Training Projects

Here are some examples of projects produced by the fellows at the end of our week-long training workshop.

The Missing Link Bicycle Co-Op

By Jeff Costello, Lauren Sommer, Scott Taylor, Cheryl Shugars, Steve Gray

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.

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Takara Sake

By Brent Wistrom, Dave Davies, Kimberly Barth, Cristina Rivero, Deborah Crowe

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.

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Yoga to the People

By Jake Batsell, Cesar Munoz, Caryn Rousseau, erikacheckhayden, Amelia Santaliz

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.

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Charles’ Chocolates

By Bryan Toussaint, Jerome Weeks, Julie Mccord, Lori Weisberg, Francisco Barradas

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.

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Bees and Gardening

By Ron Shawgo, Mariel Myers, Anna Johnson, Simon Perez, Kevin Friedl

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.

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A Neighborhood Afloat

By Lois Breedlove, Jennifer Nycz-Conner, Robert Little, Gretchen Weber, Dan Rosenheim

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.

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Creating Community - Berkeley Farmer's Market

By Mia Lobel, Emily Roach, ctakahashi

Published May 26, 2009

Across three decades this market running down Derby Street has offered fresh food and a place for neighbors to meet.

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Recapturing a Lifetime

By Madison Gray, Laura Bly, Tim Bishop, Jen Mistrot

Published May 26, 2009

At Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay, dementia patients broaden horizons in a shrinking world.

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A Healing Haven for Pets

By William Johnson, Frances Robles, Utku Cakirozer, sngager, Emily Cadei

Published May 26, 2009

The Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital specializes in cutting-edge care.

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iPhone / SoundSlides Slideshow

By Tim Reese

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!

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Center for Independent Living

By Adrianne Appel, Harry Goldstein, Michelle Boorstein, Marcio Sanchez, Brian Clark

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.

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Games of Berkeley

By Tim Reese, Valerie Streit, Cheryl Gibbs, Na Eng, Adam Jones

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.

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Alameda Point Collaborative

By Matthew Zimmerman, Eileen Truax, Tammerlin Drummond, Ashlee Clark, Jerome Burdi

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.

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Urban Ore

By William Mcleod, Ralph Braseth, Erika Cebreros, Brooke Bryant, Ryan Loew

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.

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The Bone Room

By Tom Haines, Andrea Brown, Gwen Florio, Naedine Hazell, Mike Brown

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.

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People's Grocery

By Sarah Hoye, Tony Overman, Evelyn Nieves, Julia Zolondz, Rob Liddle, Erik Sakamoto

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.

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Youth Radio

By John Fountain, Kathy Chu, Ted Hutton, Megan Ballinger, Heather Charles

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.

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Volunteers for the Botanical Gardens

By Kurt Achin, Vanessa Deggins, Tom Eblen, Leyla Boulton, Jena Moreno, Wilmer Tejada

Published Jan 16, 2009

Volunteers find work at Berkeley's Botanical Garden as nourishing for them as it is for the plants.

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Ailey Camp

By Justin Ellis, Jaclyn Giovis, Brad Weisenstein, Ben Garvin, Mira Oberman, William Drummond

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.

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Creative Growth

By Alex Figueroa, Julie Simon, Erik Holladay, Andrea Kissack, Kimberly Hefling, Alec Rosenberg

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.

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