supporting equity for all families and children
E-news!
Events & Announcements
for Aug 20 - Sep 3, 2019
Greetings!

August is here: Back to School season for many of us with school-aged kids. It's also Oakland Pride eve for East Bay queer families and our allies. We'll be there with bells on, plus we have other late-summer fun to help you ring out the season in community. Read on...
In the news
OFC's Oakland LGBTQ Pride Family Garden:
In Full Bloom September 8th
The community event that's become our largest annual gathering, the Oakland Pride Festival Family Garden, is sprouting limb after limb right now, and we can't wait to greet you there when it's in full bloom in just a few weeks:

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th!

As ever, LGBTQ+ families will lead off the march, gathering at Broadway & 14th at 10am and stepping off at 10:30am. Bring signs, water, and spirit for the super kid-friendly, stroller-manageable, you'll-never-march-in-a-Pride-this-easy, six-block stroll.

Then it's into the festival and the OFC Family Garden, which will run from 11am to 4pm, with all the bells and whistles. Or rather, all the jumpy houses and petting zoos and teacup rides and pony rides. Plus a few surprises. ;)

Remember that the Festival charges a $15 entry fee to cover its costs (all goes to Oakland Pride, a non-profit). General Oakland Pride site info here. If the entry fee's a hindrance, please get in touch with us; we receive a limited number of free tickets from Oakland Pride to help families out: please contact ivy@ourfamily.org for more info.

Upcoming Events
Queer Family McLaren Hike & Concert

Hi there, Families! Lil here, your Queer Family hike host!
 
Let's get a little hike in at McLaren Park before hanging out at the McLaren Park Kidz Fest!
 
We'll meet at the parking lot, take a stroll around the park for an hour or so, and then sit down on our blankets at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater for some kids music and entertainment, including my favorite: The Alphabet Rockers. (They just came out with The Love, an album that celebrates trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and two-spirit people in collaboration with Our Family Coalition!).


Where: 21 John F. Shelly Drive parking lot [ map]
When: THIS Sunday, August 25, short hike: 10am • Kids Fest 11am
Rainbow Family Night is back!

Kids romp and frolic in a toddler-centric haven while grown-ups take a load off and unload! After a summer hiatus, one of our longest-running parent & caregiver support groups is back: first Wednesday nights, next one on September 4th.

Longtime co-faciliator Aisha Hamilton will greet you and help you share and reflect on what's happening in your parenting lives. Our thanks to Aisha and to our longtime friends and hosts at Habitot Children's Museum.

Dinner and childcare provided with RSVP; suggested donation of $10; no one turned away for lack of funds.

Where: Habitot Children's Museum, 2065 Kittredge St., Berkeley [ map]
When: monthly, first Wednesday nights, September 4, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Join our Parent Advisory Council!

Are you an LGBTQ+ parent or caregiver who has participated in OFC's Family Programs? Do you care about supporting other LGBTQ+ families in the Bay Area? Are you looking for a way to give back to your community, and are willing to volunteer 1-2 hours per month? How about joining OFC's Parent Advisory Council (PAC)?!

OFC's PAC will be a forum for current or former families in our programs to provide input on OFC's work with families and help determine the future of our family support programming. The council will meet at least once every 3 months at OFC's office, dinner and child care will be provided. 


When: next meeting September 18, 6:00 - 8:00pm
Where: OFC office, 1385 Mission St., #340, San Francisco [ map]
Ongoing Groups

Drop-in support groups, playgroups, and workshop series.









Non-Birth Parent Meet-Up

When : 3rd Tuesday evenings; August 20, 6:30 - 8:00pm
parent-led group
@ Natural Resources

Where : Natural Resources, 1367 Valencia St., SF [ map ]
NEW GROUP:
Prospective & Expectant Parents

When : Wednesdays, last 2 in a 6-week series: Aug 21, 28 • 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Where : OFC office, 1385 Mission St., #340, San Francisco [ map ]
Baby & Me: Infant Class
[0-12 months]

When : Mondays, Aug 26, Sep 16, 23, 30 • 3:30-4:30pm


Where : Community Well, 78 Ocean Ave, SF [ map ]
Drop-In Support for LGBTQ+ Parents

When : fourth Tuesdays, Aug 27
6:00pm – 8:00pm

Where : OFC office, 1385 Mission St., #340, San Francisco [ map ]
Toddle With Me: Music & Movement
[1-5 years]

going to MONTHLY in Sept!

When : third Saturdays, Sept 21, 1:30 - 3:30pm

Where : Recess Collective, 2226 Taraval, San Francisco [ map ]
Community Announcements
SF LGBT Center Host Homes Pilot

Got a spare room? Empty nester with space in your heart and home? Consider opening your heart and home for an unsheltered LGBTQ youth.

Host Homes is a program in which unsheltered LGBTQ youth, ages 18-24, chose a home with a San Francisco-based community member, reducing the impact of homeless on a personal level.

Hosts provide youth a space–with access to a kitchen and a bathroom–for three months to a year, while youth receive wrap-around support services from case managers.

Interested? Here are three ways to connect:


Luna Dance Free Open House

Luna Dance Institute’s fall open house features Luna's nationally renowned, developmentally appropriate approach to teaching creative dance and improvisation classes for all ages. Family dance and free kids classes in a beautiful studio minutes from the Berkeley Aquatic Park and Fourth Street shopping areas.

Refreshments, dancing, and guaranteed fun!

When: Saturday, September 7
Where: 605 Addison St., Berkeley

For further info: email Aiano Nakagawa or call 510-883-1118
Our Family Coalition advances equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) families with children through support, education, and advocacy.

We are able to do what we do with support from public grants, foundations, and... you, the community! Please help us stay strong with a donation today!