News & Events - Shanti Project

Shanti Voices Blog

Edith, a woman wearing a red tee shirt, black hoodie, glasses, and a floral decorated headband, sitting up in her hospital bed with her oxygen tube, smiling.

Client Spotlight: Edith

When you meet Edith, you’ll immediately sense her warmth and joy for life. She will likely be in the bedroom… more

A photo of three participants at Meals Heal

Building Social Connection: Sharing Food & Stories at Meals Heal

Earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, released an advisory calling attention to a truth that we… more

Five volunteers are gathered in a living room talking with a small dog keeping them company.

Shanti’s Volunteer Support Group Helps Make Volunteer Work Sustainable

Being in service as a Shanti Peer Support Volunteer is rewarding, inspiring, and life-changing. And at times it can be… more

2023 Nancy Pelosi Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree: Tom Nolan

Shanti’s Nancy Pelosi Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals for their lifelong work to improve the human condition. In their service… more

2023 Margot Murphy Cancer Inspiration Award Honoree: Barbara Rose Brooker

Shanti is honored to present the 2023 Margot Murphy Cancer Inspiration Award to Barbara Rose Brooker. This award honors a… more

Photo of Juan Pablo Gutiérrez holding his small dog Malena

2023 James C. Hormel Community Spirit Award Honoree: Juan Pablo Gutiérrez

This year, Shanti presents the James C. Hormel Community Spirit Award posthumously to Juan Pablo Gutiérrez (August 3, 1953 –… more

Johana (a woman) wearing a white dress with embroidered flowers and a flower headband, holding her small dog, standing in a park with buildings in the background.

Client Spotlight: Johana

Johana is a community activist who enjoys spending her time participating in social networks, being an influencer, and educating members… more

Meet the 2023 PAWS Dog Idols

We are delighted to introduce you to our four pawesome canine Pet Idols: Lady Bird, Murphy, Slinky, and Lila. As… more

Meet the 2023 PAWS Cat Idols

We are delighted to introduce you to our four purrrfect feline Pet Idols: Isabella, Marilyn, Tillie, and Margo. Each took… more

Volunteer Spotlight: Amrita

We are delighted to introduce you to one of our amazing Peer Support Volunteers, Amrita, who graciously responded to our… more

Celebrating 40 Years of Partnership with Community Thrift Store

Shanti is honored to celebrate 40 years of partnership with Community Thrift Store (CTS)—since the store first opened in its… more

Shanti Welcomes Our New CEO: Kimberly Scrafano

April 2023 It is with great excitement that we announce that the Shanti Board of Directors has named Kimberly Scrafano… more

Long-Term Survivors & HIV Cure Research Webinar Series 2023

As a co-sponsor, Shanti is thrilled to announce a new webinar series to discuss the needs and concerns around the… more

Client Spotlight: Cuc

“Shanti gave me a hand during my most difficult time. Everything Shanti has done for me will stay in my… more

Client Spotlight: Marla

I’m Marla and I’d like to share a little bit of my story with you. In 1986, when I moved… more

Client Spotlight: Lary

Lary Dunsmore is an active and athletic 70-year-old. A retired middle and high school teacher, he now spends much of… more

Shanti Helps Mentor San Francisco’s Workforce

Shanti is excited to offer its partners and providers a new opportunity to lift up the next generation of workers.… more

Partner Spotlight: Partners in Serving LGBTQ+ Older Adults

Shanti’s LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN) helps LGBTQ+ older adults and adults with disabilities overcome social isolation and… more

Emily Scott: Co-Founder, Shanti’s Veterinary Mental Health Initiative

Emily Scott is a San Francisco-based financial guide and navigator, thought partner, philanthropist, advocate for human and animal welfare, and… more

Q&A with Mark Molnar: a reflection on volunteering and empathy

Mark Molnar, Director of Volunteer & Community Support Services, reflects on his experiences with Shanti over the past 28 years.… more

Dave Provides Steady Support for PAWS

Dave is a Pet Food Bank volunteer with our Pets are Wonderful Support (PAWS) program. He sorts and bags up… more

Valentina and Olena, a Cultural Connection

Meet Valentina and Olena. Originally from Ukraine, Olena is a client in our Margot Murphy Women’s Cancer Program who is… more

Meet Our 2022 Dog Idol: Chloe

Chloe Page My name is Chloe and I am honored and thrilled to be your Dog Pet Idol again for… more

Meet Our 2022 Cat Idol: Lilly

Lilly Janin Q: How old are you? A: I was born on November 29, 2013. Q: What… more

Client Spotlight: Charles, Jerry, Bentley, Luna, and Rusty

Charles and his beloved pet family have been PAWS clients for eleven years. Their connection began when Charles learned about… more

