I was hoping to get some clarity and resolution in this case, but instead received a second-rate…read moregroup therapy session. This was a tag-team mediation with TWO mediators, neither of which seemed to be interested in mediating, rather they conducted it as if it was hippie armchair psychotherapy. I would have preferred a clear, focused session with the goal of finding a resolution and/or some closure. Instead, the mediators allowed other party had a chance to attack me and my partner and an opportunity to share aspects of their childhood traumas. For 2 hours +!! Totally inappropriate and unprofessional. This was a waste of time and money. I would recommend finding a non-volunteer mediator who can actually address the salient issues and with actual mediative skills.

Took the SEEDS Restorative Justice online training and found it totally relevant to my work…read more Excellent facilitators, tons of useful content and resources. Highly recommend.

The city team Oakland location helped me and my son out immensely. I reached out to a program…read morecoordinator at another place in west Oakland that shared Cityteam with me. The coordinator set up details for clothing distribution as I mentioned I needed clothes for my little and I. The clothing closet was huge and there was more than enough to look through. Please keep them in mind when looking to donate clothing, men's / women's / and children's of all sizes. I for one needed the help and I thank you for providing that.

I go here with my program week during the week for charity stuff and organizing clothes and putting…read morefood on the table serving the people and helping them on track. Also I help clean the kitchen. The staff is really nice name outgoing and the service and the food is amazin

The WDDIC is a critical source of help for local women who are in immediate need of help. They can…read moreprovide hot meals for women and children who are displaced from COVID rental evictions, or who are fleeing domestic abuse. There is no judgement -- if you need help, it will be given to their fullest capability. I am always happy to donate baby wipes, diapers, cash, or whatever they need. Without this help, especially now with COVID and the cold weather, there are many women who would be in serious trouble without this organization.

Really good community resource! Free food and hygiene products, also offers mental health…read morecounseling. Everyone there cares a lot about the community.

Apparently, my previous review of this Oakland facility (2 weeks ago) was removed. Understandable…read more After all, it was a vivid, accurate, albeit unflattering description of my decades long experience(s) with this particular location with a focus on a specific recent event and individual epitomizing ongoing abysmal management practices. As for YELP? Ha! Not even a courtesy contact to inform me of said removal or conversation regarding the defense of my position. C'est la vie... 3.4 YELP Stars currently? Imagine the score if H4H management were not compelling YELP to remove negative narratives written by offended potential customers. I shall craft my narrative a bit differently this time - Been visiting this facility for a long time (15+ years?) due to its close proximity and my profession (General B Remodel Contractor) visiting mostly on behalf of my clients. Frankly, I primarily go next door to "The Reuse People" which is far more stable/fair/consistent regarding their business practices. Half the time, I struggle in personal debate, standing out front of this H4H facility, asking myself "do I want to endure, yet another, frustrating/disappointing waste of my time?"... Most of the people you meet at this facility are friendly volunteers. They are not expected to engage dialogue beyond the very basics. However, "management" is another story entirely. Were I to describe the many, many, (many) unhappy occasions I have experienced with management, it would make you wonder how Jimmy Carter (RIP) ever got involved with this organization. Here's a typical interaction/scenario from 2 weeks ago. I noticed a large 3X5 framed picture mounted on the wall some 8-10 feet above the floor in the rear showroom. Every picture on that wall had a price tag ranging from between $60 - $125, except this one which had no price. I went to the front desk to inquire about it and met "NICK". Now "NICK" has rarely provided the same name twice over the many years so, I don't need to change his name to protect an identity here. LOL Conversation as follows: Jerry: Nick, I would like to take down the picture from the wall for closer review before purchase, It's too high up for a proper exam. Nick: Sorry, we can only take the picture down after purchase. Jerry: Hmm, OK, what is your return policy? Nick: No returns after purchase. Jerry: Seems like a pretty bad policy, don't you think? Buy it, take it down, find damage, and cannot return? Nick: Which one is it exactly? (We now walk toward the picture and I grab a short step ladder) Jerry: Nick, I'm sure I can grab it easily & put it back if it's not acceptable. Nick: OK, go ahead & take it down. Jerry: OK Nick, i'll buy it, how about $100 dollars? Nick: No price tag? You'll need to come back tomorrow to get a price. Jerry: Nick, this pic is nothing special, every picture on that wall ranges around $100, my offer is rather generous. Nick: We need to look it up online to determine a price. Jerry: Look what up exactly? It appears to be a print, in a frame, with glass and no signature anywhere? What will you look up? $100 dollars is more than fair. Nick: Sorry, come back tomorrow. Jerry: That is just plain "stupid" Nick: Shrugs, no response. Jerry: (As I was walking out the door) "Stupid". I'm guessing that our hapless H4H hero "Nick" is laboring under some frustrating management policies that compel his ongoing name change lest he be singled out for reprimand by customers & corporate superiors alike. I, on the other hand, prefer to use my real name. While this unfortunate exchange is relatively mild on the scale of disappointments at this facility, one might even consider this YELP review itself a waste of my time; which it is. Sigh... Maybe, I just need to get a sense of humor? Hmmm.... Perhaps I should start introducing myself to the H4H staff as Pancho Villa! Maybe that will get some laughs? Bottom line, If you are on a journey of personal evolution & self improvement; practicing patience and finding humor in the utterly absurd, this is a great place to exercise your discipline. Jerry aka Pancho Villa

