportunities for young children and their communities.
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Femmes Against Violence (FAV)
Femmes Against Violence (FAV) is a
5-month, cohort-based, gender-affirming program that promotes healing, agency/voice and leadership for femme-identified, gender-expansive youth (FIGEY) of color ages 14-21.
Offered twice per year, cohorts include programming 3 days per week centered on cultural and gender identity, youth-led action projects and femmehood.
FAV has just launched its spring cohort with a few slots available.
For more information, please contact Agua Bracho, Program Coordinator, at
abr...@horizons-sf.org.
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Horizons Unlimited of
San Francisco, Inc.
(Horizons)
is a community-based organization located in San Francisco’s beloved Mission District and offers culturally and linguistically competent services, in English and Spanish, for
the diverse population of the Mission District and the City and County of San Francisco.
Since
1965, Horizons has had the honor and privilege to serve as a major access point for more than 265,000 native, immigrant, and newcomer youth and their families.
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