ROSe, Thorn, Bud

Reclaiming Our Space Through the Eyes of a SOMCAN Intern

By Danisha Calip

The End is Always the Beginning

When I first discovered the opportunity to intern for the South of Market Community Action Network, I knew I had to take it, especially as a Filipina American seeking to learn more about my cultural roots. Now, as my internship comes to an end, I want to reflect on how this inspiring organization has helped me grow.

Thorn: Challenges Faced

As of 2019, Filipinos make up approximately 19% of the Asian American population and are the third largest Asian ethnic group in the United States. But despite the large population of Filipinos, they still severely lack representation in the US. Besides our food, such as the very popular lumpia, not much is known about Filipino culture throughout general  society. However, there is so much more to us than just food, as the Philippines is very rich in culture, history, art, and tradition. 

The background of colonization in the Philippines by Spain and the US resulted in colonial mentality and assimilation to be subconsciously embedded in the mindset of many Filipino Americans. This is manifested in how a large portion of first and second generation immigrant children do not fluently speak Filipino--an experience that resonates with me.

My family and I migrated to the US from the Philippines when I was a toddler, so assimilation began at a very early age for me. My parents, like many others, chose not to continue speaking Filipino to their children in fear that their children would not be socially accepted or that they would struggle academically due to language barriers. This lack of exposure to Filipino culture led me to lose my ability to speak my native tongue and experience a disconnect with my ethnic identity. For years, it felt as if I did not belong anywhere because I could not fully identify as American nor Filipina. 

Rose: Positive Happenings

The South of Market Community Action Network, in conjunction with many other Filipino-based organizations, works tirelessly to promote and protect the health and well-being of the Filipino community, and I am so blessed to be a part of it. 

On a professional level, interning for SOMCAN allowed me to practice what I learned in my major, particularly assessing individual and community needs. Besides wanting to learn more about my cultural roots, the main reason I applied as an intern for SOMCAN was for the research opportunity they offered through the Health, Housing, and Gentrification project, which is a qualitative study aimed to research how gentrification, housing issues, and displacement impact the health and wellness of Filipino residents in SF, as well as their recommendations for change. The main research questions sought to answer 

Conducting research in the public health field is one of my career goals and SOMCAN has allowed me to do just that. In this position, I learned what it takes to launch, conduct, analyze, and evaluate a qualitative study, a valuable experience that will kickstart my career in the public health field.

Working with SOMCAN not only cultivated my professional growth, but also my personal growth, because it allowed me to connect with my Filipino heritage and meet many inspiring members of the Filipino community. I was able to surround myself in the culture I thought I had lost and reclaim my Filipina identity.

Bud: Hopes for the Future

I look forward to more ways the Filipino community can come together and make ourselves known. Mabuhay ang Pinoy!

About the Intern

Born in the Philippines and raised in the US, Danisha Calip (she/hers) is a student at San Francisco State University and a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education. She is also one of SOMCAN’s interns, in partnership with SFSU’s Public Health Department, for the Fall 2021 semester who has assisted with the ROSe program and the Health, Housing, and Gentrification project.

SFSU Public Health Intern, Danisha Calip (far right) alongside SOMCAN Staff, Silay Kintanar, Alyssa Daulat, and SFSU Public Health Professor Ruby Turalba. All play a leading role on the research for the Health, Housing and Gentrification project.

Photo by Danisha Calip

SOMCAN's Reclaiming Our Space (RoSe): "Kumot ng Bata" (Child's Blanket) Art Unveiling taken on November 13, 2021 at the Children's Creative Museum Art in San Francisco.

Photo by Danisha Calip