Reclaiming the Soul of San Francisco: Housing & Culture Amidst Urban Revitalization
Join us for a forward and innovative evening on housing in San Francisco hosted by Black+ Society
Amidst billions being raised to revitalize key parts of San Francisco, the longstanding concern for Black Bay Area residents continues to pose questions about the need to keep, attract, and enhance the quality of life for Black workers, families, and businesses. Black+ explores key insights from city leaders and community experts involved in the next phase of San Francisco, and what it will mean for the city’s culture and economy. Hear insights on efforts to fuel San Francisco's next renaissance and advancing opportunity for a better Black Bay Area. Join us for an evening of honest dialogue and actionable ideas to ensure the people who create the soul of San Francisco and enable the City to thrive.
Speaker Bios
Rachael Tanner, Director, SF Planning Department
A leader in planning, land use, and public policy, Rachael serves as the Director of Citywide Planning for the City and County of San Francisco. Surrounded by the best long-range planning team in the state of California and under Sarah Dennis-Phillip’s leadership, Rachael works closely with the mayor, Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and other stakeholders. Together, we chart the City’s path into the future.
Prior to serving the City & County of San Francisco, Rachael served the cities of Palo Alto and Long Beach. As a multi-faceted entrepreneur, Rachael has previously built practices in different disciplines including wedding officiating, career and life coaching, and organizational development. Rachael earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), with minors in Spanish and Urban Studies. Rachael earned a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Ashlei Hurst, Vice President of Community Life, Mercy Housing California
Ashlei Hurst is Vice President of Community Life at Mercy Housing California, where she leads trauma-informed, resident-centered initiatives across one of the nation’s largest affordable housing portfolios. She has been instrumental in shaping Mercy Housing’s strategic approach to community development, including the creation of The Hub—a 30,000-square-foot community center in San Francisco’s Sunnydale neighborhood. The Hub offers early childhood education, youth programming, job training, and wellness services, and stands as a model for holistic, place-based investment. Prior to her current role, Hurst served as Associate Director of Resident Services, where she pioneered partnerships with public schools and health systems to address systemic inequities. Her work with Leataata Floyd Elementary School in Sacramento helped bridge gaps between public housing communities and educational resources, particularly for African American youth facing barriers to academic success
Theo Ellington, Policy Director, Brownstein
Theo Ellington is a third-generation San Franciscan and seasoned public affairs executive with over 15 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He has been appointed to several commissions by San Francisco Mayors Gavin Newsom, Edwin Lee, and London Breed, including the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure and the Human Rights Commission. As a community organizer, he founded Black Citizen (formerly Black Young Democrats) to sustain social movements and advise foundations on strategic impact. Known for his strategic acumen in navigating public policy and political landscapes, Theo has built a reputation for partnering with business, government, and community leaders to develop solutions for complex urban challenges.
Moderator: Charles Belle (Black+ Society of The Battery Member)
Born and raised in San Francisco, Charles Belle is a former Professor at the University of San Francisco, School of Law. He is a recognized thought leader at the intersection of municipal finance, blockchain technology, and civic innovation. As a professor, he pioneered coursework on emerging financial technologies, with particular focus on tokenizing municipal bonds to unlock new pathways for affordable housing finance. His academic work explores how distributed ledger technology can democratize access to public infrastructure investment and create more transparent, efficient capital markets for community development. He spent nearly a decade of public service on San Francisco's Committee on Information Technology (COIT), the City and County's primary technology governance body, where he helped shape digital infrastructure policy and technology procurement strategies. His unique combination of legal expertise, financial innovation, and public sector experience positions him as a bridge-builder between traditional municipal finance and cutting-edge fintech solutions. Through his work, Professor Belle advocates for leveraging technology to address urban challenges, particularly in expanding equitable access to capital for affordable housing and community-controlled development projects.
Food and Beverage sponsor: Black Action Alliance
Black Action Alliance is a Bay Area–based 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to amplifying the Black voice in political engagement through a growing emphasis on educational initiatives. We empower community members to understand ballot measures, evaluate candidates, and engage with elected officials, all while prioritizing key quality-of-life issues—Economic Development, Housing Access, Homelessness Mitigation, Public Safety, and Public Education. By centering civic literacy and informed participation, we foster pragmatic partnerships with community, civic, business, and political groups to build a more equitable and engaged Bay Area.