January 2026 eNews
Dear friends,
2025 was a year of many struggles, triumphs, and difficult moments. To read about our 2025 accomplishments, check out our Year in Review on our website. One highlight was the expansion of our Community Resources Program, which experienced growth in numbers and increase in capacity, including new Peer Advocates who speak Cantonese and Mandarin.
We had a very fruitful year in our education work, with hundreds of participants in Senior and Disability Survival School and our other educational programs. This year, we aim to continue empowering our community to make well-informed decisions and to ask the necessary questions of those running for government office.
Through our organizing, we co-led the Muni Now, Muni Forever campaign (which continues in 2026), defended Medi-Cal, and much more.
Last year we lost the physical presence of many beloved people in our community, including Herb Levine, Patty Berne, David Williams, Alice Wong, Frank Bynum, and Suzy Lee. Their spirits remain with us in this struggle to achieve social justice. From the invasion of Venezuela to the continued violence of ICE, who killed a woman in Minneapolis last week, we know that there will be more loss and state violence in 2026. But as always, we will continue to fight — creatively, interdependently, persistently.
SDA News & Highlights
The Attack On Healthcare Workers & Patients and The Fight For Single Payer
Thursday, January 15, 7 to 8pm PT on Zoom
Join us for the third session in a virtual series of teach-ins on what it will take to put single payer on the nation's agenda and achieve the healthcare system we deserve. In this panel, healthcare workers report on the growing cutbacks and attacks on healthcare workers and unions, and what this means for patients and communities. Register for the healthcare teach-in here.
Defend Medi-Cal!
January 14, 10am to 3pm in Sacramento
Due to federal cuts, including cuts to healthcare in the "One Big Ugly Bill" (H.R 1), the state is facing a projected $18 billion hole next year that is only expected to grow. Healthcare cuts will be considered by state lawmakers to fill the gap.
In response, the Fight For Our Health Coalition (FFOH) is looking towards a state legislative campaign to stop healthcare cuts by pulling in revenue to backfill the losses that Trump’s policies and corporate tax cuts left.
Join SDA, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Hand in Hand, FFOH, and labor and community advocates for a united effort to protect healthcare for Californians on Wednesday, January 14, 10am to 3pm in Sacramento!
Connect with Itzel at itzel@sdaction.org to sign up for the rally and lobby day to fight corporate greed and protect health care.
We are also coordinating travel to Sacramento, so please get in touch with Itzel if you need a ride!
Violence Cannot Generate Peace
A blog post by Ligia Montano, SDA's Director of Education and Partnerships
The world is in turmoil due to the normalization of violence. As a Latin American, I am deeply concerned that diplomacy is not being given a chance to stabilize the political situation we are facing. We view with alarm the events in the Caribbean Sea and the recent events in Venezuela. The aggression against Venezuela is not only illegal, but constitutes an attack on all of Latin America. Read more about the attack on Latin America on our website.
Save the Date for our February General Meeting: The Politics of Being Disabled and/or a Senior in 2026
Thursday, February 12, 10am to 12pm on Zoom (in-person location TBD)
Younger disabled people, chronically ill people, and older adults are deprioritized under capitalism and by our cities. Ableism and ageism shape how we’re treated, what we believe about ourselves and the political conditions of our lives. Join a conversation with SDA about how our experiences are similar and where they diverge.
How can we be in solidarity with each other? How do ableism and ageism map onto the political conditions of this moment when governments make decisions about health care, evacuation planning in natural disasters, and immigration? How does the state target us? And how do we take our power back?
Stay tuned for more info on our February General Meeting and we hope you can join us!
Photo above by Hasain Rasheed Photography
Tenant Protection Ordinance passes!
We are thrilled to report that the SF Board of Supervisors recently passed the Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO). From REP Coalition: "The TPO gives tenants a fighting chance to keep their homes. The TPO prevents wrongful evictions and mitigates harms to tenants facing displacement due to the demolition and redevelopment of their homes. These protections are long overdue, and have become even more necessary because of state laws and local programs that incentivize landlord harassment, illegal buyouts, and unlawful evictions."
SDA was part of the coalition effort to pass the TPO and attended hearings to support it. Read more about the TPO from Mission Local here.
Board Spotlight: Juthaporn Chaloeicheep
What inspired you to join the board of SDA? What does SDA’s mission mean to you personally?
I was inspired to join the board of Senior and Disability Action by the older, low-income Chinese women I met during my years of homelessness in San Francisco. Watching their strength, resilience, and quiet perseverance, often while carrying heavy loads of recyclables, gave me hope and motivation to keep going. Now that I am housed and rebuilding my life, I want to ensure their voices are heard. As an older Asian woman myself, SDA’s mission is deeply personal and reflects my commitment to advocating for a more secure and dignified future for all seniors.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
People are often surprised to learn that I’m the mother of six boys, ranging in age from 10 to 28, a role that continues to shape everything I do.
Community Resource Corner
The Community Resource program is led by Damara Lopez and staffed by our team of Peer Advocates. The Peer Advocates field calls and concerns on a variety of issues and work to help people find the right support or redress for their problem.
Contact us if you need help...
Getting your benefits, such as SSI, SSDI, and CalFresh
Finding home care
Understanding a confusing letter or document you received
Getting services in the language you prefer
Navigating your housing situation
Resource Highlight: CHIPPS
CHIPPS (Community & Home Injury Prevention Program for Seniors), is a fall and injury prevention and education program. This program can help make your home safer by providing everything from night lights to installing grab bars in your shower! Get started by leaving a message at the following number: 628-206-7695. You can expect to hear back within two to four business days.
Reading Recommendation: Preface of a Motivation
by Andrew Rogge, SDA Peer Advocate
Check out Andrew's post on SF Transit Riders' blog!
Community News & Events
Call for Submissions: Love Letters for Queer and Trans Crips
Deadline: January 15, 2026. Edited by SAJ, Marissa Joyce Stamps, and Wendi Moore O'Neal, Love Letters for Queer and Trans Crips is a collection of writings by and for disabled queer and trans people that documents our love and imagines more love into being. Submit here to Love Letters.
Long COVID Defense Series II
Thursday, January 15, 2 to 5pm PT on Zoom
MaskTogetherAmerica is fighting erasure of Long COVID in healthcare and science research! Please join the four Q&A sessions of the Long COVID Defense Series on Jan 15, featuring Sinéad O'Brien, co-founder of Clean Air Advocacy Ireland (CAAI), Prof. Akiko Iwasaki, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at the Yale University School of Medicine, Betsy Ladyzhets & Miles W. Griffis, co-founders and editors, The Sick Times. They will be hosting Long COVID Forums year-round to support Long COVID patients struggling to get diagnosed and getting care. Register for the Long COVID panel here.
Find a full list of our monthly program meetings on our website's events calendar.
Let’s build this movement together. Donate to SDA today!
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