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During 2009, the 1200 Foundation awarded grants
to nine
worthy non-profit organizations in the East Bay that support
the 1200 Foundation’s mission of helping low-income individuals
and families achieve economic self-sufficiency:
The
Bread Project (http://www.breadproject.org),
started in 2000, trains low-income and unemployed persons
in commercial baking and food preparation skills. Graduates
are fully prepared for entry-level jobs in the food service
industry. The staff helps students find and retain jobs,
and provides work performance tracking and ongoing support
for one year after graduation. Today, there are five classes
of 20 adults each year in Berkeley and two additional classes
annually in Oakland. Students participate in intensive nine-week
training sessions, eight hours a day, five days a week..
C.E.O.
Women (http://www.ceowomen.org)
is a non-profit organization based in Oakland that is creating
economic opportunities for low-income immigrant and refugee
women. It empowers them by teaching entrepreneurship, English
and communication skills so they can establish successful
livelihoods and small businesses. C.E.O. Women has developed
a systemic model for bringing immigrants and refugees of
diverse backgrounds into the economic mainstream by blending
English language training and entrepreneurship development.
The organization then enhances their students’ likelihood
of success and continued participation by connecting these
women through high-touch elements of training, networking,
coaching and access to capital.
Cypress Mandela Training Center (http://www.cypressmandela.org)
provides pre-apprenticeship jobs and life skills training in the construction
trades. Cypress Mandela is located in Oakland and has been in operation since
1993. Every year several cohorts go through a rigorous 16-week training process
which exposes students to the selection and use of tools, reading blueprints,
surveying, computer assisted drawing, and safe construction practices.
EARN (http://www.sfearn.org)
is a nationally-recognized organization engaging low-wage workers,
businesses, policy-makers and other non-profits in its efforts
to empower low-wage workers in the Bay Area to escape poverty
through asset building products and services. EARN offers money
management training, access to financial services, and 401(k)-like
matched accounts. It is the nation's second-largest (and the
single fastest-growing) provider of Individual Development Accounts
(IDAs). EARN breaks the cycle of poverty by matching the savings
of low-wage workers and helping them invest in assets that build
wealth, creating a cycle of prosperity across generations.
Operation
Access (http://www.operationaccess.org/)
was founded in 1993 by two prominent surgeons to increase
access to care and promote medical volunteerism. Its mission
is to mobilize a network of medical volunteers, hospitals,
and referring community clinics to provide low-income, uninsured
people access to donated outpatient surgeries and specialty
care that improves their health, ability to work, and quality
of life. Patients are typically adults working in the service
sector with no health benefits who do not earn enough to
pay for their own health insurance and do not qualify for
government insurance programs. Operation Access has arranged
for around 3,800 surgical and specialty care services, donated
at no cost to uninsured patients – saving an estimated
$22 million in waived medical fees.
Opportunity
Junction (www.opportunityjunction.org),
based in Antioch, fights poverty by helping low-income adults
get the confidence and competence to get good jobs that enable
them to support themselves and their families. Through intensive
training programs, they build a solid foundation in computer
skills, introduce participants to workplace culture, and
offer the skills necessary for students to thrive in a competitive
business environment. Opportunity Junction offers a three-phased
program for its students including training in computer-based
business applications, paid internship, and alumni services
with 18-months of continued networking support and job-related
guidance.
The
Stride Center (http://www.stridecenter.org/),
based in San Pablo, is a nonprofit social venture that is
empowering economic self-sufficiency for individuals and
communities in the Bay Area. Through its programs, it is
harnessing the power of technology to help low income men,
women and families. The Stride Center prepares its adult
students for professional, well-rounded careers in the information
technology field. It also operates its own technology consulting
business called ReliaTech. This operation generates jobs
and internships for Stride Center graduates and students,
provides revenue to sustain its nonprofit mission, and brings
affordable, local technology solutions to the community.
WAGES (Women’s
Action to Gain Economic Security) (http://www.wagescooperatives.org)
was founded in 1995 and uses the cooperative business model
to help build worker-owned, environmentally friendly housecleaning
businesses that create healthy, dignified jobs for low-income
women. WAGES which is based in Oakland has helped found and “incubate” four
eco-friendly housecleaning cooperatives in the Bay Area, including
Natural Home Cleaning in Oakland. WAGES is beginning a new coop
in the Concord area.
Wardrobe
for Opportunity (http://www.wardrobe.org),
based in Oakland and Pleasant Hill, is a volunteer-based
nonprofit organization that provides professional clothing
and career support to low-income jobseekers in the Bay Area.
The WFO organization works in partnership with over 70 community
agencies, hundreds of clothing donors and 200 active volunteers.
In 2006, Wardrobe for Opportunity provided interview attire
to over 1,700 low-income jobseekers. Founded in 1995, provides
its clients with the tools they need to project the positive
image, self-confidence, and self-esteem necessary to find
and maintain employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
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