Training Projects
Here are some examples of projects produced by the fellows at the end of our week-long training workshop.
Published Jun 19, 2009
The missing link is a bicycle co-op run by the employees themselves. There is no boss, and each employee has equal share in the business' success. The rent, sale, and offer bike repairs. They have been in operation for 36 years. They are not a business that runs on commission, and pride themselves on their variety of opinions and expertise. Like other locally-owned, collectively-run Berkeley businesses, the Missing Link Bike Co-Op, manage a business and deal with problems in a truly democratic way.
Published Jun 19, 2009
Takara Sake USA Inc., is a member of Takara Group, the leading corporation of alcohol-related business and biotechnology based in Japan. Takara has great experience in producing Shochu, Mirin and Sake for more than one-and-a-half centuries. Because Takara's main business endeavors depend heavily on the mastery of natural processes such as fermentation, the Company feels a strong responsibility toward preserving the natural environment. As a self-proclaimed "Harmonist," Takara engages in activities aimed at educating people about the importance of sustainable coexistence with nature. Its work in this area is embodied in Takara's corporate philosophy: "Contributing to the creation of a vital society and a healthy lifestyle for its members through our fermentation technology and biotechnology in a way that achieves harmony with nature." The Museum features items and displays of interest to both experts and the general public. It includes an exhibit of the historical sake-making process, sake artifacts and implements collected by Takara Sake USA, and a history of sake-making in America. The collection is the only one of its kind in the U.S.A.
Published Jun 19, 2009
Yoga to the People is a unique yoga studio with the goal of recapturing what we consider to be the essence of yoga… simply put, yoga made available to every one. In a time where yoga as a business is getting a lot of attention, the fact that it is being priced out of many people’s reach is in direct conflict with what we consider to be the spirit of yoga itself. The question our studio seeks to answer is: Can a yoga studio maintain itself as a business while keeping the focus of its intention on providing yoga as a service first and foremost? Yoga to the People is priced on a “donation-basis.” This means that they expect you to give only as much as you can. There is a suggested donation of $10 a class. However, the purpose of the course is not to make a profit, but to create an open space for any and all to practice.
Published Jun 19, 2009
Charles Chocolates is the story of one man’s dedication to the art of chocolate, his pursuit of perfection and a complete and total passion for producing only the finest confections. With Charles Chocolates, Chuck has set out to redefine the world of fine chocolate confections. He uses only the finest ingredients, including some of the world’s best chocolates, organic herbs, fruits and nuts as well as the freshest organic Straus cream and butter. Everything is made by hand in very small batches using traditional techniques, and all of the chocolates are shipped to our customers within three days of being created. This dedication to perfection is evident in each piece of chocolate. Every one is both bold and delicate — the perfect combination of flavor and texture. Charles Chocolates contain no artificial ingredients or preservatives.
Published May 26, 2009
Without bees, there would be no chocolate, strawberries, or almonds. In a small Berkeley garden, researchers are working to make sure the world's top pollinators stay busy.
Published May 26, 2009
More than 1,000 boats line the docks where Berkeley meets the Bay. Schooners and fishing scows, houseboats and rowboats, they form an eclectic community of people seeking amenities from land and shelter from the sea.
Published May 26, 2009
Across three decades this market running down Derby Street has offered fresh food and a place for neighbors to meet.
Published May 26, 2009
At Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay, dementia patients broaden horizons in a shrinking world.
Published May 26, 2009
The Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital specializes in cutting-edge care.
Published Apr 1, 2009
During the March 2009 workshop, fellow Tim Reese surprised us all with a workshop slideshow he had created on his own... created entirely with audio and video gathered on his iPhone. The media was later edited and produced in SoundSlides. Impressive!
Published Mar 31, 2009
The world’s first organization run by and for people with disabilities, the Center for Independent Living (CIL), founded in 1972, supports disabled people in their efforts toward independence. CIL encourages people with disabilities to make their own choices and works to open doors in the community to full participation and access for all.
Published Mar 31, 2009
Games of Berkeley is a popular shop located just a block from the UC campus in the heart of Downtown Berkeley, just above the BART station. The selection is extensive and varied, with games to attract any age, from Pokemon to Monopoly to chess. The store offers toys, hobby gear, board games, jigsaw puzzles, role-playing game supplies and more. The store is also remarkable in that they offer a wide selection by genre, from party games, like Apples to Apples, to family games, like Sorry!, to hard-core strategy games, like Agricola. They also host tournaments and frequent game nights that attract young adults, mostly in their 20s and 30s.
Published Mar 31, 2009
The Alameda Point Collaborative is a unique neighborhood located on 34 acres of Alameda Point. At APC, we work to end homelessness by providing housing and services to create communities where formerly homeless families and individuals can flourish. APC is situated on the former Alameda Naval Air Station, and operates 239 housing units. APC provides affordable housing, job training, health services and employment in a community that fosters support and interaction. APC operates a community garden, bike shop, commercial plant nursery, health center and community center.
Published Mar 31, 2009
Urban Ore is a popular salvage yard, thrift store and recycling center all wrapped up together in a three acre compound. Urban Ore accepts and re-sells all sorts of re-usable items like furniture, household appliances, construction materials and clothing. Urban Ore will pay for some of the items and others they receive as donations. Urban Ore is also known for the variety of characters that come to sift through the merchandise.
Published Jan 16, 2009
For two decades bones and curiosities from around the globe have been
bought and sold from a Berkeley storefront. The Bone Room is part
museum, part boutique and its customers include teachers, artists,
scientists and the curious.
Published Jan 16, 2009
One market is transforming the food chain in West Oakland. Meet the people growing a community, visit the neighborhood and learn how to get involved.
Published Jan 16, 2009
Hip hop. Rhythm. Rock. The voice of the urban street. Oakland teens find in Youth Radio a home away from home. And much more. For thousands, the towering red-brick building is a place that gives rise to their voices in the form of music and social commentary on the Web and across the airwaves, even on National Public Radio. They’ve got Oaktown’s 411. We’ve got their story.
Published Jan 16, 2009
Volunteers find work at Berkeley's Botanical Garden as nourishing for them as it is for the plants.
Published Jul 14, 2008
Eighty-five kids from the Bay Area's toughest neighborhoods spend six weeks learning to dance and to understand themselves at AileyCamp, sponsored by Cal Performances.
Published Jul 14, 2008
Creative Growth sparked a movement in the 1970s for artists with disabilities. The Oakland-based center has blossomed into a studio and gallery with international reach that today remains focused on the craft while nurturing artists to create, connect and inspire.
