This month, we gathered 120+ ESE leaders at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, for the closing summit of the first-ever cohort of California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (CA RISE).

Over the past year, 61 employment social enterprises (ESEs) grew their businesses, opened new locations, launched new programs, and — most importantly — created opportunities for Californians too often left out of the economy.

This event was also attended by representatives from our partners across California. In his address, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie reminded us of the power of this community and of investing in businesses that employ those too often left out:

“People need a shot, and you all are giving them that shot each and every day. Thank you for believing in people. Thank you for wanting to give people an opportunity that they deserve. And thank you for never giving up on people.”

Many thanks to Mayor Lurie and his team for welcoming the ESE community here in San Francisco. And we’re grateful to the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) for championing this work and ensuring programs like CA RISE are part of the state’s response to building an economy that works for all.

Together, we’ve shown that collaboration can achieve more than dollars — it can create pathways to economic power that uplift all Californians. Here’s to the next chapter!