This non-profit is devoted to protecting rivers and providing the communities who depend on them with clean water and energy. Its expertise ranges from climate change to dams to water and energy policy. It fosters grassroots organizations in more than 60 countries, but specialize in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Ecumenical Peace Institute is a faith-based organization dedicated to peace. The organization does a number of things to help further peace, including holding non-violent protests and vigils, sponsoring lectures and producing literature. To view its quarterly journal or to see a list of its upcoming events, visit Ecumenical Peace Institute's website.
Share International provides information on the emergence of Maitreya, the World Teacher, who they believe to be the Messiah. They also teach a group meditation called Transmission Meditation. The Northern California branch also examines UFO sightings.
The Public Health Institute, which advocates for bettter health on the local, national and international stages, is one of the largest health organizations in the world. This non-profit researches the best health practices in order to produce evidence-based policy recommendations. It provides help with grant management, financial services and other logistical support.
The Center for Transformative Change in Berkeley enables social change by creating better lives for those who seek change. The center offers meditation, yoga and other programs designed to harmonize social activists' inner and outer worlds, in the hope that the alignment of spirituality and ideals will change the way change is created. For more information, please visit the center's website.
Healthcare Liaison provides advocacy for patients undergoing medical treatment and struggling with mental health issues. Specialties include physician’s services, nursing, pharmaceutical services and medical social work. The organization is led by founder and licensed social worker Joanna Smith, a graduate of Tulane University. Ms. Smith is affiliated with the National Association of Social Workers, the California Society for Clinical Social Work, the Society for Social Work Leaders in Healthcare, the Northern California Human Resources Association and The Hastings Center.
The Hesperian Foundation publishes accessible books and newsletters about community-based health care meant to be read by people with little formal education so that they can improve the health of the communities in which they live. It has an open copyright policy, so while its books are available for sale, they are also available for free download and may be translated into any language so that they can be used all over the globe. After disasters such as the Haitian earthquake of 2009, its lifesaving medical information contributes to saving thousands of lives in affected areas. Go online to donate or see how you can help.
Bay Area Green Tours offers tours for schools and other groups interested in learning more about environmentally sustainable business models and technologies. Both entertaining and informative, their tours include such topics as green energy, buildings, jobs and sustainable agriculture. They also offer individualized tours.
From humble beginnings, this Berkeley non-profit developer has grown to a staff of 50 people dedicated to producing more low-income housing in the Bay Area. Affordable Housing uses award-winning architects, local workers, quality materials and green building methods to upgrade existing structures as well as build new ones. Visit its website for more information.
This expert strategic communications company provides training in communication strategy, research on public opinion and media messages and advanced media technology to organizations working for peace, human rights and international law. Non-profits looking to extend the reach of their message should contact this company located in Southwest Berkeley.
Berkeley Presbyterian Mission Homes is located south of UC Berkeley on Regent Street, just north of Ashby Avenue. It is a non-profit that provides affordable housing for Presbyterians from abroad that want to study in Berkeley.
This service center is an excellent resource for homeless residents in the Berkeley area. Not only does it provide medical and mental health services, clients may also sign up for lottery assignments for the Harrison single and family shelters here, and the facility also has showers and laundry facilities available for use
In a culture that worships youth, Live Oak is fermenting a cultural revolution in which elders are respected and valued and continue to grow as people while taking responsibility for future generations. To that end, they train senior home residents to foster communities that support these values and hold multicultural, multigenerational meetings to which all are invited to discuss these principles.
The Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture sponsors educational and cultural exchanges whereby farmers from around the world come to the United States to learn about sustainable agricultural practices as well as to share their own traditional ancestral methods with farmers here. They also offer matching grants to fund small, local projects in countries around the world.
The labor center works with unions, researchers, governments and employers to develop employment policies on job quality and workplace issues. It also produces training and educational curricula and maintains labor research and information resources accessible to researchers, students and the public.
GOALS for Women is a non-profit that is dedicated to helping socioeconomically disadvantaged African American women, families, and youth in transition. They do an intake with their clients to assess all of the different ways the person can best be assisted and offer job skills improvement, behavioral therapy, childcare, medical referrals, grants and retreats among many others. Check their website to get in contact with them if you are a potential client or if you are able to donate.
The National Opinion Research Center, based at the University of Chicago, conducts the General Social Survey. It is one of the most extensive surveys of what Americans believe and how that changes over time. This Berkeley office houses the UC branch of the center, which maintains the survey documentation and analysis website. Request a CD-ROM of the center's findings and peruse its data: Some of it may surprise you.