The Center for Latino Advocacy, Resources and Organizing (CLARO)’s mission is to build collective power within San Francisco's Latino community and other underserved communities by engaging in education, community organizing, and advocacy that promotes social justice, environmental justice, and civic engagement.

Third Thursdays on Treat

Third Thursdays on Treat is a free monthly night market and cultural celebration at 957 Treat Avenue in San Francisco's Mission District, hosted by CLARO and Monkeybrains. Each event features local artists, musicians, and performers, family-friendly activities, and small vendors who sell without paying vendor fees. Many months also raise funds for a neighborhood nonprofit, including 826 Valencia, ASIAN, Inc., and the Mission Merchants Association.

From February through September 2026, Third Thursdays on Treat welcomed more than 4,000 attendees, presented more than 30 artistic acts, and provided more than 120 no-fee vendor opportunities. More than 85% of vendors and performers were people of color, and every artist and entertainer is paid.

Digital Equity and Access to Technology

Reliable, affordable internet is essential for school, work, health care, and public benefits, yet many Latino, immigrant, and low-income households in San Francisco still go without it. CLARO works to close the digital divide by:

• Surveying residents and collecting data on broadband access, cost, and reliability

• Offering digital literacy support and connecting families to devices and hardware resources

• Helping residents understand affordable internet options, including California LifeLine, and their rights as tenants under AB 1414

• Advocating for free and low-cost broadband in public and affordable housing

Transportation Justice and Community Safety

CLARO advocates for transportation planning that reflects the needs of the people who rely on transit and walk our streets every day. We push for pedestrian safety, safe and consistent transit service, and community-led decision-making. In May 2026, CLARO and Latino community partners hosted a bilingual town hall with BART on the redesign of the 16th Street BART Plaza, so Spanish-speaking residents could weigh in directly on design options. CLARO is also developing a promotoras program that trains community members to survey their neighbors and bring their priorities into regional transportation planning.

Environmental Justice

Air pollution, water pollution, and toxic chemicals fall hardest on working-class neighborhoods. CLARO educates and involves residents in monitoring, preventing, and reducing pollution in their neighborhoods, homes, and workplaces, including bilingual education about indoor exposure to harsh cleaning products. We are developing a community air-monitoring initiative led by trained promotoras in the Mission, Bayview Hunters Point, and Visitacion Valley.

Nonpartisan Civic Engagement

CLARO helps residents participate fully in the decisions that shape their lives. We provide bilingual, nonpartisan voter education, host community forums where residents can question people seeking public office, share information about local ballot measures, and create volunteer opportunities, including placements for people completing required service hours.

Get Involved

To volunteer, partner with CLARO, or support our programs, email admin@clarosf.org or call 202-993-3227. You can also make a tax-deductible donation to support this work.