Berkeleyside » Non-profits

The “before” pictures: Berkeley Art Museum/PFA

Tracey Taylor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:00:55 +0000

The old printing plant in downtown that will one day be home to the Berkeley Art Museum. All photos: David Stark Wilson

Call it “beautiful decay”: these stunning photographs, taken by David Stark Wilson, show the interiors of the future home of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA).

Just as with the new Magnes, which unveiled its new space on Sunday, BAM/PFA is to be housed in a ~~1920s-era~~ 1939 building originally designed as a printing plant for UC Berkeley. It is located at 2120 Oxford Street at Center Street, in the heart of downtown.

Is it not fitting that, as the demand for printed thesis, documents, books and monographs has waned, the engine rooms that produced these volumes are now being put to good use while remaining in the cultural realm?

(...)

Read the rest of The “before” pictures: Berkeley Art Museum/PFA (183 words)

By Tracey Taylor. | Permalink | 7 comments |
Post tags: BAM/PFA, Berkeley Art Museum, David Stark Wilson, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, WA Design

Berkeley’s new Magnes building to be unveiled on Sunday

Tracey Taylor — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:38 +0000

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art & Life is housed in a 1920s former printing plant on Allston Way. Photos: Tracey Taylor

On Sunday, the doors will open to a new cultural institution in Berkeley. The many thousands of books, paintings, prints, textiles, and photographs that make up The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art & Life – which was formerly located in an early 20th-century family home on Russell Street in the Elmwood neighborhood — will now be readily accessible to the public in a beautifully renovated, centrally located 25,000 sq ft space at 2121 Allston Way.

The building, which was designed in the 1920s as a printing plant for UC Berkeley, was most recently used by UC’s Bancroft Library, with whom the Magnes now partners. Before that, the Berkeley Public Library occupied the space. Marks left by book stacks on the stained, maple-colored concrete floors bear the stamp of the building’s history.

The heart of the new museum is an open exhibition space featuring elm wood and glass, transparency and warmth being key to the space's design

The building has been transformed by San Francisco architects Pfau Long in collaboration with local design and fabrication company Picassa Studios. The goal, said the museum’s Director Alla Efimova, was to create a warm, inviting place with an emphasis on transparency.

“We wanted an open space with a good flow where the community could spend time discovering the collection,” she said.(...)

Read the rest of Berkeley’s new Magnes building to be unveiled on Sunday (718 words)

By Tracey Taylor. | Permalink | 8 comments |
Post tags: Alla Efimova, Magnes Museum, Pfau Long, Picassa Studios, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art & Life

Student-run project works to rebuild Navajo community

Guest contributor — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:00:13 +0000

Project Pueblo, a 100% student-led organization, conducts week-long service trips to Navajo communities

By Grace Garey

During the first week of January, when most college students are lounging at home nursing New Year’s Eve hangovers and enjoying meals and laundry courtesy of mom, 60 California students will be working with the Berkeley-based non-profit Project Pueblo to help rebuild a Navajo Nation community devastated by a 43-year federal ban on development.

The founder of Project Pueblo is 28-year-old Sean Wycliffe. In 2002, Wycliffe was mid-way through his second year at Cal when he opted dropped out to oversee the expansion of a marketing business he’d started on the side. “I wanted to be financially independent,” Wycliffe said, “and I knew I had a good idea, so I just went for it.” Allowing himself to pursue his spontaneous instincts paid off; the business generated over $1 million in new revenue during his first year.(...)

Read the rest of Student-run project works to rebuild Navajo community (810 words)

By guest. | Permalink | 9 comments |
Post tags: Bennett Freeze, Forgotten People, Navajo Nation, Project Pueblo, UC Berkeley

Councilmember: Look at unauthorized collectives

Frances Dinkelspiel — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:00:23 +0000

A sign warning against drug dealing near the location of a new medical cannabis collective.

City Councilman Jesse Arreguín will ask the city manager tonight to investigate whether two medical cannabis collectives are operating in violation of Berkeley’s zoning laws.

Arreguín’s announced his intent after a contentious meeting of the Medical Cannabis Commission on Thursday, Dec. 1. The MCC spent a large part of its meeting debating whether to send a letter to city officials drawing attention to the proliferation of collectives in commercial districts, but could not agree on the wording. The MCC will take up the matter again in January.

“I don’t think this should be swept under the rug,” said Arreguín. “It is an important issue. Some action needs to be taken. The city is trying to be sensitive to these particular collectives, which provide medicine to patients. At the same time, they are clearly violating the city’s zoning laws and medical marijuana ordinances.”(...)

