Correct. We are tooting our own horn about what our member agencies do, but you can use this guide to see how these folks work in your community. Information like this is important in making your own decision about where to target your workplace giving. If you need more information about a group, follow the links.
BOSS opened two new AIDS houses in the community serving homeless women and children and homeless single men and women. BOSS also completed a feasibility study for developing income-generating projects, created a training program for homeless clients, opened a new downtown Berkeley daytime services center, and launched a new youth arts and leadership project.
CANHR initiated and acted as co-plaintiff in a case filed to prevent the State from placing liens on the homes of surviving spouses of deceased nursing home residents who had received Medi-Cal. CANHR also established a model pension counseling and referral program, a toll-free number for consumers, and the first ever SHAME ON YOU! campaign drawing attention to the most egregious nursing home violations.
California Pro-Choice Education Fund launched an "Activists on the Internet" project, providing a library of reproductive health resources and a resource center for activists. The Education Fund also initiated its Women of Color Organizing Project and increased its emphasis on public education around issues of minors' rights.
CRLA filed a sexual discrimination suit against the Oxnard Nabisco Foods plant on behalf of eight women forced to resort to wearing diapers because of their company's bathroom policy. CRLA attorneys also represented workers at a San Andreas labor camp where the judge fined the owner $250,000 for negligence and abuses resulting in overcrowding that contributed to an outbreak of tuberculosis.
The CA S/F Education Fund was a primary convenor of the Bay Area commemorations of the 50th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. CA S/F Education Fund also produced material on the US weapons exports and human rights abuses and US job loss.
CEC worked to promote the sustainable conversion and reuse of closing Bay Area military bases and while researching, tracking and publishing information about the defense industry conversion nationwide. CEC also developed a new program for "Green Conversion" over the past year.
CCCIL provided "Disability Awareness" training to the City of Capitola staff, and worked with the City of Salinas to complete its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) implementation plan. CCCIL played a key role in assisting Senator Henry Mello's office with important legislation to extend funding for the survivors of traumatic head injuries.
Centro Legal successfully represented over 30 students who faced wrongful expulsion from the Oakland School District, and worked with the District to develop alternatives to suspensions and expulsions. Centro Legal also helped over 60 tenants whose landlords refused to provide much-needed repairs.
CPA organized Chinese Power Against Tobacco, an advocacy group in response to the tobacco industry's efforts to target youth and communities of color. CPA was also instrumental in organizing the first-ever Chinatown Festival for the Environment and the first-ever Immigrant Pride Day.
The Coalition successfully blocked the adoption of the Mandatory Direct Payout Program which mandated that homeless General Assistance recipients to pay up to 82% of their income to substandard hotel owners. The Coalition was also instrumental in saving San Francisco's substance abuse treatment programs by lobbying for the release of over $1.7 million in additional funds for local programs.
Everywhere COLAGE initiated 6 groups for children of lesbian and gays of all ages, and an activist network of teens and adults with lesbian and gay parents to respond swiftly to attacks against our families. COLAGE has also organized an educational photo exhibit to tour throughout Bay Area schools.
CAB established a voice mail system for homeless people, enabling them to stay in touch with potential employers, landlords and medical personnel. CAB also developed and distributed a self-training manual for prospective citizens to study for naturalization, and organized several forums on the impact of block granting.
CRIL developed a peer mentor program with an increased focus on using peer support to empower consumers. CRIL has also worked extensively with consumers and landlords in addressing the needs of making living spaces accessible, while continuing its work in the areas of attendant care, individual advocacy, and the development of independent living skills.
EHN directed its efforts toward increasing access for those disabled by Multiple Chemical sensitivity. Through their advocacy, the cities of Oakland and Berkeley are encouraging attendees at public meetings to refrain from wearing strongly scented products, and the City of San Francisco has developed a working committee on improving the quality of indoor and outdoor air.
FilCRA launched a letter-writing and phone campaign directed at the House of Representatives and Senate to oppose regressive immigration legislation. FilCRA also conducted affirmative action education throughout the Filipino community, and helped to start a new group, Asian Americans for Affirmative Action.
GLAAD/SFBA and its membership worked to influence KFRC to establish an anti-defamation/hate policy around racial and homophobic slurs, mobilized a letter-writing campaign which successfully convinced Ann Landers to retract comments anti-gay comments, and distributed educational materials to schools and businesses through its "Project 21," an educational equity and curriculum advocacy project.