Ever since I could remember, I've always wanted to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity (H4H). Like…read moreevery person, I made several reasons (more excuses) as to why I couldn't make the time. Work, family, weather, health and etc. I probably used every "excuse" in the book. As my goal for 2014 to do 100 community service hours, I finally registered. I used Govoluntr, https://govoluntr.com/ to sign up which directed me to the main website of H4H http://www.habitatebsv.org/. You'll have to create an account and then choose the date and location you want to volunteer. To my surprise and I do mean surprise, they had a construction site in Walnut Creek. Upon arrival, we signed in and met with the H4H crew. I learned that any (low income) family can apply for a H4H home, as long as you're in NEED of shelter, can repay a no interest bearing home loan, and volunteer several hundred hours (min 500) of building your home and other homes. All homes are built solely by volunteers and donated products. We were given 3 options this day: Outdoor siding, base board finish/touchup, or lay wood flooring. Since myself and my lil man, laid wood flooring before (long ago) we decided to tackle this project. Our team leader was Ian. My lil man grouped up with a younger team to finish one room and me and my honey finished one room. Maybe we didn't finish it at the end of our 7.5 hour day, but we were darn close. I tell you what I wished I had knee pads. This was a work out because the next day my butt and thighs were sore. This was an amazing experience. I would highly recommend any parent bring their child (must be atleast 16 years old) to experience this. They will learn a lot about repairing and building. Every time I drive by this community, I can actually say I helped build that house. That alone is gratification. So no more excuses everyone. I work 8-10 hour days, family, yelp, church, kids practice/games and I found time to give back to the community. Put down the remote control and find a nearest volunteer service in your community and make a difference in someone's life. Next on my list Princess Project...here I come!!

I found CANHR about 3 years ago when my mom's health took a turn for the worse and she needed some…read moreadvocacy; I didn't know where to start. One of their lawyers, Arabelle, was extremely thoughtful and generous with her time, crafting emails to help me understand how to best protect my mom from the institutions that treated her more like a number than a patient (or person). Arabelle introduced me to to some resources I am now convinced I would have never found and set my mom on a new path with great care and quality of life. Another set of circumstances arose recently and I reached back out to Arabelle; once again she provided great advice and insights. I would recommend without hesitation working with CANHR and Arabelle, in particular.

RUDE. UNHELPFUL. Another non profit with staff that can't handle basic simple communication. They…read morethink its acceptable to put a warm bodie on the phones that is rude to people calling and unable to handle basic, and I mean basic, communication skills.

They need to work on loyalty and appreciation for their volunteers. They should learn how to thank…read moresomeone who supports them and their programs.

