Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (AFICE) is looking for individuals to work as Community Representatives, who will find host families for international students and will work with them and their families. Call Anne Ring, 866.462.3423.
The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Various positions are available. To volunteer, call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 x112 from 1-5 pm, Monday-Thursday.
The Artists’ League of the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club invites you to drop in Tuesdays from 11am-3pm to work on independent projects in water color, gouache, and collage. $3 donation benefits the nonprofit “Free Arts for Abused Children.” 1210 4th St., Santa Monica. Info: 310.310.2273.
Baha’i Center in Santa Monica is located at 3102 Colorado Avenue, 310.394.7971 or santamonicabahai.org.
Beyond Baroque offers free writing workshops including Monday night Literary and Experimental Fiction, 8pm, Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8pm, Wednesday night poetry, 8pm, Thursday night alt screenplay, 8pm, Saturday afternoon poetry 1:30pm, and 4th Saturday of the month morning poetry and prose 11am. Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.3006.
The City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division is seeking exhibition proposals for the gallery space in the Event House at the Annenberg Community Beach House. We are requesting proposals for group exhibitions from curators, artists (emerging and established) and groups based in Los Angeles County to be on display in the Event House gallery space for a period of 4 months. Exhibitions should be conceived around a coherent central theme and must be able to withstand display for the 4-month period. Proposals may also include an educational component as part of the exhibition such as gallery talks by artists. For the complete RFP, go to: arts.smgov.net.
Do You Have the Heart for Hospice? Roze Room Hospice seeks volunteers to provide support and companionship to terminally ill patients and their families. Training is free. We have patients at home and in nursing facilities in throughout the Westside and Los Angeles. For more information, contact Kathleen McMahon, Volunteer Coordinator, at 323.938.1155 or volcoord@rozeroomhospice.org.
Donate blood on Monday and Wednesdays at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th St. Hours for donations vary, so call to schedule an appointment. 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or 1.888.POR.FAVOR.
Enjoy Spring and start out Summer right by getting into shape and/or learning a new skill! YWCA Santa Monica / Westside health and fitness classes begin May 3. We work with top instructors who bring you the latest in fitness, education and fun! Sign up now for great classes, including, for adults and teens: Beginning Acting, Belly Dancing, Dancing like the Stars Ballroom Dance, Gentle Exercise, Women’s Basic Ballet, Yoga for Cancer Survivors, and more. To sign up for any of the above classes, visit www.smywca.org or call 310.452.3881.
Food Addicts Anonymous has free meetings every Saturday from 11:30am-12:30pm at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W. 83rd St., Westchester. There are no dues or fees, just the desire to abstain from the foods we crave. foodaddictsanonymous.org.
Free help with anxiety, depression, stress, and anger is provided by Recovery International. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30am, at Trinity Church, California & 11th St. Free, but contributions welcomed. For more information, call 818.268.9841.
Meals on Wheels West needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound people in Santa Monica. Deliveries are from 11am-1pm, Mondays-Fridays. To volunteer call 310.394.7558.
Mt. Olive Film Night, entertaining and thought-provoking films shown on the second Saturdays of each month, supper at 6pm, films start at 7pm, free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.452.1116.
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra, Tuesdays, 6:30pm, Church of the Nazarene, 1001 18th St. Santa Monica. 310.313.3726.
Pacific Jewish Center-The Shul on the Beach, has started a free lecture series, “Monday Night Connections,” at 8pm with Rabbi Eliyahu Fink, who will explore connections between Torah concepts. The class takes place at the synagogue’s “annex,” 726 Rose Avenue, Venice, 310.392.8749.
Pregnancy Support Group, ongoing on Mondays, facilitated by Sahaja Douglass, MA, LMFT and Aleksandra Evanguelidi, LM,CPM. This Support Group will focus on building community, releasing fears about birthing and mothering, and offering a safe place where questions can be answered by health care professionals. 2-4pm, $25, 11965 Venice Blvd. Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310.566.7690.
Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve general well-being. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30am at Trinity Church, California & 11th St., Santa Monica. Free, but free will contributions welcomed. For more information, call 310.476.1741 or go to www.lowselfhelpsystems.org.