Over the past year Health Access published a "county-by-county" study of the potential impacts of Federal budget proposals on California and educated consumers about the negative changes being brought about by the growth of the managed care industry in California. Health Access also organized senior citizens, poor families and other consumers statewide to participate in state and federal Medi-Cal reforms.
The IGLHRC worked to expand visibility of gay and lesbian human rights through its participation in the United Nation's World Conference on Women in Beijing, publication of Unspoken Rules, and participation in the International Tribunal on Human Rights Violations Against Sexual Minorities in New York. IGLHRC's Asylum Project also handled over 500 cases, providing legal support and documentation to attorney's, immigration offices, and individuals seeking asylum who have been persecuted in their country of origin because of their sexual orientation or HIV status.
Over the past year, Instituto Laboral served almost 700 low income, disadvantaged, primarily Latino workers and referred an additional 250 workers to other qualified worker-oriented organizations on legal and social service issues. Instituto also launched a new program, "In Support of the Working Poor" providing translation services, basic office skills training, resume assistance, and more extensive family referral services.
Labor Notes actively supported the labor struggle by building forums, demonstrations and soliciting articles for the newspaper. In particular, Labor Notes covered the events of the Hillhaven/Vencor Nursing Home strike, the Lafayette Park Hotel strike, the Health Care march across the Golden Gate bridge, and the minimum wage initiative in California.
La Peña collaborated with June Jordan coordinating poetry workshops for students at Berkeley High, coordinated a series of town hall forums examining race relations in America, and received funding to expand its programming to include greater outreach into the African American, Asian American and Chicano communities.
MOVE made hundreds of presentation over the past year to high school aged adolescent boys about male socialization and men's violence against women. MOVE also expanded its program to provide domestic violence prevention counseling to over 100 men each week, and collaborated with other domestic violence advocacy groups to successfully lobby for a resolution discouraging San Francisco judges from using 'civil compromise' in domestic violence cases.
MOCHA served over 17,000 people in 1995 through outreach programming, on-site classes, gallery exhibitions and field trips. MOCHA also expanded its programs in conjunction with the West Oakland Housing authority, and coordinated an art outreach program in conjunction with the Berkeley Repertory Theater's production of The Yellow Boat, a pediatric AIDS play.
Last fall the Coalition launched a new program "Community Education and Action" with the goal of increasing civic and political participation among immigrant communities. Efforts include a voter registration drive, leadership training and the development of a popular education curriculum around the issues of immigration.
Northern California Land Trust began work on a co-housing development in South West Berkeley that will provide affordable ownership homes for 6 low-income working families. NCLT also dramatically expanded their volunteer construction parties and began working with the Homebuyer's Assistance Center to provide low-income buyers with the training they need to improve their living situations and neighborhoods.
OASES served over 300 young people this past year, recruited over 150 volunteers, and expanded its program to include English As a Second Language Assistance as part of its Tutorial program.
Oyate provided workshops to teachers on evaluating children's material for anti-Indian bias, and for selecting materials that are both authentic and respectful. Oyate also continued its "Scatter The Seeds" program, providing traditional literature serving Native children throughout the State, and published two Ohlone stories for children.
SFWAR worked with MOVE, providing workshops, along with resources and referrals throughout the San Francisco Unified School District, serving 1,745 individuals, many of whom were middle and high school students. SFWAR also developed new materials designed to serve the lesbian community, and increased its outreach efforts throughout the immigrant communities of San Francisco.
Sisters and Allies coordinated a special training for family day care providers who then went on to facilitate parent classes and support groups for African American families, along with programs in Spanish and Chinese for immigrant families.
During 1995 Tradeswomen relocated to a new joint agency training center with Asian Neighborhood Design and Youth Build, and produced a quarterly publication for blue collar working women.
United Seniors was active in creating a successful Seniors' bond initiative in the City of Oakland, lobbying for Senior Crossing zones throughout the East Bay, establishing a task force to work with local schools in addressing intergenerational issues, and coordinating grassroots activist efforts to ensure that public transit better meet the needs of the elderly and disabled communities.
West County Toxics worked with to help implement sirens as part of the County's Community Alert system, sponsored the first ever "Women, Health, and the Environment" conference, and successfully organized to force the General Chemical Company to cease its storage of Oleum at the Richmond plant. Oleum caused the July, 1993 sulfuric acid disaster which injured over 20,000 people.
WEWomen worked with EnTrade, a pre-apprenticeship school, and provided referrals and support for women interested in joining the skilled trades.