AIDS Memorial Quilt Panels Return to San Francisco

The AIDS Memorial Quilt was created over 35 years ago to give people a way to memorialize, grieve, and honor… more

Shanti Welcomes New Program Directors

Shanti is excited to welcome LaLisha Norton as the new Director of the Peer Advocate Care Team (PACT) Program. In… more

Jessica and Sebastian: Sharing Walks and Perspectives

We are delighted to introduce you to Jessica and Sebastian (with his dog Rocky, a seven-pound, longhair Chihuahua and Afghan… more

SHARE: Creating Community through Self-Expression

Many of us and our family, friends, and neighbors have faced isolation, new or worsening anxiety, fear, grief, depression, anger,… more

Virtual Events Bring Connection to Shanti’s Community

David Smee, Client Activities Coordinator, is a client in Shanti’s HIV Program and began volunteering with the activities desk over… more

Volunteer Spotlight: Clifford

Q&A with Clifford In March 2020, Shanti launched our COVID-19 Emergency Response Volunteer Program (CERV) to provide emergency support to… more

Client Spotlight: Sarah, Ruby, and Ginger

Sarah at home with Ruby and Ginger, a bonded pair of kittens. “PAWS is a truly humane organization that cares… more

Richard’s Story and the Healing Power of Connection.

Since Shanti’s inception, building personal connection has been at the heart of what we do. Richard, a client of Shanti’s… more

Photo of peer support volunteer trainees on Zoom

A History of Being There For Each Other: Q&A with Kayla Smyth from Volunteer & Community Support Services

Picture: Kayla recently trained PAWS pet assistance and Shanti peer support volunteers via Zoom. We caught up with Kayla Smyth, volunteer… more

Client Spotlight: Ron

Ron is an 83-year-old retired teacher who loves reading and writing. It’s a part of who he is. He’s a… more

Shanti Project Peer Advocate Care Team (PACT)

Shanti’s Peer Advocate Care Team Leading COVID-19 Efforts in Collaboration With Other Commmunity Based Organizations

Photo: Residents of Potrero Hill Terrace. Shanti's PACT team always works in collaboration with residents and other community based organizations. Being With and Supporting Community Before, During, and After the… more

About Shanti’s work with San Quentin’s Brother’s Keepers

Photo: San Quentin State Penitentiary (by Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA ) Brother's Keepers is a peer support training program… more

Shanti’s Work in the San Francisco EMA HIV Community Planning Council (HCPC)

Shanti provides administrative and needs assessment support to the San Francisco HIV Community Planning Council. The HCPC guides use of… more

Client Spotlight: Hulda

Hulda became a client of Shanti in 1994, three years after she was diagnosed with HIV. At that time San… more

Client Spotlight: Anil & Tango

PAWS helps ensure Anil, a PAWS client of eight years, has the resources to care for his beloved dog, Tango.… more

Shirley and her Peer Support Volunteer Ashley

Client Spotlight: Shirley

Shirley is a 96-year-old woman who spends most of her time alone with her kitty in her condo she has… more

Community Connections: Shanti’s PAWS & Full Belly Bus Partner During the Pandemic

Pictured: Ali Sutch, PAWS care navigator and FBB volunteer dog trainer, with her dog, Paisley. PAWS recently caught up with… more

Longtime PAWS Volunteer Veterinarian, Dr. Kathy Gervais, Receives Esteemed Award

Pictured: Dr. Kathy Gervais and Dr. Ken Gorczyca (from the Shanti/PAWS archives) Longtime PAWS volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Kathy Gervais is this… more

Client Spotlight: Luisa

My name is Luisa and have been a client of Shanti’s Women’s Cancer Program for more than eight years. I… more

An Archive of Compassion: Online exhibit pays homage to Shanti’s work during the earliest days of the AIDS pandemic

Photo Credit: Judi Iryani courtesy of Shanti Projects: Histories of Shanti Project and the AIDS crisis University of Minnesota graduate… more

Client Spotlight: Hank Trout

Photo Credit: Saul Bromberger & Sandra Hoover Photography When I moved to San Francisco in August 1980 to take a… more

Building One Another Up to Be Advocates in the Community

In addition to training peer support and pet assistance volunteers, Shanti provides support to the San Francisco HIV Community Planning Council and, in partnership with… more

Volunteer Spotlight: Jenna & Ingrid

Q. What motivated you to sign up as a CERV volunteer? Ingrid: I'm a PAWS volunteer of 20 years. Every… more

SF Has a Powerful Urge to Care

Given what has transpired in our nation over the last several years, it is hard to argue with what then-Senator… more

Client Spotlight: Alexandra & Otis

Otis is a 13-year-old white and tan Jack Russell Terrier. Alexandra is a 48-year-old woman. They are the best of… more