RinconSouth BeachSoMaMission Bay

A project to make Rincon, South Beach, Mission Bay, East SoMa feel more connected

A free, Civic Joy grant-funded effort to build local neighbor community through coffee chats, local events, and more chances to build relationships close to home.

A glimpse of what we've started and hope to create more of:

Neighbors gathering for a picnic Neighbors meeting indoors Neighbors enjoying a movie and karaoke night Neighbors relaxing together in the park Neighbors sharing dinner Neighbors at a community event Neighbors out together in San Francisco

Building community takes a little extra intention here

The people we pass at the coffee shop or on the sidewalk are just as likely to be visiting, working, or commuting through as they are to live two floors up from us. That makes it harder to come to recognize familiar faces.

Newer neighborhoods take time to build up their own traditions and regular spots. And while more is happening locally than most people realize, it’s scattered across buildings, venues, and calendars that are hard to find if you don’t already know where to look.

We have awesome parks, events, local businesses, and neighbors. Many of us just haven't met yet.

This project is meant to make local connection easier by:

  1. Pairing neighbors for quick coffee chats, so we can come to recognize each other.
  2. Hosting a series of local resident-centered events to give people many opportunities to build relationships. The goal is not one big event. It’s more familiar faces, more nearby plans, and more reasons for people to feel connected to this place.

Get Involved

For residents

Meet your neighbors

Sign up to meet neighbors and join local interest groups. This free project pairs people in the neighborhood for 10-minute "say hi" chats

Join the neighborhood

Help shape the project

Take a 2-minute survey and tell us what you’re up for — hosting, volunteering, or spreading the word.

Interest form

For local businesses

Become a neighborhood partner

Get introduced to the neighbors who actually live here. Display a flyer, offer a perk, donate to an event, or host a meetup — your call.

Interest form
Roza, founder of Hey There, Neighbor

Who’s doing this and why?

Hi, I'm Roza. It took me 3 years of living here to meet a neighbor. When it finally happened, it wasn’t because I got the courage to strike up an elevator conversation. It was because I put up a flyer and started pairing neighbors for 10-minute “say hi” chats.

I learned that many neighbors, just like me, didn’t know anyone here, had never been to the block parties on our own street, and had no idea that we have a neighborhood association, a monthly volunteer clean up, or four different trivia nights.

This is the easier way in I wish I’d had three years ago.