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December 2006
BPF’s new Coming Home Initiative is an innovative project that will serve ex-prisoners and the greater San Francisco Bay Area community. The vision of Coming Home is to
act in fellowship with those who have found the resolve to practice the dharma while imprisoned. This project is intended to meet the material, emotional, and spiritual needs of people coming home and the larger community.
Our Transformative Justice Program staff have been working hard to make this vision a reality. We're moving from the planning phase into the implementation phase, and we need your help!
1. Space for the Coming Home Center
The Buddhist Peace Fellowship's Coming Home Initiative is looking for a house, warehouse, or loft space b/w 800 and 2500 square feet in the Bay Area (Oakland, Emeryville, San Francisco, South Berkeley, or Richmond) for our community empowerment center. The center will offer innovative programs that integrate Buddhist practices with empowering services and community organizing to address the complex needs of both those returning home and the larger community.
Specs:
- Bathroom with a shower or the capacity to build one
- Kitchen
- Ability to partition practice hall from drop-in resource space
- Easily accessible by public transportation
- Wheelchair accessible
- Rent of $1000 or less per month
If you know of a suitable space for us to consider, please contact Bhante Suhita Dharma at 626-202-2369. If you are a realtor willing to donate your time and expertise on this search, we’d love to hear from you!
2. Computers
We are looking for at least one desktop or laptop computer, in good working condition, for the Coming Home Center. Participants will be able to use this computer to search for housing, jobs, and other community resources online. We are also looking for a Mac laptop in good working condition for one of the Coming Home staff.
If you have a computer to donate to BPF, please contact Oren Sofer, oren@bpf.org. Your donation will be tax-deductible.
3. Donate to the Coming Home Initiative
Your donation will make it possible for us to open up the Coming Home Center by spring of 2007 and to provide services and fellowship to the first group of men returning home from prison. Your gift will help us cover costs related to space rental, food, staffing for counseling and referral services, and much more.
Make a donation here (please specify "Coming Home/Trans Justice Program" when asked how to direct your donation).
If you'd prefer to send a check, please make payable to BPF and mail to:
BPF
PO Box 3470
Berkeley, CA 94703
All donations are tax-deductible.
Thank you!!!
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