Multicultural Institute is a non-profit organization helping immigrants improve their lives. Through vocational and social education, GED preparation and after-school tutoring, the institute attempts to help people help themselves and their communities. The Multicultural Institute is one of many programs linked to the Province of St. Barbara, Franciscan Friars. Check its website for a full list of activities. Donations are always welcome.
The Via Center provides moderately to severely developmentally disabled adults educational and therapeutic programs designed to maximize their chances of success in the outside world. It focuses mostly on vocational and life skills, including social skills. The Center also operates an adult residence in El Cerrito where residents practice self-management and attend programs. See their website to learn how you can help or to find out how they can help you or someone you love.
All Souls Episcopal welcomes all races, colors, creeds and sexual preferences. The services are not in the high Episcopalian tradition, as the music and services are more eclectic and include a choir and Appalachian music band. Child care is available during services. Visit the parish's website for more information.
This Lutheran church and campus ministry is conveniently located near UC Berkeley on College Avenue. Fittingly, much of its sermons and programs are geared toward young people and its message is more progressive than that of many Christian churches.
This is the South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library. There is a public meeting room and five Internet workstations for library members. The library also has more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including publications that are written in Spanish and multiple Asian languages. Furthermore, there is the Lawyers in the Library program at this location. The tool lending library is next door if you would like to borrow hammers, saws, shovels and other implements.
This not-for-profit organization employs a community land trust model to provide affordable housing to low-income families in the Bay Area. It both builds and renovates existing properties to rent or sell below market cost to residents who have been trained in home ownership responsibilities. The organization also offers office space when available.
Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish began 1908 and caters to the Roman Catholic community at the University of California, Berkeley. It was founded by the Paulist religious community who wanted to present Catholicism to Americans in a language they could understand. The parish has a variety of groups and activities including a volunteer group, a non-violence group, a LGBT Student group and hosts a weekly student meal. For more information on its history or how to participate, refer to its website.
Nia House provides a Montessori curriculum to a diverse group of children ages 18 months to six years in the hopes of educating them in the values of peace, understanding and equality at an early age. The Montessori learning method has stood the test of time and space, having been developed in Italy more than a century ago, and focuses on freedom within limits for children who are thus incited to learn from themselves. It has been remarkably successful. The Nia House tries to provide this experience to all families by providing scholarships to those in need, but needs your donations to continue this practice.
This building hosts many Finnish cultural and historical events. The owners rent the space at reasonable rates to local event planners. Its well-lit, roomy studios are large enough to accommodate groups, and are also appropriate for dancing or martial arts rehearsals. The building is located just north of University Avenue in Central Berkeley.
This LGBT community center offers mental health services, HIV counseling, sensitivity training for therapists, a variety of peer support groups and a youth leadership program. It offers a full-time staff as well as a dedicated and professional group of volunteers. No one is turned away for lack of funds. Donations are always welcome.
Church by The Side of The Road is located on Russell Street a few blocks north of the Ashby BART station. Reverend Thomas Coleman leads the church, which has Sunday school at 9 a.m. and worship at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
Founded in 1969, Small Press Distribution is a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing reading enthusiasts with access to independently published literature. It distributes books on film, art, music, poetry and women’s studies, as well as numerous fiction and nonfiction anthologies. It also provides desk copies of books for teachers and has a special distribution program for librarians. You can order its books via phone, email, fax or online through Pubnet.
These Emmy- and Peabody-award winning producers put on the Berkeley Video and Film Festival and provide various film training services to up-and-coming filmmakers. It holds a number of workshops and classes on such topics as screenwriting, documentary production, editing and post-production. It also does video duplication and rents equipment to independent producers; a screening room is currently being built.
The Berkeley Student Food Collective operates a cooperative grocery store providing locally sourced and sustainably produced foods for affordable prices. Because the Collective makes all decisions democratically, it gives students good experience in business management, while also teaching about nutrition.