Events

Yoga for You

Sponsored by Piedmont Yoga Studio Programs in the Community, BOSS, and HomeBase/The Center for Common Concerns, free yoga classes are available to the homeless participants in BOSS programs who are on a path of recovery and wellness. Classes are held in 3-week "sessions" with a 2-week break in between. The Hatha yoga practice is a blend of physical and breathing exericses, along with light meditation, and supports mind-body-spirit healing and well-being.

Classes are held at the BOSS Rosa Parks Transitional House on Thursday evenings from 6:45-8:30 PM. Classes are free to BOSS participants and staff, but space is limited. To sign up, contact Michael Yamagata at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Thank you, Piedmont Yoga and HomeBase!!

Past Events:

BOSS-BPC Mother's Day Event (5/11/13): Huge thanks to Black Pine Circle School 'Families Make A Difference', who have organized this event for the past several years - a one-of-a-kind Mother's Day party for the moms and kids at Ursula Sherman Village. BBQ, kids activities, and music from Peter Lamson blues guitarist (thank you, Bread & Roses!). Our moms had a wonderful time and appreciated all the work, care, attention, and love!

5th Annual Poverty & Homelessness Symposium (4/14/13): BOSS Board Member Marlene Hurd was one of the guest speakers at this 5th annual gathering of students and community members to learn about the causes of and solutions to homelessness, sponsored by UC Berkeley service organization Cal Corps and partners.

From The Heart: A Legacy of Love...and New Beginnings (2/23/13):Thank you to all the wonderful sponsors, donors, volunteers, and guests of this incredible event, which paid homage to the love, commitment, and achievements of BOSS's former Executive Director (of 33 years), boona cheema, and introduced current Executive Director Donald Frazier. It was an unforgettable evening - the full story and pictures is on BOSS's news page.

Andronico's Spring Fling (3/23/13): Thank you again to Andronico's Community Markets for selecing BOSS to receive customer donations at their recent Sping Fling event, which had special food demonstrations and family activities. We are grateful for your support and love Andronico's fun community events!

Andronico's Shattuck Store Re-Opening (11/17/12): Thank you to Andronico's Community Markets and their customers, who bought raffle tickets at the grand re-opening of the Shattuck Ave. (Berkeley) store on Saturday November 17th. Raffle proceeds were donated to BOSS!

Chip Shots to Change Lives (8/17/12): Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers, and golfers at BOSS's 2nd Annual Chip Shots to Change Lives golf tournament to raise funds for BOSS programs. We had a fantastic time and are truly grateful for the outpouring of community generosity that made this event possible. Read more and see the complete list of sponsors here.

Oakland Marathon (3/24-25/12): Thank you to all the runners, volunteers, and supporters of BOSS's participation in the Oakland Marathon! Braving threats of rain, the BOSS "Home" Runners Team ran to raise funds for BOSS programs serving homeless and poor people while volunteers cheered them on and passed out water. Read more!

Rosa Parks Open House (2/23/12): After some comprehensive rehab and improvements to this transitional housing program serving homeless adults with disabilities, Rosa Parks had an inspiring and wonderful Open House celebration. Thank to our Open House donors (The Natural Grocery Company, Berkeley Bowl, Nation's Giant Hamburgers, Give Something Back Office Supply, and Alko Office Supply) and everyone who attended and helped to organize this event! See lots of event pictures here.

Pie, Chai & Art (12/10/11): Once a year BOSS sells all kinds of arts and crafts created by our homeless participants as well as staff and local artists - original art and prints, fabric art, tiles, cards, calendars, and jewelry. All funds raised support the BOSS Children's Learning Center (CLC) for homeless kids. Thank you to everyone who attended the 2011 Pie, Chai & Art sale - look for us again next year!!

Village Playground Ribbon-Cutting Celebration (10/24/11): Thank you to everyone who attended the wonderful ribbon-cutting celebration for the new playground at Ursula Sherman Village, and to everyone who made this playground a reality: UC Berkeley Chancellors Community Partnership Fund, Berkeley Rotary Club, Cal Rotaract, Village participants and staff, and innumerable project partners. Read more and see pictures here.

Chip Shots to Change Lives (8/26/11): Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Mechanics Bank, Miller Clark Calvert & Obenour, Malaga Corp, Diablo Magazine, Chandigarh Golf Association and others, the first annual BOSS community golf tournament to raise funds for our homeless programs was a huge success! Guest golfers enjoyed a gorgeous day at Tilden Park Golf Course in Berkeley, with contests and prizes, a raffle, dinner awards banquet, and good spirits for a great cause. See pictures from the event here. Stay tuned and please join us for Chip Shots 2012!

Mural Unveiling (5/19/11): Sponsored by Estria Foundation, the Oakland community celebrated the unveiling of a new 5,500 sq. foot mural created by local artists and volunteers -- on the wall of BOSS's Service Team in downtown Oakland! Over 200 volunteers were mobilized to create this amazing work of public art, Water Writes, dedicated to the theme of water protection and conversation. BOSS was honored to be a part of this project.

Community Garden Workday (5/16/11):Thank you to our homeless residents, community volunteers, and Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer for joining us in an all-day garden workday at BOSS's community gardens located at our South County Homeless Project (shelter) and South County Sober Housing (transitional housing). Residents at these programs tend organic vegetable gardens in order to have fresh produce and to reap the therapeutic and social benefits of time spent in the garden. 

Public Health Heroes Award (3/30/11): At an elegant ceremony at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, BOSS was named a 2011 Public Health Hero by the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, alongside three other amazing international, national and regional awardees. Thank you to School of Public Health Dean Stephen Shortell and event organizers, and BOSS's award presenter Sylvia Yee of Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr. Foundation!

Casa Maria Open House (2/17/11): Thank you to the staff and participants of Casa Maria, BOSS's newest program, providing housing and services to homeless people with severe and persistent mental illness. Thank you to all the guests who made us feel welcome and inspired to make this a fantastic resource for our community!

Service Team Open House (1/27/11): Thank you to the staff and participants of the BOSS Service Team, and all the guests who came to see the important work of this team in its new offices. We love our community!

Pie, Chai, & Art 2010 (12/11/10): Thank you to everyone who attended and bought art at BOSS's Pie, Chai, and Art Sale at the home of Executive Director boona cheema. A variety of beautiful pieces were available, including original art and prints, tapestry, tiles, cards, and more. All proceeds supported BOSS programs for homeless people.

Ugly Sweater Holiday Party (12/10/10): Thank you, Antioquia, for hosting an Ugly Sweater Holiday Party at The Uptown Nightclub. The special concert featured music by Big Light, Antioquia, and Mana Maddy feat. Trevor Garrod and Deren Ney. Prizes were awarded for the Ugliest Sweaters, and guests were encouraged to bring a warm coat, blanket, or other new or gently used article of warm clothing for the people in BOSS programs.

Valerie Orth CD Release Party (12/9/10): Thank you to everyone who attended Valerie's CD release party, and if you did so, for bringing a donation for BOSS!! Read the East Bay Express article about Valerie ~ Buy her CD  ~ and keep supporting BOSS!! 

BOSS Sesa Woruban Celebration (10/7/10): Thank you to everyone who attended, donated to, sponsored, volunteered at, and otherwise took part in the fun, unique, and inspiring Sesa Woruban Celebration!! Read more about the event here.