We’re in the midst of the second annual Good Neighbor Week, a citywide celebration of the people who foster connection, kindness, and community across San Francisco’s neighborhoods.
Good Neighbor Week kicked off Saturday with a midday gathering, awards ceremony, and live music at Civic Center Plaza. The week “celebrates everyday residents who bring connection, kindness and community to San Francisco,” according to the website for the event, which organizer Julia Gitis brought to San Francisco through her nonprofit Good Neighbor Lab. One of the initiative’s goals is to reach socially isolated residents, such as seniors living alone.
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Gitis said that she sees Good Neighbor Week as similar to Mother’s Day, in that “you can call your mom 364 days a year, but it’s nice to have one day a year dedicated to that relationship.” On top of that, “Getting to know your neighbors is usually fun, often meaningful, and sometimes lifesaving,” she said.
Residents nominate their neighbors for awards to recognize their meaningful contributions to improving local quality of life. That includes Good Neighbor Awards for people engaged in acts of kindness; Beyond the Classroom Awards for educators who build community and get students involved in their neighborhoods; Small Business Neighborhood Champions for the businesses and staff who knit communities together; and Goodest Pet Awards for animals who bring smiles.
Michael Nulty (left) and Esan Looper, recipients of Good Neighbor Week awards. Photo by Michael Nulty.Brian Sheehy, recipient of the Small Business Neighborhood Champion award, with Good Neighbor Week organizer Julia Gitis. Photo by Michael Nulty.
At the event, award winners received certificates of recognition from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, along with T-shirts or hoodies. A group photo followed, with awardees surrounding elected officials amid a flurry of cameras and phones.
District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the Tenderloin, said that small businesses are the backbone of the city’s economy and then named the Small Business Neighborhood Champions.
Other high-profile politicians were there, including state Sen. Scott Wiener, who is running against San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to fill Nancy Pelosi’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mayor Daniel Lurie addressed the people he called “civic heroes and volunteers” before calling out the Good Neighbor Award winners.
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In the video above, Mayor Daniel Lurie reads the names of Good Neighbor Week award winners.
David Elliott Lewis and David Irving Lewis, both Good Neighbor Award recipients. Photo by David Elliott Lewis.John Nulty and David Irving Lewis, both Good Neighbor Award recipients. Photo by Michael Nulty.Goodest Pet Award winner Bernie, and owners. Photo by Michael Nulty.
The event highlighted Tenderloin nominees and award winners, like David Irving Lewis and myself, recognized for our efforts to strengthen the community. Brian Sheehy of Swig bar, on Geary Street, was honored with an award for his business. Irma Nugroho of Tenderloin Community Elementary School received an award for her work fostering community among students. And Garfield, Susan B.’s ginger cat, took home a Goodest Pet Award. These honorees reflect the Tenderloin’s resilient community spirit amid the neighborhood’s ongoing challenges and revitalization efforts. The names of the awardees who were unable to attend were displayed at an array of 11 tables, with each representing one of San Francisco’s supervisorial districts.
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Garfield, who won a Goodest Pet Award. Photo by Michael Nulty.
Find all District 5 awardees at the end of this article.
Local leaders in the Tenderloin were eager to participate in Good Neighbor Week, in part because the neighborhood already contains many groups that work together to strengthen the community, said Gitis, of Good Neighbor Lab. “I’ve loved getting to know the Good Neighbor Award winners from the Tenderloin and look forward to partnering with Tenderloin groups to highlight events and opportunities for relationship-building, not just during [Good Neighbor Week] but year round,” she said.
Photo by Michael Nulty
Good Neighbor Week is inspired by National Good Neighbor Day, a holiday that multiple U.S. presidents, including Jimmy Carter, established and renewed during their terms, according to Wikipedia.
Gitis brought the week-long celebration to San Francisco in 2025, and it quickly grew into what organizers describe as the largest celebration of its kind in the country.
This year’s festivities aim to deepen engagement with more partners, events, and recognitions. Activities include neighborhood cleanups, art displays, and donation drives organized with partners like Refuse Refuse and the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco. There are also potlucks, photo walks, discussion groups, and opportunities to connect with local merchants.
Michael Nulty is executive director of the Alliance for a Better District 6, which is a founding partner of San Francisco Good Neighbor Week. The Tenderloin was previously part of the city’s Supervisorial District 6, and became part of District 5 as a result of a 2022 citywide redistricting process.
The Tenderloin Voice is a participant in Good Neighbor Week, with our “Coffee Catch-Up” event tomorrow. Tenderloin community members are welcome to join us at Paris Cafe, at 3 p.m., to discuss our newsroom and the work we’ve done since opening in January. We’d love to hear your reflections, constructive criticism, and ideas about what we should cover going forward. Early attendees can get coffee and pastries, on us.
Michael Nulty is a published author and civic leader with more than 50 years in public service, who has served on 21 boards. He’s advocated for over 150 justice causes, received over 200 honors, and been quoted in books, articles, and other media.
