Welcome to
the Neighborhood

Welcome, neighbor!

The best way to get involved is to come to our events and sign up for our newsletter (scroll to the bottom).

We’re excited to have you join us. This vibrant and historic neighborhood is situated in the very heart of San Francisco! Encompassing the greater Castro area, this neighborhood is renowned across the world for its prominent role in the fight for equality for the LGBTQ community.

You’ll be happy to hear that we have some incredible neighbors. From our longtime residents to our new arrivals from near and far, we’re a very active bunch! Our neighborhood boasts dozens of local organizations dedicated to its preservation, health, and future. And with deep roots in civic engagement, voters in the Eureka Valley often serve as bellwether of where the city of San Francisco sees itself in the coming years.

Our neighborhood has many beautiful tree lined streets, marked with quintessentially San Franciscans Victorian townhomes, legacy businesses, museums, memorials, and we regularly host cultural cornerstones like the Castro Street Fair, the farmers market, Art Walks, and many other long-standing traditions. To be here is to be in community.

Here are our neighborhood association’s borders, but we don’t want these to exclude people who care about our neighborhood and want to join. We welcome you to join. Non-voting membership is open to everyone, everywhere. Almost all our events are for the public (not just members). We ask for feedback and engagement from everyone. Subscribing to our newsletter is free.

What do our “voting members” vote on? Our board elections, motions to change bylaws, and other official business during official board or member meetings.

EVNA Board of Directors

Executive Committee

  • Jennifer “JDub” Waggoner

    President

    Jenny (they or she) JDub moved to San Francisco in 2000, thanks to a blind date at Burning Man. She and her Domestic Partner, Dave, moved to Collingwood with a great view of the dog park in 2009. Now they live close to Kite Hill, so their Muttville foster pups still have a place to play. Her consulting business focuses on nonprofits, small businesses, and startups doing good. JDub’s education is in government and social policy. She is passionate about essential resources like Pit Stops, collaboration with sister organizations, and promoting the values of love, welcome and pride. Our neighborhood is a rich and fabulous destination, with worldwide appeal. “The power of visibility can never be underrated,” -- Margaret Cho.

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    Rob LeVan

    Treasurer

    Rob LeVan is a 23-year San Francisco resident, having spent the last 15 in the Castro/Eureka Valley neighborhood. Rob has had the honor of serving on the EVNA Board for the past 4 years and is seeking re-election for another term. In his spare time, Rob enjoys cooking, travel and spending quality outdoor time exploring his neighborhood with his Dalmatian puppy, Frannie. Rob is also a founding member of the EVDOG, currently working alongside the EVNA to renovate the Eureka Valley Dog Play Area (aka Collingwood Park). Rob is also an avid volunteer, working with local community organizations that hold book fairs, neighborhood cleanups, holiday family gift drives, and food bank and grocery distribution activities.

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    VACANT

    Secretary
    Vice President

    To be elected in November by the membership

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    Mary Edna Harrell

    Board-Elected Executive Committee Member

    Having lived in Eureka Valley for 36 years, Mary Edna has experienced many changes in the neighborhood. She has appreciated the way commercial and residential interests have been able to not only co-exist, but to enable each other to thrive. In spite of the many struggles and challenges experienced by each, we have many common needs and interests.
    Mary Edna promotes safe and positive experiences for all who live, work and play in Eureka Valley.

EVNA Board Members

At-Large

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    Brendan Smith

    At-Large

    Brendan moved to San Francisco in 2007 and has lived in the Castro for over 12 years. He loves the fact that while the neighborhood has changed over the years, it’s still the kind of place where you run into friends and neighbors almost every time you leave your home. Brendan has a professional background in both international health and local economic development, with a focus on small businesses, and wants to see our local business community thrive alongside our residents. Brendan volunteered for five years with Openhouse, an LGBTQ senior services agency.

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    Darcie Bell

    At-Large

    Darcie recently moved to Eureka Valley and has lived in San Francisco with her family since 2017. She was born and raised in Southern California, where she has been an organizer since she was a teenager. Darcie has decades of involvement within the historic theater preservation community and served as a docent for the LA Conservancy. She is an outspoken defender of equitable public education and seeks to direct neighborhood support to our beloved Castro/EV/DT schools facing potential closure.

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    Dave Rogers

    At-Large

    Dave moved to San Francisco in the late 90’s - back when it was full of beauty, somewhat affordable and easy to make friends. Now, as a resident of Noe Street, he wants to make a difference and help us return to that amazing energy we once had in the Castro. He thinks that starts with connecting each of us to our neighbors with similar interests and passions so that we can work together to create the new Eureka Valley. I want to hear from everyone and I want all EVNA past, current and non-members to share ideas on what that could look like - let’s break bread, take walks or bike rides around the neighborhood, visit the library, grab a coffee or drinks, garden together… and volunteer on some self-directed programs so we can get to know each other and help shape our community. Dave wants you to help him understand what is important to you and your family and friends so that the board is focused on the right outcomes this year, for everyone.

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    Lawrence Pan

    At-Large

    Lawrence moved to San Francisco for work in 2020 right after graduating from college, and immediately fell in love with the city, especially the Castro / Eureka Valley neighborhood. Lawrence loves the colorful houses on hills, the abundance of public transit options, our LGBTQ history and culture, the vibrant restaurant and bar scene, and the fact that we are close to so many epic parks! Lawrence is also an urbanist and a YIMBY. His dream is to turn parking lots, low-rises, and gas stations near Castro station into high-density housing, welcoming more neighbors into the Castro, which will help local businesses and further increase the vibrancy of our neighborhood.

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    Loïc Olichon

    At-Large

    Loïc arrived in the neighborhood 18 years ago at 21st and Castro. Coming from Paris, he wanted a walkable neighborhood with plenty of public transportation, so he could hop on the Muni to shop downtown. He moved once 13 years ago, but stayed in the neighborhood at 18th and Hattie. Loïc loves the neighborhood, as it has so much potential with the public transportation hub, the commercial district and the surrounding residential area, and history! He started to go to EVNA public meetings as soon as he arrived here in 2006 and eventually joined the board.

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    Rob Labonte

    At-Large

    Bio coming soon!