Activism 101
Sometimes, the best way to learn a new skill – or get a job – is to volunteer.

By Sophia Leiby

WITH PROGRESSIVE CAUSES under attack at almost every level of government, there's never been a better, or more important, time to get involved in community activism. There are hundreds of nonprofit organizations dedicated to this kind of work in the Bay Area, many of them operating on a small budget – which means they need plenty of volunteers.

And volunteer work doesn't only benefit the organizations and the people those groups serve. Those who want a career in the nonprofit world often need internships or volunteer work on their résumé to land a paid job. Some groups even say the hands-on experience you gain from interning or volunteering is more significant than a college education.

The following organizations are based in San Francisco and serve as examples of the diverse nonprofits in the Bay Area. Whether they help immigrant workers with labor issues or work with low-income young women, these groups affect the community by helping give voice to economically or socially disadvantaged people. And they all have formal internship or volunteer programs.

Practical experience helping workers

On the corner of 16th and Capp Streets in the Mission District, Instituto Laboral de la Raza is a nonprofit committed to protecting the rights of low-income workers, particularly immigrants. The center helps nearly 1,500 families a year with legal issues such as breached contracts, discrimination, unemployment-insurance appeals, unpaid wages and benefits, and workplace injury benefits and offers job training and translation services.

The center is funded in part by a $200,000 grant from the Mayor's Office. Executive director Sarah Shaker says that due to a lack of money and a large caseload, interns and volunteers provide much-needed help, taking care of about a third of the center's entire workload, including preparing cases and clerical work.

Teresita Perez, an international-relations student from Stanford University, began interning at the center this summer. A volunteer program at the university pays 90 percent of her salary, while the center pays the other 10 percent. Although Perez began the internship by entering data and networking computers, after a couple of weeks she started writing grant proposals, translating for Spanish-speaking workers, and calling clients with worker-compensation cases.

"Instead of sitting in the back researching cases and publications," Shaker says, "our interns get practical experience." 2947 16th St., S.F. (415) 431-7522, www.ilaboral.org.

Helping girls help themselves

Around 1 p.m., the GirlSource office, on the fourth floor of a building at 18th and Valencia Streets, begins to fill up with young women talking, laughing, and working on the computers scattered throughout the room. The nonprofit hires girls ages 14 to 18 from low-income neighborhoods to work during the summer, Monday to Friday, 1 to 6 p.m., on different projects – such as setting up a Web site or publishing a zine.

GirlSource gets many requests from volunteers wanting to work directly with the girls, executive director Anne Moses says, adding that its Bound for Success college-preparation program offers the most volunteer opportunities for college students.

Now and especially throughout the fall, GirlSource needs student volunteers to give talks on different aspects of the college experience, such as applying for financial aid, writing essays, or daily life on campus.

GirlSource is also looking for students unaffiliated with official campus tours to lead girls around Bay Area colleges and universities. Moses says that such unofficial tours can provide a more realistic perspective than the formal ones sponsored by the schools themselves. "We need people to talk about the real experience of going to school. Unofficial tour guides might be more free to discuss social isolation and money issues that the young women at GirlSource need to hear about," she says.

Danielle Bentle, a sophomore at the Treasure Island Life Learning Academy, is one of the young women employed by GirlSource. She says that although the nonprofit's tours and workshops may seem like impersonal discussions, they resonate with some high school students. "Volunteers come in, and some people may not seem like they care, but in the long run [the volunteers] make a difference," she says. "You might mention that girl who came in and shared a story kind of like yours ... and her story gives you hope." 3543 18th St., fourth floor, S.F. (415) 252-8880, www.girlsource.org.

Art for everyone

A mesh of every Crayola color you could imagine makes up the bright sculptures and intricate paintings on display in the front of the headquarters of Creativity Explored of San Francisco. The nonprofit works with those who have developmental, psychiatric, or physical disabilities, assisting them with their creative and personal growth and advocating for their needs in the community. "Our organization gives them equal footing as artists and the chance to express things they normally would not be able to share," director Amy Taub says.