Read the rest of Councilmember: Look at unauthorized collectives (863 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 17 comments |
Post tags: 40 Acres, Aundre Speciale, Charlie Pappas, Chris Smith, David Stoloff, Jesse Arreguin, Medical Cannabis Commission, Perfect Plants Patient's Group, Scott B. Smith, Stewart Jones, Toya Groves

Everyone deserves to eat: Andre Green’s kitchen wisdom

Sarah Henry — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:00:41 +0000

Andre Green from the Berkeley Food & Housing Project expects to serve up to 500 people a Thanksgiving dinner this year. Photo: Tracey Taylor

Andre Green’s mission is both simple and heartfelt: no one should go hungry. It’s a mantra that has worked for him in his more than seven years serving food to the homeless and poor.

After a long stint in the kitchen at the East Oakland Community Project, Green began cooking for Berkeley’s most vulnerable residents on Valentine’s Day this year, as the new food services coordinator for Berkeley Food & Housing Project. The non-profit group serves hot meals to homeless men, women, and children from food purchased from the Alameda County Community Food Bank and wholesale grocery stores, along with donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses.(...)

Read the rest of Everyone deserves to eat: Andre Green’s kitchen wisdom (1,136 words)

By Sarah Henry. | Permalink | 2 comments |
Post tags: Alameda County Community Food Bank, Andre Green, Berkeley Bowl, Berkeley Food & Housing Project, natasha boissier, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Semifreddi's

For when that disaster comes, Berkeleyans, be prepared

Guest contributor — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:30:40 +0000

Two Berkeley residents practice using a two-way radio at August drill run by BDPNN. Photo: Dave Peattie

By Dave Peattie

When there is a major disaster in the Bay Area, help may take a long time to arrive, as the recent hurricane in New Orleans and earthquakes in Japan, Haiti, and Turkey have shown.

The Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network (BDPNN), a nongovernmental organization, wants to help residents survive a disaster by being organized and prepared.

The BDPNN will hold a hands-on medical practice session Thursday November 17 with Barbara Morita, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Alameda Health Consortium, and a member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT). It will take place at 6:30 pm, at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall (corner of Cedar and Bonita).

(...)

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By guest. | Permalink | 4 comments |
Post tags: BDPNN, Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network, Charlotte Nolan, Lynn Zummo, Norine Smith

Field trip highlights programs in food-forward Berkeley

Sarah Henry — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:00:03 +0000

Foraging at the farmers' market, which will be included on Saturday's Bay Area Green Tour of Berkeley's food hot spots

Tomorrow, Bay Area Green Tours co-hosts a food field trip spotlighting some of the best of Berkeley’s alternative food systems. It’s part of the 15th Annual Community Food Security Coalition Conference, which runs today through Tuesday in Oakland. The Community Food Security Coalition is a national nonprofit dedicated to creating a food movement that is healthy, sustainable, and just.

The national conference draws sustainable food advocates, anti-hunger experts, and food policy wonks from around the country. The Food Sovereignty tour, which is open to the public (though now sold out), introduces participants to community food gardens, farmers’ markets, school food, and alternative food businesses in this town, which, of course, is well known for its food-forward agenda.(...)

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By Sarah Henry. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Amy Murray, Bay Area Green Tours, ben feldman, berkeley student food collective, Berkeley Youth Alternatives, Cal Dining, Community Food Security Conference, Ecology Center, Martin Bourque, mi tierra foods, Rebecca Prager, Revival Bar + Kitchen, Venus restaurant

Chez Panisse birthday fundraising declared a success

Sarah Henry — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:26 +0000

The children say it all at the Berkeley Art Museum party for Chez Panisse. Photo: Christina Diaz

Now that the hoopla is over, it’s time to take stock of how the Chez Panisse 40th anniversary celebrations fared as a fundraising effort.

Answer: pretty well. The Chez Panisse Foundation had a goal to raise $500,000 for all its 40th birthday activities combined, which it exceeded by a lot, said event producer Carolyn Federman, who didn’t specify exactly how much the private dinners, restaurant parties, and other activities raised.

The money will go to support the recently launched Edible Schoolyard Project (ESYP) website, which has an estimated annual operating cost of about $1.5 million, according to Federman. This new, national nonprofit, building on the work of the Edible Schoolyard locally, intends to serve as a “best practices” resource for kitchen and garden classes in schools across the country looking for ideas, tools, resources, curriculum and community to support their work. Interviews for candidates for the ESYP director position are currently under way.(...)