Relaxation & Visualization for Cancer Patients & Family, intended to help improve the quality of life for people with cancer and their loved ones. Every Wednesday, 6:15-7pm, The Wellness Community ­West LA, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Boulevard, Ste. 1040.
The Santa Monica Citywide Reads Advisory Committee invites community input for the 2011 book selection. To make a suggestion for Citywide Reads 2011, please go to the online survey at www.smpl.org/cwr, visit any Santa Monica Public Library, call 310.458.8600, Suggestions will be accepted through May 30, 2010. The Citywide Reads title will be chosen and announced in the fall, and the program will take place in spring 2011.
Santa Monica Oceanaires barbershop harmony chorus invites men of all ages and voice parts to sing each Tuesday, 7-10pm, Church of Christ, 9733 Venice Blvd., WLA, oceanaires.org, 310.202.1380.
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Division’s website answers many residential and business customer queries. To learn how to set up recycling programs at apartment buildings, what to do with unwanted electronics devices, where to drop off bulky items like refrigerators, and answers to many more questions go to smgov.net/swm.
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1-4pm Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., WLA, and at the Madison campus, 1310 11th St., 310.434.3400.
Sojourn Services for Battered Women and Their Children will begin their Volunteer Training on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. The training is held twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30pm to 9:30pm and runs through June 2010. This training is mandatory for anyone who would like to volunteer at Sojourn. To enroll or for more information call 310.264.6646 x225 or email sojournvolunteertraining@opcc.net.*
Soroptimist is a service organization available to help women and children. Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month, 310.395.6168.
Take a walk through Santa Monica history! The Santa Monica Conservancy conducts downtown walking tours every Saturday at 10am. Tickets are $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for non-members. For reservations, call 310.496.3146 or go to smconservancy.org.
This Old House, the Emmy-Award winning TV series, is looking for a historic home to renovate in Los Angeles County. The TV crew is hoping to find a dynamic family with a classic old house in need of help, with plenty of things to save and update. The selected project will be featured on multiple This Old House episodes airing on PBS in early 2011. The deadline for submissions is June 14, 2010. To be considered, submit the following: Brief description of the renovation project – be sure to also include house style, location and year built, low-res digital pictures of the home’s interior and exterior, brief description of the current owners, low-res digital pictures of the homeowners, how much you plan to spend, when you need to start and conclude the project. Please e-mail proposals to pickmyhouse@thisoldhouse.com or submit them via regular mail to: This Old House Project Proposals, P.O. Box 130, Concord, Massachusetts 01742.
Volunteers are needed for the Docent Training Program for Annenberg Community Beach House. Go to beachhouse.smgov.net for more information.
Volunteers are needed at California state parks on Saturday, April 17th for the 13th annual California State Parks Foundation’s (CSPF) Earth Day 2010 Restoration & Cleanup presented by PG&E. Earth Day is commemorating its 40th anniversary and is encouraging California residents and businesses to actively participate in environmental improvement projects in their communities. Statewide, thousands of volunteers each year plant native trees and community gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitats, remove trash and debris from beaches and parklands and make overdue repairs to fences and boardwalks. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to help restore the beauty of California’s treasured state parks.For a complete list of project sites, call 1.888.98.PARKS or visit www.calparks.org.
Volunteer to conduct guided programs for school groups and the general public, host a nature center, or patrol park trails. For more information contact Lisa Ann Carillo, 310.858.7272.
Yoga for the Community! Restorative Yoga-Mondays 5:30-6:30 pm, Flow Yoga – Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm & Saturdays 12:30 – 1:30pm. Classes are on-going. Drop-ins welcome. No experience necessary. Classes taught by Sarah Bergman & Shannon Baker, known for their life-affirming teaching styles. Suggested donation: $5 per class. Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310. 310.452.1116 or mtolivelutheranchurch.org.
Zen meditation group led by Sensei Daishin Buksbazen, teacher at Zen Center of Los Angeles meets weekly on Wednesday evening at the Hill Street Center, 237 Hill Street, Santa Monica. Meditation instruction for newcomers held at 7 to 7:30 p.m., Zazen from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Dharma talk the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Sensei Daishin at 310.315.3506 or daishin@zcla.org.
