San Francisco's mayor, London N. Breed, unveiled an ambitious initiative to bring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) into the heart of the city's downtown area. The announcement was made alongside city and business leaders and community stakeholders, signaling a move to bolster education and economic revitalization in the urban core. According to a report from SF.gov, the initiative dubbed Black 2 San Francisco (B2SF), spearheaded by the Human Rights Commission (HRC), will commence its HBCU programming this summer.

The project's long-term vision includes launching a satellite campus partnership with selected HBCUs and featuring a physical location complete with academic and professional programming. Preliminary work has already begun to draw in a network of sponsors and collaborative partners, although details about which specific HBCUs will be involved have yet to be announced. A statement from Mayor Breed emphasized the strategic importance of the effort, "By bringing HBCUs to our City, we can not only create a connection to empower our next generation of leaders, but we can also contribute to the revitalization of our City" and she has enlisted the support of several local academic institutions, including the University of San Francisco (USF), San Francisco State University (SFSU), and the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), with USF set to provide student housing, SFSU offering classroom space, and UCSF to enhance mental health training and internships in partnership with HBCUs.

Dr. Sheryl Davis, executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, expressed her gratitude and the significance of this effort: "I'm honored and grateful to see this convening coming together today," as noted by SF.gov. Furthermore, she highlighted that the initiative has developed through community discussions, the Dream Keeper Initiative, and the Reparations Advisory Committee's recommendations. A convening was held at the War Memorial Veterans Building to explore the possibilities for satellite campuses and to consider how San Francisco can foster immediate internship opportunities for HBCU students alongside strategies for achieving economic and social justice.

Mayor Breed's plan is part of a wider strategy to utilize vacancies and available space in downtown San Francisco for academic purposes, which includes offices and student housing. This strategy aims to revitalize the city's economic core, simultaneously offering educational innovation and opportunity. Various city departments are pitching in with partnership ideas, panels proposed, and participation in collaborative roundtables, including offices like the City Attorney’s Office, the Department of Environment, and the Department of Police Accountability, among others. A full day's programming featuring various speakers and discussions took place and was open to the press