Faces & Phases of SoMa

An archive of stories from San Francisco's South of Market residents and workers

The South of Market (SoMa) district of San Francisco was home to Filipino families outside Manilatown in the 30s and 40s. The fall of the I-Hotel forced the movement of Filipinos from Manilatown to the SoMa, and for decades, the Edwardian flats that laced the SoMa alleys were home to multigenerational Filipino families. Filipinos have lived and worked in the SoMa for decades, but their rich stories and life experiences have not been documented extensively.

The Faces & Phases of SoMa Archive, a project made possible by Success Centers, aims to collect the stories of SoMa residents and workers from the 90's to protect and preserve cultural memories during a pivotal and vibrant period of SoMa history. This archive is an ongoing collection, so if you are interested in sharing your #SoMaStory then reach out to the BEC at info@sfbec.org.

Join us for the archive unveiling and SoMa reunion on Saturday, June 28, 2025!