How Jamestown Community Center Is Building a Pipeline of Leaders

For over fifty years, Jamestown Community Center has been a vital, generational place where young people and families in San Francisco’s Mission District find hope, belonging, and opportunity. They offer far more than typical after-school programs and summer camps; they create safe, culturally rooted spaces where youth and families thrive.

We recently spoke with Nelly Sapinski, Executive Director of Jamestown, about the heart of their mission and the power of their programs.

Culture at the Core
Jamestown’s long-standing success is rooted in honoring the traditions of the Latinx and immigrant communities they serve. Nelly explains why this focus is so essential: "Jamestown continues this work because transformation happens when cultural knowledge is made visible and celebrated. Honoring language, traditions, and lived experience creates a sense of safety and belonging not only for youth, but for entire families and communities." Ultimately, the power that sustains Jamestown is "seeing young people step into leadership, families connect more deeply, and communities thrive when culture is centered.”

Investing in Youth Apprentices
Throughout their history, one initiative has been especially transformative: the Youth Apprentice Program (YAP).  YAP is a true catalyst for change. It creates pathways for young leaders to step into teaching, mentorship, and community roles, often shaping the very programs that once shaped them.  "By centering cultural knowledge, leadership development, and real-world skill building, YAP has not only strengthened Jamestown’s legacy but has also built a pipeline of alumni who continue to drive change across schools, nonprofits, and communities citywide."  It stands as a powerful example of how investing in leadership today creates lasting impact for generations.

Amalgamated: A Partner for Sustainable Growth
To sustain and deepen initiatives like YAP, Jamestown needed a bank that was aligned with their mission. Amalgamated Bank has been proud to serve as that vital partner in Jamestown's evolution. Nelly highlighted the importance of a bank that understood their unique needs as they grew: "From opening our first account as a small nonprofit to growing into a citywide organization, [Amalgamated's] support has allowed us to strengthen our financial foundation and expand with confidence."  This partnership ensures Jamestown can focus on their core purpose. As Nelly notes, Amalgamated’s commitment has enabled them "not only to sustain initiatives like YAP but to deepen our impact, broaden our reach, and continue building pathways for long-term community resilience."

Vanita Lee-Tatum, Commercial Banker, Western Region at Amalgamated Bank, works closely with the organization to ensure they have the resources to flourish. “Our partnership with Jamestown Community Center reflects Amalgamated Bank’s commitment to mission-driven organizations that strengthen communities and expand opportunity. We’re honored to support their work and the leaders they are cultivating for the future."

Amalgamated take great pride in partnering with organizations like Jamestown Community Center, demonstrating how mission-aligned banking can translate directly into generational impact.