Sisters Rise!

We wish to present the 2023 -2024 chapter, Concrete Roses

Taking its name from Tupac Shakur’s The Rose that Grew from Concrete, the group shares the same recognition of life’s duality: its beauty and its cruelty. While many can understand how harsh its split visage is on the eye and why so many learn to carefully redirect their gaze, not everyone has the privilege to do so. Although all our journeys are our own to take, it is a blessing to be able to share it with people of our choosing. For this reason, Concrete Roses strives to provide a safe and supportive space for women to lean on one another while providing the grace to vent and share a laugh. Through hosting program-wide and community-wide events, the group seeks to bloom beyond the expectations of an ordinary women’s group. By participating in museum excursions, watercolor workshops, and listening sessions with external agencies, the women in Concrete Roses are a testament that no matter how many thorns life may throw at you, there are always roses.

“I don’t have family here, so this is my family” – Terri Gonzales, Royan HTO

“A safe and comfortable space where you can be yourself, have people you can relate to and face no judgement” – Cheryl Howard, Mission HTO

“Teaches me a lot and allows me to give back to the community” – Jennifer Haun, Mission HTO

“Chance to be around good people” – Naomi Cohen, Edgeworth HTO

Here we see Susie Melkonian, Carol Huber-Prows, and Naomi Cohen – three women who fondly reminisce about their time shared at The Sanctuary. Laughing together and marveling at the twist of fate that led each of them to a THC building and the Central City SRO Collaborative program itself.

Sisters Rise recognizes the unique challenges that women in SROs face, and carves out a space in our male dominated world for women to process and share their experiences. The group provides a safe and social setting for women to come together, develop leadership skills, and initiate and support community-wide efforts that promote the wellbeing of women in the neighborhood.

For more information, contact Royericzon at royericzon@thclinic.org or at 415-775-7110 ext. 1705