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BACS Connections April 2021

April 6, 2021

United Against Racism

BACS staff and clients, our neighbors and family members, and the people we serve are part of the Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The recent murders in Atlanta and the ongoing, escalating attacks in Oakland and San Francisco have brought to national attention to what, unfortunately, is not news to many right here in our community: Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are targets of hate crimes and acts of violence.

Chris Nguyen of the BACS Cultural Responsiveness Advisory Group said “What the younger generation feels growing up as children of Asian immigrants, similarly to many other cultures and immigrant families… Our native countries view us as American (Non-Native) and our home country sees us Asian (Non-Native)… Elders in our communities look at their life in this country as one of a visitor while children don’t see their own country as their native land… American history = Black History = Indigenous History = Latinx History = Asian history. Our history is very much intertwined and defines American society.”

As an organization, BACS works to integrate an explicitly anti-racist framework to our care model – bridging the gap between mental health and housing systems of care to meet the needs of the “whole person” – breaking barriers of generational poverty, racism, injustice, and violence. We are collectively heartbroken, and express our condolences and support for the AAPI members of our staff, our board, our volunteers and our community.

Strategic Plan for 2021-2023

As we set our strategic priorities, we heard from thousands of community members of their struggles – generational poverty, policing, racism, disability, injustice, and trauma.

For nearly 70 years, BACS’ mental health, housing, aging, and youth services have created a comprehensive safety net for our community. Time and again, BACS’ staff, leadership, and volunteers have heard the call of the community and responded to fill those gaps.

Systemic oppression prevents the people BACS serves from being healthy, safe, and housed. Our community is calling out for freedom – this strategic plan is our response.

Welcoming New Board Member

Please join us in welcoming Radhika Bajaria, MA, LMFT, to the BACS Board of Directors!

Radhika Bajaria, licensed Marriage and Family therapist has worked in community mental health for over 12 years in Contra Costa County and Alameda County. Radhika is passionate about community mental health and providing the best services to the most vulnerable population. Radhika is excited to join the BACS board to provide her expertise as a mental health professional and do whatever it takes to help BACS grow.

First BACS Program in the Monterey Bay Area

Bringing a whole new meaning to “Bay Area” Community Services, BACS is thrilled to announce that we are partnering with the City of Salinas and the County of Monterey to open their first housing navigation center! We anticipate opening the SHARE Center around late May.

BACS is excited to bring our strong Housing First philosophy and our determined focus on pathways to permanent housing to the Salinas community. We are grateful to all of the community advocates who made their voices heard and made this possible, as well as the City Council of Salinas and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for their commitment to real solutions for community members experiencing homelessness.

Tipping Point Community

Tipping Point logo - Peninsula Custom Homes BACS is excited to share that we are officially part of the Tipping Point Community! Tipping Point fights poverty in the Bay Area, through targeted investments and capacity-building support. Since 2005, Tipping Point has invested nearly $300 million in housing, early childhood, education, and employment solutions – strengthening our community’s safety net.

Tipping Point Community vets organizations extensively before making an investment and evaluate performance regularly, and we are honored and inspired to have the opportunity to partner on such a significant opportunity to help break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Thrive City on Wheels – Warriors & Kaiser Permanente

Huge shout-out to two of our major local partners, the Golden State Warriors and Kaiser Permanente, for providing hundreds of farm-fresh food bags to the people we serve!

Thrive City on Wheels is helping the farmers and farmers’ markets and the families who are struggling to access healthy local foods. This 8-week program has already helped more than 150 families just at BACS. Thank you Warriors and Kaiser Permanente!

A New Approach: Housing in San Francisco

Tipping Point is also funding BACS to establish the Shared Housing Collaborative, focused on a coordinated effort to make multi-bedroom units with shared common spaces a viable housing option for people experiencing homelessness. The project will simultaneously build the system infrastructure and help service providers adjust to this strategy to ensure successful implementation.

