Volunteers Supporting Habitat
Homeowners may not know their faces, but they know their work. Committee volunteers support the homeownership program from start to finish—from selecting families to supporting them once they’ve moved in. This page is our way of showing off their hard work and thanking them for all they do. If you would like to join us, please contact Alejandra at (510) 251-6304 ext. 367.
Family Resource Committee
The Family Resource Committee is a staff-volunteer committee that supports homeowners after move-in through the College Trak, Community Building and Newsletter teams.
College Trak
What: College Trak strives to provide an environment in which youth are comfortable and have an opportunity to express themselves freely, develop leadership skills, form bonds with other youth, and have fun! Based on the interests of the youth, College Trak organizes activities that are both fun and educational. These activities range from Cal Basketball games and tours of local high-tech companies, to community service projects, SAT prep courses and one-on-one tutoring with Cal Berkeley students. The program is geared towards building strong community leaders and preparing Habitat youth for college while having fun and meeting new friends.
Who: Children of all HEB partner families are invited to participate in the fun!
Resource: College Trak is also a great resource to bolster the college application. HEB will help youth with the complications of the college application process and gives access to a wide pool of college students professionals for general questions. We can also help HEB youth with information on internships and scholarships that can help make college admission a reality.
Contact Alejandra Guillen at aguillen@habitateb.org or call at (510) 251-6304 ext. 367
Community Building Team
Habitat for Humanity East Bay recognizes that revitalizing neighborhoods and providing homeownership opportunities should go beyond building houses – it is building relationships and community members. Community Building (CB) volunteers support homeowners in planning community events and serve as advisors to neighborhood groups in Habitat developments. CB volunteers help families organize, plan and run Family Fun Day, an annual summer picnic event that brings together over 180 families from Habitat developments throughout the East Bay.
Community Building volunteers have also successfully supported homeowners at Habitat East Bay’s West Oakland development. Just two years after moving in, residents are at home with their neighbors who together have organized potluck dinners, holiday light decorating contest and Neighborhood Night Out safety awareness events, among others.
As Habitat East Bay grows, so does our Community Building team! We are currently looking for additional CB volunteers to join volunteers and staff already at work at our Edes Avenue development in East Oakland. Other opportunities may exist too.
Contact Alejandra Guillen at aguillen@habitateb.org or call at (510) 251-6304 ext. 367
Newsletter
From Crockett to Livermore, Habitat keeps in touch with homeowners through a quarterly bi-lingual newsletter. Here we shine light on Habitat homeowners and developments—past articles have highlighted scholarship winners, neighborhood events, and contests. Habitat staff and volunteers contribute articles relevant to all homeowners—regular columns include home maintenance, gardening and green living. Besides keeping homeowners informed of news from Habitat, the newsletter is a bulletin for our extended East Bay family. And, like any family, we are stronger when we stay in touch! To write articles or translate for the newsletter, contact Jen Shafer at jshafer@habitateb.org or call at (510) 251-6304 ext. 370.
Family Selection Committee
The Family Selection Committee (FSC) is made up of dedicated volunteer “investigators” who run the process of selecting families for Habitat East Bay homes. The FSC works closely with staff to run orientations for potential applicants, review applications, evaluate applicants’ financial fitness for homeownership through Habitat, and interview families in their homes. FSC volunteers can also attend monthly meetings where they make decisions and form policies regarding the selection of partner families. Many FSC members have been with us for many rounds of selection and choose to participate in just the parts of this that most interest them. We are always looking to expand our group and are especially interested in multi-lingual volunteers. Many FSC volunteers are highly motivated by Habitat’s mission, detail-oriented and interested in working with a diverse group of people. Interested in joining us? Contact Gaylen at gmohre@habitateb.org or call (510) 251-6304 ext. 371.
Translation
People understand each other better when they speak the same language. That’s why the homeownership program uses volunteer translators for almost everything we do. Whether translating fliers or interpreting for partner families at a homeowner meeting, volunteer translators keep everyone involved and informed, regardless of language. Volunteer interpreters help us communicate with partner families as well as applicants. We need translators who reflect all the languages of the East Bay, but especially Spanish and Cantonese. Quieres ayudar? Contact Gaylen at gmohre@habitateb.org or call (510) 251-6304 ext. 371.
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