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By Sarah Henry. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Alice Waters, ann cooper, Carolyn Federman, Chez Panisse, Chez Panisse Foundation, Edible Schoolyard Project, school food, school lunch

CANFIT wants to improve the health of all America’s youth

Sarah Henry — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:55:01 +0000

One of CANFIT's programs is the MO Project which uses media and technology to encourage youth to advocate for nutrition and physical activity issues in their schools and community. Photo: CANFIT

Arnell Hinkle, the founding executive director of CANFIT (which stands for Communities, Adolescents, Nutrition, and Fitness) may be based in downtown Berkeley, but her work to improve the lives of low-income youth of color takes her across the country and around the globe.

She has been involved in development projects in India, Ecuador and Scotland, and spent last year on a Fullbright public policy fellowship in Wellington, New Zealand working with Maori and Pacific Island groups.

A kind of community food coach for young folk, the registered dietician who holds a masters in public health has worked as a restaurant chef, organic farmer, and as a project coordinator of the Hunger and Chronic Disease Prevention Program at the Contra Costa County Health Services Department.(...)

Read the rest of CANFIT wants to improve the health of all America’s youth (977 words)

By Sarah Henry. | Permalink | 4 comments |
Post tags: adolescent fitness, adolescent heath, adolescent nutrition, Arnell Hinkle, CANFIT

Swimmers cross Bay to raise funds for cancer research

Frances Dinkelspiel — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:00:06 +0000

Swimmers cross the bay in the 2010 Swim Across America. Photo: SAA

About a year and a half ago, Steve Barbour, the CFO of Nestlé Dreyer’s Ice Cream, decided to take up swimming to get back in shape. While he had loved the water while growing up in southern California, he had stopped exercising regularly and his inactivity was beginning to show on his 52-year-old frame.

Barbour started swimming every day at 6:00 am at the pool at the Claremont Hotel. He got to know Susan Helmrich, a three-time cancer survivor and regular morning swimmer, who convinced Barbour to join her team at Swim Across America, a fundraiser for cancer research.

Barbour joined Helmrich’s team, but within a few months the cause took on a deeper and more personal meaning. On August 20th, a colleague’s 19-year old son died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“He was sick for three years,” said Barbour in a recent phone interview, speaking about David Stroud, emotion choking his voice. “It was really hard. Here’s a good kid. He spends over 400 days in the hospital over three years. He had countless surgeries. He passed away two weeks shy of his 20th birthday.”

Shortly before his death, Stroud had written Barbour a letter, thanking him for raising funds for cancer research through Swim Across America.

“Dear Mr. Barbour,” the letter began. “I heard about your upcoming swim and I wanted to let you know what an encouragement your support and time mean to cancer warriors like Susan [Helmrich] and me… It makes us feel there is a reason to continue to fight this very challenging battle. You are not only an encouragement to Susan but also to me and other warriors and survivors. Best of luck.”

On Saturday morning, Barbour will join about 130 swimmers, including ten former Olympians, at Swim Across America, a 1.5 mile swim from under the Golden Gate Bridge to Crissy Field in San Francisco. The swimmers hope to raise $300,000 to benefit cancer research and treatment programs at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco and Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland.

Berkeleyside is proud to be a media sponsor of this event.

In the last few years, Swim Across America has raised about $500,000 for the two hospitals, according to Helmrich, the event coordinator for San Francisco, who lives in Berkeley. Nationally, Swim Across America has raised $30 million for cancer research.

Swimmers emerging from bay at 2010 Swim Across America. Photo by Joanne Spenser/Chiildren's Hospital

Mary Kay Murlas of Berkeley has participated in Swim Across America for three years. The first year she swam with her daughter and her daughter’s friend in honor of a cousin who had died six months earlier of leukemia and her daughter’s former college boyfriend, who died of bone cancer at 20.

The next year she volunteered to help out and convinced a friend to join her. Last year, two co-workers also volunteered. This year 12 people from her office, Stat Revenue, which just moved from Berkeley to Emeryville, are going to work at the event.

“We feel very committed to doing it,” said Murlas. “It is a fabulous event. It is so upbeat.”

Stroud’s death in August prompted Barbour to intensify his fundraising efforts. He now has more than $20,000 in pledges. Many family members and friends have donated, as has Nestlé Dreyer’s Ice Cream and other companies Barbour has interacted with professionally. Swim Across America is such a good cause, people can’t say no, he said.

“They raise a lot of money and it’s for a great cause. Kids. You can’t beat that,” said Barbour.

To donate to Swim Across America/San Francisco, click here. To look at the members of Swim Susan, the team with Helmrich and Barbour, click here.

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Mary Kay Murlas, Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream, Steve Barbour, Susan Helmrich, Swim Across America