This model is successful, neighborhood-oriented, and keeps a high standard of living for all people. CEO Jamie Almanza said, ““BACS is thrilled to bring a shared housing and client voice/choice framework to our decades-long success of supporting communities working towards solving homelessness. We are honored to step in and help San Franciscans and community partners implement a shared housing collaborative to increase permanent housing options for our community.”

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Warriors Suite Tickets Benefit Oakland Homeless

November 14, 2017

BACS is auctioning suite tickets for three Golden State Warriors games, generously donated by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf!

Suite tickets are available for the following games: Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls on 11/24/2017, Warriors vs. LA Lakers on 12/22/17, and Warriors vs. NY Knicks on 1/23/18.

All proceeds from this auction will help to end homelessness in our Oakland community. Winning bids are tax deductible above the fair market rate for tickets. Visit our auction site to bid on your suite and help your community!

[Read more…]

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BACS Connections – Warriors Tickets Auction – November 2017

November 14, 2017

Warriors Tickets up for Auction

BACS is auctioning suite tickets for three Golden State Warriors games, generously donated by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf!

Suite tickets are available for the following games: Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls on 11/24/2017, Warriors vs. LA Lakers on 12/22/17, and Warriors vs. NY Knicks on 1/23/18.

All proceeds from this auction will help to end homelessness in Oakland. Winning bids are tax deductible above the fair market rate for tickets. Visit our auction site to bid on your suite and help your community!

Give as a Gift Launch!

We are excited to announce our Give as a Gift donation option! You can now make a gift to BACS in honor of a friend or loved one, for occasions like birthdays, holidays, memorials, or ‘just because’.

When you make your donation, you will have the option to print a card at home, have a card sent via email, or have BACS send a card signed by our Executive Director to your gift recipient. You can give as a gift here today.

 Towne House Reunion & Open House

Towne House

BACS is celebrating 48 years of Towne House Wellness Center, and 25 years at the current neighborhood location on Oakland Ave!  Participants are able to contribute to the community by cooking meals, leading groups and activities, participating in creating beautiful artwork, and most importantly, caring for one another and lending a helping hand.

We cordially invite you to the Towne House Reunion and Open House, for all supporters and former participants to come celebrate 48 years of community wellness. Join us Wednesday, November 29, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland.

Sprouts Foundation Grant

BACS is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation! The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation is providing these funds to BACS in order to support critical housing programs for individuals with complex needs. This program provides stable and permanent housing options, at very low cost, along with a care coordinator who helps residents learn independent living skills in a supportive environment. The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation knows that change matters, and that making a difference on the local community level can bring big change.

BACS’ Memory Care Centers 30th Anniversary

BACS is delighted to celebrate the anniversaries of our two Memory Care adult day programs! Our first Memory Care program started in 1987 in Oakland, and we opened our Fremont location in 2000. These Memory Care programs are spaces where elders with memory disorders can connect with others, socialize, and participate in guided activities. Our services offer respite for caregivers and families.

Thank you to everyone who makes our programs special — caregivers, staff, and the participants who come every day!

Finding Purpose at BACS’ Wellness Center

Before she came to BACS, Kara Alyssa Bautista was a regular at inpatient hospitals. Now, she says, she has “found purpose” at BACS’ Valley Wellness Center as a Peer Lead. “I learned many life lessons at Valley such as the importance of community and how it correlates to wellness. I have motivated and encouraged my peers to assist me in maintaining and preserving the center and in turn, developed leadership skills and assertiveness to foster healthy levels of self-esteem.” Kara is part of the BestNow program, providing training and job readiness, and hopes to complete it then return to college.

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?

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Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly!

Or, donate gently used blankets, canned goods, and other items to our housing programs. Email us to learn more.

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities. Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

Planned Giving

Many people leave a charitable gift in their will. Do you want to make a lifetime of impact in the community you care about? Email us to learn more!

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