Abundant Grace Coastside Worker

OUR MISSION IS TO ACCOMPANY THE UNHOUSED AS THEY TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH MEANINGFUL WORK.

FULL CIRCLE FOOD JUSTICE (FCFJ) HIRES PARTICIPANTS TWICE WEEKLY TO GROW FRESH, ORGANIC PRODUCE AT THE FARM AS PART OF OUR JOB-READINESS TRAINING. IN 2023, AGCW FARM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS PLANTED, TENDED, AND HARVESTED 18,000 LBS OF FRESH PRODUCE, WHICH WAS GIVEN AWAY FOR FREE TO 500 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND THROUGH OTHER FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES ON THE COAST. FCFJ INCLUDES REGULAR FARM DAYS THAT ANY PARTICIPANT CAN SHOW UP FOR, AND WE ENSURE THAT EACH PARTICIPANT HAS A SUCCESSFUL DAY BY ASSIGNING THEM TASKS THAT THEY CAN COMPLETE. AS THEY ATTEND MORE SESSIONS, WE BUILD ON THE SKILLS PARTICIPANTS HAVE LEARNED AND GIVE THEM MORE COMPLEX JOBS WITH MORE RESPONSIBILITY, EVENTUALLY ASKING THEM TO TEACH OTHER PARTICIPANTS. THIS STRATEGY BUILDS SELF-CONFIDENCE AND EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN THEIR WORK, TO FEEL CONNECTED, AND IDEALLY IS A SPRINGBOARD FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE OF AGCW.

THE COASTSIDE CLEAN TEAM (CCT) PROVIDES PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL WORK FOR A THREE-HOUR SESSION, 4 DAYS PER WEEK AS WELL AS FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIAL ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP WORK DAYS WHEN NECESSARY. THE CCT PROVIDES AN EASY RE-ENTRY TO REGULAR WORK AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. CCT CREWS PICK UP LITTER AND DEBRIS FROM BEACHES, NEIGHBORHOODS, PARKS, AND COASTAL TRAILS. IN 2023 THE CCT COLLECTED 157,000 POUNDS OF TRASH.ABUNDANT GRACE COASTSIDE WORKER IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO AFFECT REAL CHANGE IN THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF THE DEEP CONNECTIONS AND TIES WE HAVE WITHIN THE COASTSIDE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY DOES THE ORGANIZATION HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE IN THE ENCAMPMENTS; WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG RECORD OF TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMMING AND A POSITIVE REPUTATION IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER (WDC) IS THE HUB OF ALL OUR SERVICES, AND OF HOMELESSNESS SERVICES IN THE AREA, SO WE INTENTIONALLY CRAFT A SPACE THAT IS INVITING, INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE. IT OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES INCLUDING ACCESS TO THE KITCHEN, SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, FOOD, CLOTHING ROOM, LAPTOPS AND WIFI ACCESS, LIMITED STORAGE AND MAIL SERVICE, RESUME BUILDING, JOB SEARCHES, HOUSING APPLICATION ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, AND SOCIAL EVENTS. WE ALSO PROVIDE SPACE FOR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND FOR MEDICAL SERVICES THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STREET MEDICAL TEAM. WE OFFER PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, BICYCLE REPAIR, AND MORE. THE WDC HOUSES OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND IS THE MEETING POINT FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. IT IS ALSO THE SITE OF OUR TWICE-WEEKLY FARMSTAND PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION, WHERE WE GIVE AWAY FRESH, ORGANIC PRODUCE FROM OUR FARM PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP WITH POTRERO NUEVO FARM.