Whoa....I can't believe my last review of WCRC was in 2008! Well It is now 2017 and I'm still…read morealive and kicking after two diagnoses of cancer. First of all they have moved into a new building in Berkeley. I've sent the corrected info twice but Yelp has not yet updated it. The new building is quite spacious. A large meeting room for support groups, another largish room for belly dance classes and/or workshops, offices and a very roomy kitchen with plenty of cupboards for every day stuff and additional storage space as well. I've been attending weekly support meetings for nearly ten years. I have been fortunate to have my cancer be stable...I can never be cured or go into remission. I still receive regular treatments, tests and drugs . Like many people living with cancer I hate the term "battling" cancer. That translates as warfare. I see cancer as more of a pesky visitor that won't leave. WCRC offers individual counseling, workshops and classes. Although primarily geared for women some of the workshops i.e.. medical marijuana and other workshops are open to men as well. Some workshop topics include nutrition, banning sugar from your diet, drawing journal writing to name a few. They also have art exhibits from local women artists...the subjects and media type vary...photographs, paintings, drawings, weavings and more. They also offer referral to supplemental treatments like acupuncture, acupressure, counseling and other issues. When I was first diagnosed a volunteer would phone me every week to check in with me. That was so helpful at a time when I felt very alone and bewildered. Currently I am in a weekly support group.....see website for groups and meeting times. Although some of the members in my group have passed away, their presence is still felt and our memories of them will remain. It feels safe and comforting to be with others who are going through similar treatment, tests, scans, radiation, surgery, doctor visits and reactions from others. There is really no one else who can understand what you are going through other than "fellow" cancer patients. I feel so excited for WCRC, the staff,the volunteers,the attendees of the support groups and workshops and the new building. What a wonderful way to welcome the new year.

Home Repair in the Bayview area of San Francisco. No construction experience necessary, repair is…read morean all day shift, and you can't choose what kind of work you are doing. We had a fun and exhausting day and had a great crew leader and coordinator that worked with the vibe of our group to make it the most optimal. Our group's task was primering the outside of a home and helping clean the inside. Painting the outside was definitely the craziest part, leaning huge 2 story ladders with the bottom being on an angled sidewalk and made true by jamming scrapwood underneath one leg and the top part leaning on a house that was falling apart. Our crew leader did it with such comfort and confidence it made us feel more confidant about the safety. It was cool to see how a primer layer improved the look of the home and made it feel refreshed. I also enjoyed helping clean the inside, not sharing pictures of those for privacy but it was one of the most interesting houses with amazing history I've ever been inside of. Thanks for the fun experience, it made the end of day beers that much better!

I've been on 3 different projects, 2 in Menlo Park (read East Palo Alto) and 1 in Daly City, the…read morecondo development. It's been a lot of fun. I like that they do the safety talk at the start of each day. Also they have safety equipment such as helmets, ear plugs, knee pads. The knee pads are "well used" but are good enough to do the trick. Really nice folks at every site. I'm one to ask a lot of questions, and everyone has been really patient in answering. It's a good volunteer environment. The work itself can be hard work! But it's satisfying, and I was able to take the breaks I needed. It's also fascinating to learn about home construction. I've put down a subfloor, removed old laminate and hardwood flooring, and put down pergo. Plus done some random demolition. I've also seen inside of lots of walls, and have a better sense of how homes were constructed in the 50's. yikes. BTW I learned something important about Habitat. They don't give away houses--they sell them to families at a % of family income over time (30 years?). Then if the family wants to sell, they sell BACK to Habitat, and then they can use their built-up equity to buy something else. The neat thing is that the Habitat system is focused on affordability and smooths out bubbles by basing on salary. (US gov't, are you listening?) Also families that buy from Habitat have to do 500 hours of volunteer work. It's good stuff.

I am an established resource parent in Alameda County, I originally went through the county itself…read more(social services) to be certified for foster care etc and then we later adopted through the county. We now have been finalized with our daughter for 3 years and are ready to expand our family again through fost /adopt, but we decided that we wanted more input than we were allowed to have with the county. My daughters sister (who was also in foster care) ended up in a great home and that all came about through A Better Way, so we decided to look into their program and have begun our pride training classes. Since this is my 2nd time going through pride training (my last training was more than 5 years ago) initially I was not at all excited, but I have to say that I am really enjoying the classes. Being that I have been a foster parent, a concurrent planning placement parent and now an adoptive parent I am quite familiar with how things work, what the kids go through etc... and A Better Way does a really good job of balancing giving out that information (and not scaring people) along with presenting the lighter side of fost/adopt. I am very eager to finish the training and get to the next and so far so good. I would recommend a better way to anyone considering fost/adoption.

Please beware. I experienced the staff within the Another Road to Safety Program as being very…read morenegative and unprofessional. Please beware.