In the past year about 180 people have volunteered with Creativity Explored. Taub says volunteers' contributions are critical to the organization because they bring in new artistic perspectives. The staff-artist ratio is 1-8, so volunteers also increase the artists' chance of working one-on-one with a mentor or teacher. That sort of personal attention helps member artists build confidence in their work and facilitates further artistic exploration, Taub says.

Volunteers work in the Creative Arts program, which includes helping teachers demonstrate art techniques in the studio, working with member artists on projects, and providing motivation if needed. To be qualified for such work, volunteers should have a strong background in art and a knowledge of different media such as painting and sculpting.

It also helps to appreciate creativity in all its forms. Taub notes that the member artists' unconventional styles inspire many of the teachers, and student projects encourage volunteers to expand their definition of art and be more open to experimentation. 3245 16th St., S.F. (415) 863 2108, www.creativityexplored.com.

More opportunities

If the above organizations don't fit with your interests, check out these 10 other nonprofits that offer volunteer opportunities.

Camping Unlimited provides recreational activities for children and adults with developmental disabilities. In the summer people ages 15 and up can volunteer as counselors-in-training for a two-week session or longer (if approved). Volunteers help with personal care and assist with recreational activities. Year-round, volunteers are needed to help plan and coordinate weekend-long programs that usually focus on outdoor activities. Apply online at least two weeks in advance. P.O. Box 20774, El Sobrante. (510) 222-6662, www.campingunlimited.com.

College Bound Foundation works with youth of all ages from North Beach public housing. Volunteers coach students and tutor them in math and reading. Applicants must commit to volunteering for a few hours a week for at least one year. 417 Montgomery, 10th floor, S.F. (415) 705-0404.

Community Impact sponsors a number of all-day service projects, such as creek clean-ups and meal distribution. The minimum age requirement varies from project to project, but there are volunteer opportunities for all ages. Sign up online. 721 Central Ave., Mountain View. (650) 965-0242, www.communityimpact.org.

Compumentor helps community-based organizations and schools with technology problems, offers products at discounted prices, and provides online resources for information and advice. Volunteers are accepted year-round and work on short-term "mentor" projects with a nonprofit or a school. Training public school teachers to use hardware, software, and Internet tools and helping an art center add an online gallery to its Web site are two projects volunteers have completed. Applicants must be very familiar with technology and computer systems. 435 Brannan, S.F. (415) 512-7784, www.compumentor.org.

A Home away from Homelessness serves homeless children and their families. Volunteers are needed year-round to assist as mentors, tutors, chefs, and activity assistants. Fort Mason, Building Nine, S.F. (415) 561-5533 or volunteer@homeaway.com.

Positive Resource Center assists people affected with HIV/AIDS through advocacy, counseling, education, and employment services. Volunteers are needed all year and help with administrative office support, computer training, fundraisers and special events, and graphic design. 973 Market, sixth floor, S.F. (415) 777-0333.

Refugee Transitions provides refugees and immigrants with English-language instruction, literacy development, family services, and increased access to community resources. After volunteers complete the initial training session, the agency matches them with English-as-a-second-language students whom they tutor for six months. The program is home-based, and volunteers are expected to visit their students at home for at least two hours a week. 870 Market, S.F. (415) 989-2151; 2647 International Boulevard, Suite 204, Oakl. (510) 536-7754. www.reftrans.org.

A Safe Place offers comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence. Volunteers work directly with clients in the emergency shelter, counseling center, or teen program. They can also help with community education and outreach through public speaking, fundraising, and administrative support. P.O. Box 1075, Oakl. (510) 986-8600, www.asafeplacedvs.org.

The San Francisco Women's Building houses numerous nonprofits with programs for women and girls. Volunteer positions are available to suit a variety of interests and skill levels. 3543 18th St., Suite 8, S.F. 431-1180, www.thewomensbuilding.org.

Streetside Stories helps students build literacy and critical-thinking abilities and a sense of community through storytelling. Volunteers can work with students in the classroom (at least eight times a semester) or after school and help them write true stories about their lives. Those experienced with ESL and special education classes and those who are bilingual are especially needed. Volunteers can also edit stories, take photographs, and create journals. 985 Ninth St., S.F. (415) 864-5221, www.streetside.org.