Oakland Student Commutes to SF Daily to Serve Communities in Bayview and Beyond

Rashel Duncan lives in Oakland, studies at San Francisco State University, and works for a nonprofit that serves southeastern San Francisco neighborhoods. Her days begin early and end late, often shaped by long public transit rides across the Bay.

Duncan is one of many residents navigating the economic and geographic boundaries that divide the Bay Area. She crosses city lines several times a week to attend classes and to support underserved communities in San Francisco’s Bayview, Hunters Point, and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods. These areas, long overlooked in city planning and public investment, rely heavily on the commitment of workers like her.

At her nonprofit job, Duncan focuses on community engagement, helping residents access social services and advocating for improvements in local infrastructure, housing, and education. She says the needs are urgent and that many people in these areas face systemic barriers to economic stability and health.

Duncan attends San Francisco State University, where she studies sociology. She says the academic lens helps her make sense of the structural issues she encounters in her nonprofit work. Her education also equips her to better advocate for the communities she serves.

Transportation remains a daily challenge. Duncan relies on BART and Muni to get from Oakland to SF State and then to her work in the southeast neighborhoods. Her commute can take up to two hours each way. Rising fares, service delays, and safety concerns add complexity to an already demanding routine.

Despite the commute and long hours, Duncan says she remains committed to her work and studies because the communities she supports deserve consistent attention. She believes that cross-bay collaboration is crucial to solving regional problems, including housing affordability and access to education.

Duncan’s experience highlights the interconnected nature of the Bay Area. People live in one city, study in another, and work in a third. Her story reflects how economic pressures and civic gaps often require individuals to carry the burden of connection.

As San Francisco faces ongoing debates about public spending, regional transit, and equity in underserved areas, residents like Duncan continue working across city lines, linking communities often separated by geography but joined by shared challenges.